Sonic Youth - The Eternal
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CD Details
Artist: Sonic YouthBrand: Baker & Taylor
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
CD Release Date: 2009-06-09
Model: 00744861082927
Music Label: Matador Records
Soundtracks:
- Sacred Trickster
- Anti-Orgasm
- Leaky Lifeboat (for Gregory Corso)
- Antenna
- What We Know
- Calming The Snake
- Poison Arrow
- Malibu Gas Station
- Thunderclap For Bobby Pyn
- No Way
- Walkin Blue
- Massage The History
Music reviews of The Eternal
Music Review: Eternally Excellent
Rating: 5 Stars
Album #16 by the Greatest American Rock Band of the Last 25 Years, and their first with Matador after a long stretch with Geffen, a major label (do those actually exist anymore? Does anyone care?). Therefore, the returning to the indie ranks of what many think of as the quintessential "indie" band should be something of an event. "The Eternal" should be a double disc concept album with guest appearances by musical luminaries that Sonic Youth have influenced throughout their almost 30-year existence. Thankfully, that's the furthest thing from the band's mind. As a matter of fact, this could easily be called business as usual--just 12 tracks of oddly-tuned, noisy, but also melodic, rock. Former Pavement bassist Mark Ibold is now an "official" member, but he fits into the sound so seamlessly it's like he's always been around. There's pretty much nothing here the band hasn't done before, and better. Why, they could've called the album "Ho Hum."
Except...
Even when Sonic Youth seem to be spinning their wheels, they're still the best thing happening in rock music. With the indie scene drifting towards the softer sounds of Grizzly Bear (who are also pretty damn cool, even if they refuse to rock), SY are holding down the fort for the type of thing that's definitely not soft, but also not too noisy as well (see: Prurient, Mouthus, Yellow Swans etc.). The band's last album, Rather Ripped, was actually pretty soft by their standards, but an excellent "indie" pop album nonetheless. Now, in the loving embrace of Matador, which is run the band's longtime friend Gerard Cosloy, they have what is something of a mediocre album in the context of their catalog (better than Experimental Jet Set, Trash & No Star but not as good as Washing Machine, to say nothing of their "classic" 80's output). Is that bad news, or even something worth less than 5 stars? Heck no, hipsters!
Opening with the distorted art punk of "Sacred Trickster" is a sure sign that the band hasn't softened up a bit, then following that up with the even more aggressive "Anti-Orgasm" only confirms that, even as the last minute of it drifts off into psychedelic bliss. "Leaky Lifeboat (For Gregory Corso)" is an obviously beat-inspired ditty that twists around like a slam poet having an epileptic fit. "Antenna" buzzes like some audio parasite wrapping itself around your brain stem. "Poison Arrow" starts of as one the band's trademark melodic rockers (a la "Sugar Kane") until it starts stomping around in a fit of sweet aggression. The slow-burning "Malibu Gas Station" is clearly influenced by some ot the band's work on Daydream Nation as it patiently builds into a head of orgasmic steam. While most of the songs keep themselves under the five-minute mark (no "Diamond Sea" here, folks), the only song to jam out is the meditative closer, "Massage The History," which drifts in and out of noisy strorm clouds in "just" 9:46. None of this will come as a surprise to Sonic Youth fans. Even as the album bouces from one style to the next, from post-punk to post-beat, pychedelia to no-wave, it becomes clear that the band's biggest influence these days...is themselves. And who can blame them? Their influence on any worthwhile rock music since the early 80's is unquestioned, so why not rest on your laurels a little?
The Kool Thing here is that it never comes off as self-indulgent. Even if your hoping for a Major Statement from the Elder Statesmen, the band just wants to keep rocking out, without having to push the boundaries even further. Besides, after all the boundary-pushing they've already done, there's not much further they can go without seeming desperate, or wrorse, a cartoon. This Sonic Youth album may be just like your mom and dad's Sonic Youth, and damn it, that's good enough for me.
Description of The Eternal
After years on Geffen Records, Sonic Youth return to an indie label with their sixteenth studio album. "The Eternal" is a supercharged rocker, recalling aspects of the Evol-Sister-Daydream Nation holy trinity, but with cleaner, louder production and more straightforward momentum. With Pavement's Mark Ibold joining on bass, and producer John Agnello back at the controls, "The Eternal" takes the melodic songwriting of 2006's "Rather Ripped" and slams down the accelerator pedal. Initial pressing in a 4-panel wallet with two printed inner sleeves; one containing disc, the other a sticker and card with credits. Subsequent pressings are jewel case. Double LP hyper-deluxe HQ 180 RTI vinyl analog in heavy duty Stoughton gatefold sleeve, printed inner sleeves, and MP3 coupon.Alternative Rock CDs
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