New Sonic Youth album has arrived. WOOT!

The diagnosis for studio album 16 from veteran underground rockers Sonic Youth? Rockin'. I think my post on Television was pretty timely- the passages in The Eternal seem to echo Marquee Moon and the eponymous Television album; dark moods and tension coiled, pretty and ugly vying for expression and possession of the song. The opener "Sacred Trickster" I had heard pre-launch, and it sounded classic Kim Gordon, bratty and petulant, stabbing and discordant while still rocking in an odd fashion. Check this clip from Later... With Jools Holland, one of Britain's great music showcases.



The second track on the album hooked me pretty hard- "Anti-Orgasm" grooves relentlessly and possesses an excellent bridge of messy, chopping, clanging guitar noise that is classic Youth. Also, the addition of Mark Ibold of Pavement has done wonders for their groove. It seemed with their jam phase that Jim O'Rourke was good as a multi-instrumentalist, but he played guitar more often than not as well as keys and bass.

With a dedicated bassist allowing Kim Gordon to step onto third guitar, the group seems to be recalling their late-80s days more than anything, but with an extra guitar and more killer bass grooves. Check this clip, again from Later With Jools Holland.



I've always preferred Lee's songs as a rule for most of the Youth's albums, and "What We Know" turned out as expected. Lee's "Rats" also had the most badass bassline on Rather Ripped, so there ya go. I can't believe that "Antenna" is the first Lee/Thurston vocal harmony- it really does work, it makes you wonder why a band with such usually unspectacular singers wouldn't just half-ass a few harmonies to cover up their vocal weaknesses in concert more often. Lee usually does fine on his own in a Beat/spoken word style, though. Usually only Kim truly grates my nerves, and only very occasionally- I usually have a perverse admiration for her growling and hollering delivery. I like the non-processed, amateur style in a way. It's the Youth's big "fuck you" toward vapid pop mavens, sorta like Television's Tom Verlaine being a less-than-fantastic crooner. It's these idiosyncrasies that make a band either special, or just plain annoying. Fortunately, I've opted to enjoy Sonic Youth. Back to 'in praise of musics'.

Steve Shelley is still a great drummer, machine-precise and not overly flashy, but he can really anchor down a heady jam. His trademark fills and metronome-accurate pounding really give the Youth the edge they lacked in their very early days- it's no wonder he's the only full-time drummer the Youth ever had for more than two albums.

All in all, The Eternal is about as far as one can get from 2006's Rather Ripped- few clean edges, tons of fraying and squalling and spitfire guitars slicing and singing relentless. Sure, some of the material is a bit clipped or drags, but that's the nature of the Youth. You gotta let their indulgences slide and let their strengths stick. If you can get past some of their quirks, as I have, you'll have a great time with their unique brand of revelling in noise.