Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:43 pm
Posts: 12275
Location: The Already, Not Yet.
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Right now I am going through my new purchases....
bought used:
New:
 <--The Locust--Flight of the Wounded Locust EP
Here's my review of SYR6
The SYR series that Sonic Youth puts out is just one of those things as a SY fan that can get you into trouble. On one hand, if yr a completist like myself, you have to pick it up, but then on the way to the register you begin to think, "am I buying this because the SY name is on it, or will I trully like this?" I could never see someone other than a fan of SY or John Cage picking up these releases. They often range from odd to bizarre. Noisy, and abrasive at points, delicately grazing the amp at others. The best description I can make up to explain to you the experience of listening to a good SYR release is this: Lay on your back in your bedroom. Make sure you allow a sliver of sunlight in so that it resides on the floor. Now keep laying there, and allow the light to pass across your forehead/face as the hours/minutes gently float by. When that light permeates your skull, millions of tiny light rays will be bouncing inside of your head, playing tag, or talking about high school romances. That is the feeling of a SYR release...when they are good. The bad ones tend to meander around, skulking or trying to be badasses when really you know they have a healthy collection of shitty records at home.
SYR6 arrived in stores recently. I wasn't even that excited about it, as the last one was just terrible, and I don't think I've listened to it since I purchased it. Nonetheless, when the opportunity arose to take Sam to Frederick, I lept at the idea of maybe picking it up. It was in my hand pretty much as soon as the door closed behind me, and well, I was a little bit giddy by the time I presented my "club card". Out into the cold air, back into the car, out comes Devendra, in goes SY. Traffic is horrid on 70 and all I have is this document, lasered onto plastic. Minimalistic animal noise emanating from my speakers, my hands caressing the wheel. Millions of glimmers, 5,000 more red flashes. The lack of guitars worries me and before I can get off the exit I've somehow merged into a whole new movement of the song. 20 minutes in. I start thinking about how this was recorded. Echo Canyon. Various members coming in afterhours, coffee, tea, perhaps a beer leaving a ring on an amp. I imagine these things as I change lanes. Then it happens..................................................................................................
applause. My fucking lord, they did this live. Amazing.
At that moment my entire outlook on the record changed and I was listening more intently than I was before. Blockbuster, Martins, Hagerstown Trust. Kim starts warbling. I wonder if there is a Free Kitten fanclub? I think about Steve Shelley and how he is playing the beats I want to hear. I think about my old friend Steve who introduced me to SY in hs, and wonder if he still listens to them? Probably not.
I pull into the parking garage, and eject the disc. I listened to half of the disc and I am in love. Amazingly well done, and despite my overbearing need to justify this release as proof as their next album will be good, I cannot, as I know the theme. SYR are experimental and loose, albums not so much. This is the Sonic Youth I love. This is what makes me want to go to a concert. Not some new-fangled popsong with twirling guitars.
Welcome home Thurston, Kim, Lee and Steve.
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It's Baltimore, gentlemen; the gods will not save you.
Baltimore is a town where everyone thinks they’re normal, but they’re totally insane. In New York, they think they’re crazy, but they’re perfectly normal. --John Waters
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