ENCORE OF THE MONTH
July, 2019
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth came out of the short-lived 'No Wave' movement. The avant garde movement emerged in New York as a direct reaction to the growing popularity of New Wave music. Sonic Youth were an experimental band that was on the constant hunt to push the boundaries. One of these boundaries was their use of feedback and guitar distortion in their songs. This was not like the Jesus and Mary Chain approach which was a wall of feedback like a tsunami that ripped through the song and drowned out everything. The Sonic Youth approach was very different. The guitar distortions and feedback became additional elements that added a layer of complexity and interest. It is no surprise that Lee Ranaldo and Thurston Moore landed the number 1 spot when Spin published their top 100 guitarists in 2012. You know when you listen to a song over and over and still hear new things that you had missed? That for me is Sonic Youth. The distortions and feedback are like little hidden easter eggs waiting to be discovered. ‘100%’ is an example of a Sonic Youth song with little hidden gems.
Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon brought two very different vocal styles to the group. When watching Kim perform you can really see how she had a very big influence on bands like Hole. If you ever went to a Sonic Youth show you really got two bands for the price of one. 'Kool thing' is one of my favorite Sonic Youth songs.
Sonic Youth were prolific with 15 studio albums to their credit. It is difficult to pick a stand out but Daydream Nation comes to mind. 'Teen Age Riot' was the first single from the album.
Sonic Youth did one of the most haunting covers you will ever hear. It appeared on the soundtrack to the independent movie 'Juno'. 'Superstar' is performed as a tribute to Karen Carpenter but what Sonic Youth do is flip its meaning and deliver a very disturbing song with stalker undertones. Thurston Moore is a musical genius.
Sonic Youth's influence on the grunge and the broader alternative music scene can not be under estimated. For that we thank you.
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