Sonic Youth... WTF???

[Red_Label]

Sometimes I tune into ACL to see "interesting" bands. Never bothered to check out Sonic Youth before (I've been into music since the 70s), but always just had a feeling they were a bunch of horrible hacks having spasms on stage.

And ayup... pretty lame. Hard to believe that musicians are working hard at their craft and chops all over the world, and the vast majority of them will never be as well-known as these friggin turds in their 40s or 50s who still sound like they just picked-up a guitar last week. (And I don't wanna hear about songwriting being their strength instead of chops... because their songs seem as bad as their chops are, if not worse.)

Seriously though... it's like a horrible train wreck/car accident.... I just can't look away. I keep watching to see if they can break new ground in terms of PURE suckage.

 

[Mailman1971]

I only know the one song from them "Cool thing"....and yeah...I liked it!

 

[Red_Label]

I only know the one song from them "Cool thing"....and yeah...I liked it!

Not familiar with that one (or any others for that matter).

I've always liked some of the Smashing Pumpkins' tunes. So I can deal with punkish/whatever rock that's not virtuoso 80s rock like what I grew up with. But seriously... if these guys were playing in a garage down the block and I walked by, I'd be like "what the HELL are they doing in there???"

 

[stephen sawall]

I have seen them live a few times ... I like them. The sound you are describing is accurate ~ intentional & controlled. Obviously not everyone is going to like what they do.

Here is a cover song they do that I feel is some of their better work...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y21VecIIdBI

 

[Red_Label]

I have seen them live a few times ... I like them. The sound you are describing is accurate ~ intentional & controlled. Obviously not everyone is going to like what they do.

Here is a cover song they do that I feel is some of their better work...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y21VecIIdBI

That cover's not too bad. I do prefer The Carpenter's original version though.

And yeah... SY definitely is in-sync with their "hacky spasms". No question about that. And clearly, that style is their schtick and throwing virtuoso shredding in there would be absurd. It just drives me nuts when people play lead/solos who clearly have NO idea what they're doing. And none of them do.

At any rate... to each his or her own. It really doesn't bother me that people like bands like this anymore. I keep tuning in to stuff like this to always try just "one more time" to catch whatever it is that I seem to be missing. But always end-up finding myself completely befuddled as to why people do like it when IMO there is a world overflowing with amazing talent that leaves me in awe. But such is the world of "art"...

 

[Red_Label]

BTW... I tuned-in to ACL one night last year and saw this "horn band" on-stage and thought to myself "this is going to be a short viewing session before I change the channel". The band/artist was Trombone Shorty. I found myself transfixed in short order and just dug the total hell out of it (despite not liking brass band music). They were tight, they were funky, they were happening, they were GOOD. So that's why I always try to give bands that fall outside my normal interests a chance... because I do like my musical world to keep expanding.

 

[benduncan]

how popular do you think they are? the majority of young people(12-20) dont know who sonic youth is. as far as rock goes, liking bands from the 60's and 70's is far more trendy

 

[Red_Label]

how popular do you think they are? the majority of young people(12-20) dont know who sonic youth is. as far as rock goes, liking bands from the 60's and 70's is far more trendy

Well, they're not topping any charts. But I'd guess that most people into rock music who are probably 25-50 have at least heard of them. As opposed to the millions of musicians in the world who will never be known outside of their own small circles or towns.

 

[stephen sawall]

That cool ....

Believe it or not I saw a short video piece on them & a early clip had them playing not shred but some pretty interesting "normal" lead work. They explained that they felt that this kind of thing had been done & they want to explore different textures / etc. When I had seen them live it was at shows with several bands .... Plenty of people at the shows you could tell really had no idea what to expect & did not like it ...lol.
To be honest when I have seen them live at times I definitively thought "WTF" myself a few times. It is what it is....
Kim Gordon - the bass player is one of the most emotional sings I have ever seen. I really feel if she was in a "normal" band a lot of people would be really into it.

 

[benduncan]

how popular do you think they are? the majority of young people(12-20) dont know who sonic youth is. as far as rock goes, liking bands from the 60's and 70's is far more trendy

Well, they're not topping any charts. But I'd guess that most people into rock music who are probably 25-50 have at least heard of them. As opposed to the millions of musicians in the world who will never be known outside of their own small circles or towns.

thats definitely true

 

[skoora]

I think Dirty is a great album. In general I'm not a fan but I do like that record a lot.

 

[D-Rock]

Hey now, don't go lumping the Smashing Pumpkins in with that Sonic Youth crap! LoL.
Listen to Gish if you want a great guitar album from the Pumpkins. Corgan can rip it up, it just became boring to him after '92.

 

[Motorpud]

I have seen them live a few times ... I like them. The sound you are describing is accurate ~ intentional & controlled. Obviously not everyone is going to like what they do.

Here is a cover song they do that I feel is some of their better work...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y21VecIIdBI

That cover's not too bad. I do prefer The Carpenter's original version though.

And yeah... SY definitely is in-sync with tisheir "hacky spasms". No question about that. And clearly, that style is their schtick and throwing virtuoso shredding in there would be absurd. It just drives me nuts when people play lead/solos who clearly have NO idea what they're doing. And none of them do.

At any rate... to each his or her own. It really doesn't bother me that people like bands like this anymore. I keep tuning in to stuff like this to always try just "one more time" to catch whatever it is that I seem to be missing. But always end-up finding myself completely befuddled as to why people do like it when IMO there is a world overflowing with amazing talent that leaves me in awe. But such is the world of "art"...

I feel the same way about Devin Townsend. I just don't see what everyone else sees even though I always hear how great he is here.

Not to make negativity my theme for the day, but Billy Corgan can suck a nut. That guy is one of the worst singers ever. If it weren't for him whiny sound-alikes like that guy from our lady peace wouldn't even exist.

 

[Rock Bodom]

Kim Gordon - the bass player is one of the most emotional sings I have ever seen. I really feel if she was in a "normal" band a lot of people would be really into it.

Very much agree!

 

[freeballinusa]

I LOVE sonic youth, People thought Hendrix was sloppy and Miles played out of tune__
I do not think you have listened to enough of their HUGE catalog to 'get it' or 'get why' However if you don't like it that's cool!

 

[tfridgen]

I LOVE sonic youth, People thought Hendrix was sloppy and Miles played out of tune__
I do not think you have listened to enough of their HUGE catalog to 'get it' or 'get why' However if you don't like it that's cool!

+1
One of my favourite bands, brings me back to grade 8/9, they really changed the direction of my musical tastes. I think without them I wouldn't have known that music is what you want it to be, your own expressions and your own soul.

 

[Rash]

I am not a big fan of sonic youth but I adore this song from them
http://vimeo.com/41365665
soooooooooo cool and haunting, prefer Gordons voice

They come from another angle (new york art scene)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=DE&v=sqHz7cUw4Ls&hl=de
, which is/was never "getting chops" or blah, no one said they play godlike...so absolutely no problem with them.
They are not blues influenced, much more cluster, velvet underground, it is was never about rhythmic perfection and musicianship

That said, I very often hate the drummer (uptempo songs) but enjoy their "soundscapes" cluster very cool tunings/vibes....very influential on bands (even with better musicianship) which I love/prefer.
Slint: Spiderland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoH5MPIgM7c
Girls against Boys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1YPAYDwrR0
Deerhoof
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4laVvRawXz0


Kai

 

[Rash]

btw.

"And ayup... pretty lame. Hard to believe that musicians are working hard at their craft and chops all over the world"

This is stupid coming from a rock and roll background

You do not need very much chops for certain styles, simple, wanna get your rock ass busted join jazzers and classical musicians... every gospel chops drummer is laughing about most hard rock drummer´s musicianship

Kai

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Sonic youth is amazing, seen that band a lot as a kid. avant garde art as music.

You may not like the end result but I'd like to see any of you reinvent yourself, your playing, your style, your gear, and your tuning from song to song over 10 or so albums. Until then don't be so judgemental.


Don't like it don't listen , it doesn't mean it has no value.

 

[chunktone]

Don't like it don't listen , it doesn't mean it has no value.

To use the same logic,

Just because you like them, doesn't mean it has value.


Personally, I think they suck hole!