Sonic Youth (music group)
Sonic Youth was an influential American alternative rock band formed in 1981, known for its innovative sound that blended various music genres, including punk, noise rock, and psychedelic rock. The band's lineup initially featured guitarists Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo, and bassist Kim Gordon, who played a pivotal role in their music. Sonic Youth gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly with the release of their acclaimed double album Daydream Nation in 1988, often regarded as their masterpiece. Throughout their career, they produced several notable albums, such as Goo (1990) and Dirty (1992), which further solidified their impact on the alternative music scene.
The band continued to release music until their disbandment in 2011, following the announcement of Moore and Gordon's divorce. Their legacy endures, as they are celebrated for their artistic experimentation and contributions to the underground music movement. In recent years, Sonic Youth has remained relevant, with a compilation album released in 2021 and individual members continuing to share their experiences through memoirs. The band's cultural influence continues to resonate in contemporary music and pop culture.
Sonic Youth (music group)
Sonic Youth was an American alternative rock band that produced its most important work in the 1980s and 1990s. The band released several albums, including Bad Moon Rising (1985), Daydream Nation (1988), Goo (1990), Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star (1994), Ghosts & Flowers (2000), and Rather Ripped (2006). Daydream Nation is widely considered the group's masterpiece. Sonic Youth has proven to be an influential band in the world of alternative rock and noise rock. The band disbanded in 2011 after founders Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon announced their plans to divorce.
Formation and Early Years
Sonic Youth formed in 1981 with guitarists Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo and bassist Kim Gordon, who was Moore's girlfriend. That summer, the band played its first live show in New York City at the Noise Fest, an event that Moore and Gordon helped to organize. Anne DeMarinis and Richard Edson were part of the band for the festival, playing keyboards and drums, respectively. Soon after the festival, DeMarinis left the group.
In 1982, Sonic Youth released its debut EP (extended play album, which contains more music than a single but less than a full album), Sonic Youth. Edson left the band in 1983 and was replaced by drummer Bob Bert. That same year, the band released its first full album, Confusion Is Sex and conducted a European tour. Also in 1983, the group released a second EP, Kill Yr Idols. The following year, Paul Smith of Doublevision, a British indie record label, formed Blast First Records with the intention of putting out Sonic Youth records. Smith then secured a distribution deal with Rough Trade, another British indie label. In the middle of these negotiations, Sonic Youth released a live album, Sonic Death: Sonic Youth Live.
In 1985, Sonic Youth released Bad Moon Rising, which marked the band's first album with Blast First Records. The album had a different sound than previous Sonic Youth releases in that it featured jarring guitar feedback within pop song arrangements. The album received positive reviews and helped the band garner attention from the underground music scene. Also in 1985, the group released the EP Death Valley '69. Shortly afterward, Steve Shelley replaced Bert as drummer. Sonic Youth then signed with SST Records, an American independent label. The band's next release, EVOL, hit the market in 1986. The following year, the band released Sister. By this time, the band was a popular, well-established group on college and alternative rock radio stations.
Ciccone Youth
In 1988, Sonic Youth began a side project, a band called Ciccone Youth. The group was named after pop superstar Madonna, whose full name is Madonna Louise Ciccone. Ciccone Youth, which was essentially a prank band, demonstrated the group’s fascination with pop culture, of which Madonna was a huge part.
In 1988, the group released The Whitey Album. The album contains "Into the Groovey," which is a cover of Madonna's "Into the Groove" and includes Madonna's sampled voice. The Whitey Album also includes "Burnin' Up," another Madonna cover, as well as a karaoke version of "Addicted to Love," a popular song by singer-songwriter Robert Palmer. Ciccone Youth released only one album.
Daydream Nation
Later in 1988, Sonic Youth released the double album Daydream Nation. The album proved to be the group's breakthrough album, as it is considered a masterpiece. One of the album's most notable songs is the opening track, "Teen Age Riot," which stands at nearly seven minutes long. Daydream Nation also contains other long tracks of more than seven minutes apiece. These tracks showcase the band's melodic structures and extended jams. As a whole, the album highlights solid guitar interplay between Moore and Ranaldo, a commanding rhythm section from Gordon and Shelley, and song structures that combine several music genres, including boogie, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, and punk. Daydream Nation helped establish Sonic Youth as one of the best alternative rock and noise rock bands in the country.
Other Releases
In 1990, Sonic Youth signed with DGC, a major label. Later that year, the group released Goo. The album was the band's first to surpass the top 100 on the U.S. charts, peaking at #96. Following the release of Goo, Sonic Youth opened for Neil Young on the legendary rocker's arena tour. The band then released Dirty in 1992. The album produced several hits, including "100%," "Sugar Kane," and "Youth Against Fascism." Dirty furthered Sonic Youth's place in the alternative rock and noise rock world.
Sonic Youth released Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star in 1994. Although the album received mixed reviews, it peaked at #34 on the US charts, the highest position of any Sonic Youth album. Also in 1994, Moore and Gordon had a daughter together. The couple had been married for several years prior to her birth.
In 1995, Sonic Youth headlined the Lollapalooza package tour. That same year, the band released Washing Machine to positive critical reviews. Following the release of several EPs, the group put out another full-length album, A Thousand Leaves, in 1998. Two years later, the band released NYC Ghosts & Flowers. Musician Jim O'Rourke contributed to the album and later became a member of the band. Sonic Youth released Murray Street in 2002 and Sonic Nurse in 2004. The following year, O'Rourke left the group. Sonic Youth went on to release several more albums, including Rather Ripped in 2006 and The Eternal in 2009.
After twenty-seven years of marriage, Moore and Gordon separated and announced their plans to divorce in 2011. Sonic Youth disbanded shortly after this. In 2015, Gordon published the autobiography Girl in a Band. During the 2020 COVID-19 global pandemic, Sonic Youth sold official face masks featuring art from their album Sonic Nurse and donated the proceeds to charity. In 2021, the band released a compilation album, In/out/In, featuring five unreleased singles recorded between 2000 and 2010. In 2023, Moore published Sonic Life: A Memoir.
Bibliography
Deming, Mark. "Ciccone Youth." AllMusic, 2024, www.allmusic.com/artist/ciccone-youth-mn0000120960#biography. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.
Deming, Mark. "Daydream Nation: Overview." AllMusic, 2024, www.allmusic.com/album/daydream-nation-mw0000652888. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.
Phares, Heather. "Sonic Youth: Biography." AllMusic, 2024, www.allmusic.com/artist/sonic-youth-mn0000755156/biography. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.
Yarm, Mark. "Thurston Moore's Electrifying History Lesson." The New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/10/19/arts/music/thurston-moore-sonic-life.html. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.