Who are the original members of Sonic Youth?
Sonic Youth was an American rock band based in New York City, formed in 1981. Founding members Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals), Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar) and Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of the band, while Steve Shelley (drums) followed a series of short-term drummers in 1985,…
What is your review of Sonic Youth’s first album Confusion Is Sex?
Sonic Youth’s first full album, Confusion Is Sex, was an abrasive leap forward from their awkward, half-formed debut EP. Thrillingly, you can almost hear the band finding themselves as Shaking Hell plays.
What influenced Sonic Youth?
Moore said that Sonic Youth was heavily influenced by the Velvet Underground, along with The Stooges, Branca, Patti Smith, Wire, Public Image Ltd and French avant-gardist Brigitte Fontaine. They were also influenced by 1980s hardcore punk; after seeing Minor Threat perform in May 1982, Moore declared them “the greatest live band I have ever seen”.
What tunings were used in Sonic Youth’s sound?
Sonic Youth’s sound relied heavily on the use of alternative tunings. Scordatura on stringed instruments has been used for centuries and alternative guitar tunings had been used for decades in blues music, and to a limited degree in rock music (such as with Lou Reed’s Ostrich guitar on The Velvet Underground & Nico).
What happened to Bert from Sonic Youth?
Bert was fired afterwards and replaced by Jim Sclavunos, who played drums on the band’s first studio album, 1983’s Confusion Is Sex, which featured a louder and more dissonant sound than their debut EP. Sonic Youth set up a tour of Europe for the summer of 1983.
Was Sonic Youth signed to SST Records?
Sonic Youth had a long fascination with influential indie label SST Records. Ranaldo said, “It was the first record company we were on that we really would have given anything to be on.”. Sonic Youth eventually signed to the label in early 1986 and began recording EVOL with Martin Bisi in March of that year.
What is it about Sonic Youth?
Rock icons, pioneers of experimental pop and noise, agents of some of contemporary music’s most important moments and movements: Sonic Youth are tough to define and harder to understate.
How many Sonic Youth songs are there?
The discography of American rock band Sonic Youth comprises 15 studio albums, seven extended plays, three compilation albums, seven video releases, 21 singles, 46 music videos, ten releases in the Sonic Youth Recordings series, eight official bootlegs, and contributions to 16 soundtracks and other compilations.