Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
Seeing as a deluxe edition of this album has recently been released, I figured that now would be as good a time as ever to talk about it. It is after all, an album more than worthy of a few words. Sonic Youth’s tale is a rather bizarre one. Despite so many people being oblivious to their existence, they remain as one of the world’s most influential bands. They have never reached a status of stardom and nor did they need to. They managed to touch all right people and it was through notoriety and word of mouth that Sonic Youth gradually gained the respect they deserved. These days, you’d be hard pressed finding a musician who isn’t influenced by them in one way pr another, even if they don’t realise it. If you are one of those people who are only just now thinking that it is time you gave Sonic Youth a listen, I dare say your music tastes are about to take a turn for the better. You don’t find Sonic Youth by listening to ‘hits’ on the radio, you find them by scratching beneath the surface, looking for deeper meaning and a greater challenge for your senses. Daydream Nation is frequently quoted as the best Sonic Youth album, or at least the most significant and serves as a great introduction to the band, as it did for me just a few short months ago. I’m certainly not the biggest expert on Sonic Youth, but I don’t think that should stop me talking about them. As I discovered Daydream Nation, fell in love with its subtleties, realised that its seemingly ‘standard’ sound was evidence of the profound impact it had, I was left craving more. I’m not quite sure what’s in this deluxe edition, but it seems to me like nows the perfect time to reignite the flame, in old fans and newcomers alike.
Teen Age Riot – As the first track on the album, this song intrinsically linked with the album in my mind. The guitars are so simple yet perfect and as with the whole album, my dislike for long songs seems to simply vanish.
‘Cross The Breeze – This song must have made a pretty significant impression on me cause I was screaming the lyrics at people, much to their bewilderment, all last night. It represents the rougher, more frantic side of their sound.
3 comments:
Sonic Youth struck a deal with Starbucks. A compilation CD (favourite Sonic Youth songs picked by a bunch of people) is being exclusively sold at Starbucks. Ew. Story at pitchfork: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/43669-starbucks-to-release-sonic-youth-celebrity-compilation
It's a little silly to say they never reached a status of stardom. They most certainly did. I can remember them being on the radio often between 1990 and 1996. Not college radio stations; stations like New York City's Z100. They headlined large stadium shows (I remember seeing them at Randals Island in '94 or '95). They were quite a big deal. "Teenage Riot" was an anthem for me and almost everyone I knew when it came out. That makes it all the more interesting that they are big international stars and yet still all make interesting side projects with fantastic underground musicians, and help to foster the underground scenes. It's not just inspiration they give, but also support.
My first Sonic Youth's album, i love !!! You're right, it's really " a great introduction to the band " without being too easy-listening ;).
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