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New York City, New York, United States (1981 – present)
Sonic Youth is an influential experimental rock band which formed in New York City, New York, United States in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore (vocals, guitar), Kim Gordon (vocals, bass, guitar), Lee Ranaldo (vocals and guitar), Mark Ibold (bass) and Steve Shelley (drums).
In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City. Part of the first wave of American noise rock groups, the band carried out their interpretation of the hardcore punk ethos throughout the evolving American underground that focused more on the DIY ethic of the genre rather than its specific sound. As a result, Sonic Youth was pivotal in the rise of the alternative rock movement.
Sonic Youth have expressed a wide variety of influences, ranging from the influential protopunk musician Patti Smith to composer John Cage. The band has been praised for having “redefined what rock guitar could do”, using a wide variety of unorthodox guitar tunings, and preparing guitars with objects like drumsticks and screwdrivers to alter the instruments’ timbre.
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Formation and early history: 1977-1981
Sonic Youth’s history began when guitarist Thurston Moore moved to New York City in early 1976. Interested in punk, Moore joined The Coachmen, a guitar-based quartet, after arriving in the city. Lee Ranaldo, an art student at Binghamton University, became a fan of the Coachmen, and he and Moore were soon friends. Ranaldo was a member of Glenn Branca’s electric guitar ensemble, touring throughout the United States and Europe. After the breakup of the Coachmen, Moore began jamming with Stanton Miranda, whose band, ckm, featured local artist Kim Gordon.
In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City. Part of the first wave of American noise rock groups, the band carried out their interpretation of the hardcore punk ethos throughout the evolving American underground that focused more on the DIY ethic of the genre rather than its specific sound. As a result, Sonic Youth was pivotal in the rise of the alternative rock movement.
Sonic Youth have expressed a wide variety of influences, ranging from the influential protopunk musician Patti Smith to composer John Cage. The band has been praised for having “redefined what rock guitar could do”, using a wide variety of unorthodox guitar tunings, and preparing guitars with objects like drumsticks and screwdrivers to alter the instruments’ timbre.
______________________________
Formation and early history: 1977-1981
Sonic Youth’s history began when guitarist Thurston Moore moved to New York City in early 1976. Interested in punk, Moore joined The Coachmen, a guitar-based quartet, after arriving in the city. Lee Ranaldo, an art student at Binghamton University, became a fan of the Coachmen, and he and Moore were soon friends. Ranaldo was a member of Glenn Branca’s electric guitar ensemble, touring throughout the United States and Europe. After the breakup of the Coachmen, Moore began jamming with Stanton Miranda, whose band, ckm, featured local artist Kim Gordon.
Top Albums
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Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth
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Goo
Sonic Youth Buy- Download Album
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Dirty
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Rather Ripped
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Top Tracks
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Superstar
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Kool Thing
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Dirty Boots
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Incinerate
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100%
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Sugar Kane
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Kissability
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Shoutbox
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Know_Yr_Rights wrote:
EJS needs more Lee.
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peter21 wrote:
good songs on Goo; Titanium Expose, Cinderella's Big Score, Mote, Tunic and some of the live tracks at the end of the Japanese version I own. The live tracks are White Cross,Eric's Trip, Cinderella's Big Score and The Bedroom. I do agree with SirMonty but i don't think it's a masterpiece.
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peter21 wrote:
Goo has no shredability.
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Mikamoto wrote:
Wall of text. Enjoy.
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Mikamoto wrote:
I don't listen to Dirty or Goo that often. I also feel like Dirty isn't even an album, but simply a collection of songs glued together, although I admit that some of those songs simply rule! There's just something about Goo that makes not listen to it too often. I really don't enjoy Bad Moon Rising that much, but I haven't listened to it that much so maybe I should judge it just yet. The hate for EJSTNS is something I can somewhat understand, but can't agree with. I think it's completely kind of unique SY release that sounds little like anything else they've done, but I admit that it's really inbalanced. However, songs like Sweet Shine and Winner's Blues are great even if they're not like typical Sonic Youth songs (if there even is such a thing as a typical SY song).
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peter21 wrote:
compared to some of the early stuff Goo just doesn't stand up. Sister and Daydream Nation are Sonic Youth's best, but for some reason I find Goo boring. my opinion.
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SirMothy wrote:
I agree with Monty and Higginst about Dirty but completely disagree with peter21 about Goo. Goo is one of their best albums imo. I would rank it in the top 5, maybe 2,3, or 4, I can't decide. But it's virtually perfect, Dirty boots, Tunic, Mote, Kool Thing, Disappearer, Titanium Expose are some of the best Sonic Youth tracks period. Yeah some of the songs near the end blow like My Friend Goo. And Mildred Pierce and Scooter+Jinx are random and ruin the flow but at least it ends with Titanium Expose which is one of my favorite SY songs. How you can badmouth such a masterpiece...
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higginst wrote:
You really hit the nail on the head with Dirty, Monty. And seeing as the CD version of BMR was released only a year after the LP, I don't see any reason why the CD bonus tracks should be excluded from being a part of the album based merely on a technicality, but that's just my opinion. In any case, for me, BMR is simply not complete without the CD bonus tracks. It's like those people who consider self-titled to be an entire album based simply on its 2006 re-release with the live tracks bringing it up to album length, a sentiment I personally disagree with, but whatever.
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Monty__ wrote:
Hmm yes, not for putting all the blame on Butch Vig, but there's something with the production that doesn't seem quite right. And yeah, I really like JC.
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duzguneser wrote:
This guy wrote a history and are still making music to listen to....
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duzguneser wrote:
This guy wrote a history and are still making music to listen to....
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nancykitten wrote:
That's a really interesting point, monty. Dirty plays more like a greatest hits or something. It doesn't feel like a proper studio album. I wonder if that's Butch Vig's influence: they never seemed to fully click with one another. There's some underrated gems on there though, such as JC and Purr.
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Spark_and_Spark wrote:
"Halloween" and "Flower" aren't on Bad Moon Rising! They're separate singles! ...Uh, sorry... Thought I'd just chime in there... (On the subject, I can't really decide which I think is better out of CIS and BMR. Gonna have to give it more time.)
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Monty__ wrote:
Confusion is Sex is indeed better, but Bad Moon Rising has many great songs. My relation to Dirty is a little strange, I love a bunch of it's songs but as a whole I've never really liked it. It's like a collection of great songs where I prefer listening to some songs separately instead of all of them together.
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SirMothy wrote:
I find Confusion is Sex to be better than Bad Moon Rising. ITs not that I hate Bad Moon Rising, i just think it's meh..
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higginst wrote:
Bad Moon Rising is one of my absolute favourites. So many stand out SY tracks - Brave Men Run, I'm Insane, Justice Is Might, Hallowe'en, Flower.... agh so good.
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nancykitten wrote:
I really like Dirty.
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SirMothy wrote:
EJS is one of their worst. I also don't like Dirty too much either, I can't really count the first EP cause its not a full album. I dont really like Bad Moon Rising besides Death Valley 69 but besides EJS and Dirty I cant think of a Sy album that I literally dont like
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higginst wrote:
I get bored listening to Dirty, and it's undeniable that EJS is lacking a certain something. I think I prefer EJS at the end of the day though.
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Monty__ wrote:
The bottom five: EJS < RR < Dirty < The Eternal < SY
Videos
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Events
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Nov
22
Sonic Youth
Wilbur Theatre, Boston, United States
10 shouts
| 85 attendees
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Nov
23
Sonic Youth
Wilbur Theatre, Boston, United States
7 shouts
| 50 attendees
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Nov
24
Sonic Youth
Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY, New York, United States
Add shout
| 20 attendees
News
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SILVER SESSIONS AND DOWNLOADS
4 Nov 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/sonicyouth -
31 Oct 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/sonicyouth -
29 Oct 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/sonicyouth
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Recent Activity
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dinglis_na, powercosmik, ecosta1 and 3 other people added Sonic Youth to their libraries. 16 minutes ago
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sigmagalator tagged Sonic Youth with ‘noise rock’. yesterday evening
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brittneyleigh11, bunbunb, CSarPB and 2 other people added Sonic Youth to their libraries. yesterday evening
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About_Face wrote about Sonic Youth in Seen Live. yesterday evening
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kaylastarkiller tagged Sonic Youth with ‘bands i have seen’. yesterday evening
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travelin_man wrote about Sonic Youth in 51 great album of 2009. yesterday evening
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Related Journals
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Seen Live
by About_Face |
21 Nov 2009 | Add comment
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by callistoxxx |
21 Nov 2009 | Add comment
Groups (867)
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NYC Ghosts and Flowers Appreciation
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Kim Gordon
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Fender Jazzmaster
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