sonic youth interview (rock express)

french TV (m6)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• sonic
• youth
• kim
• gordon
• thurston
• moore
• lee
• ranaldo
• steve
• shelley

[zeecount]

We need more bands like this to prevent the mainstream being overtaken by disposable pop music.

[jeff3209]

I'm quite critical about music, but I love Sonic Youth. They've remained true to their name, always evolving.

[GrungeRockabilly]

@zeecount Fuck the mainstream!

[jas22]

@idealtypical you dont have to apologize! but its cool that someone still has manners :) "thousand leaves'? no, i hadnt really listened to that one. what i will get next is: "Evol", and "bad moon rising". i might have had 'evol' years ago and had it stolen, i think. "the eternal" i do like, actually - i heard most of it on youtube.

[nick4man3]

@idealtypical

Because their lyrics are nonsense. I thought we covered that already?

[idealtypical]

@nick4man3 I -"...but if it were any other band I'd pass. There's a degree of understanding that is required.... A seemingly stupid band actually requires a certain level of intellect."

Wait, & you were just throwing around the phrase 'pretentious nonsense'? With respect, what is your rationale for calling SY a "seemingly stupid band"? Don't get me wrong, I'm happy you like SY & that you're defending them, but your aesthetic characterization seems to be based on some weird assumptions.

[idealtypical]

@jas22 - Sorry for piggybacking onto your conversation, but have you checked out A Thousand Leaves? One of my favorite SY albums EVER. Not sure exactly what it is you find boring about other recent albums, but if you like it when SY is kind of raw & sprawling, capable of epic gorgeousness & even tenderness, 1000 Leaves is well worth your time. Personally, I loved Murray Street, but it's definitely 'tidier' somehow than some of my other faves (eg EVOL), although Lee's song has that noise section.

[jas22]

@jeff3209 im sorry to say - ive sampled their songs from their last FIVE albums. i havent liked an album since "Experimental Jet Set...". it kills me, but i find them so boring. do you like their last 4 or so albums? id LOVE to get them, but i dont enjoy what i hear. even "murray street" i have so much trouble getting through. what a snoozer.

[nick4man3]

@Bobjb999 Without a doubt. I think that's sort of the point, though. They came from No Wave NYC, so taking the piss out of the seriousness of music is half the battle for them. I think that's why I can listen to Sonic Youth, but if it were any other band I'd pass. There's a degree of understanding that is required when it comes to Sonic Youth, which is what makes them so legendary. A seemingly stupid band actually requires a certain level of intellect.

[Bobjb999]

@nick4man3 I agree SY's lyrics are too often deliberately oblique & obscure to the point they communicate little or nothing too meaningful. They some times demonstrate they can sing when they want to (e.g. Kim's voice on "Kool Thing" is pleasantly restrained, instead of that irritating feeble-shriek thing she often opts for) . Similarly, they've demonstrated they can write affecting & comprehensible lyrics too when they want to. (e.g "The Wonder"). But it's too bad they don't usually want to!

[nick4man3]

@Bobjb999

I agree to a certain extent, especially Kim, she's had some seriously questionable songs. On their last 2 or 3 albums, I don't think that was the case. The Eternal, Rather Ripped and Sonic Nurse all had great vocal outputs by everyone. I think the lyrics are their biggest downfall. A lot of it's pretentious nonsense. None of that ever bothered me though. I think there are things that Sonic Youth get away with that no other band could. It's their intangible qualities that define them.

[Bobjb999]

@fungamesss SY doesn't treat guitar playing as a joke,but too often they treat singing as a joke,sadly.This irritates me more with time,not less.Kim's worst offender,Thurston 2nd. A drunk homeless woman randomly pulled off the street could sing better than off-key-Kim does 70% of the time.Lee Renaldo should sing all their songs instead of just a few.He's the only one who tries 100%.Or else SY should become an instrumental band like the Ventures or Shadows of the '60s.SY could be much greater..