Sonic Youth - Goo

  by Mark Rowland

published: 20 / 8 / 2005




Sonic Youth - Goo


Label: Polyder
Format: CD
Remastered re-release of Sonic Youth's 1990 'Goo' album, spread across two CDs, and with the addition of B sides, outtakes and demos



Review

Coming after Sonic Youth’s classic ‘Daydream Nation’, ‘Goo’ initially seemed like a disappointment for some fans, but although it wasn’t quite as good as ‘Daydream Nation’, it by all means wasn’t a bad album, and was Sonic Youth’s first to make the US Billboard album chart. It was also the first for Geffen Records, a move which would lead to other bands, including Nirvana, to do the same. Fifteen years since its original release, ‘Goo’ has been re-mastered and re-issued with plenty of B-sides, outtakes and demos, plus a tongue-in-cheek interview with the band that was released to the press only at the time. Many will be familiar with the original album. Rockier than its predecessor, ‘Goo’ includes Youth classics such as ‘Dirty Boots’ and ‘Kool Thing’, which features a cameo from Public Enemy’s Chuck D. Other tracks such as the atmospheric ‘Tunic (Song for Karen)’, the melodic yet feedback driven ‘Mote’ and the sweeping ‘Cinderella’s Big Score’ show a Sonic Youth that were still at their peak. The outtakes and B-sides are not bad either. ‘Lee#2’ is a pretty straightforward song, with a strong melody and an organ part. ‘That’s All I Know (Right Now)’ is a pretty faithful rendition of the Neon Boys original, though still manages to come off sounding like Sonic Youth. There’s also a storming live version of ‘The Bedroom’ and ‘Dr Benway’s House’, a short experimental track and the band’s contribution to William Burroughs’ album, ‘Dead City Radio’. The demos included on the second disc are basically rougher versions of the album tracks, though it is a surprise to see that some of the tracks are actually shorter than the versions on the album. ‘Dirty Boots’ and ‘Corky (Cinderella’s Big Score)’ are both longer than the studio versions, and towards the end of both tracks, it is interesting to hear them more loosely jammed out to a climax, giving them a more live feel. The ‘More Goo’ section of disc two has some interesting tracks, especially a reasonably faithful cover of the Beach Boy’s ‘I Know There’s An Answer’. Two instrumentals, ‘Can Song’ and ‘Isaac’ are pretty much what you’d expect from Sonic Youth instrumentals: feedback, strange yet beautiful chords and ever-shifting dynamics. The ‘Goo Interview Flexi’ is a strange and reasonably funny description of some of the tracks on ‘Goo’. It is, however, probably one of the most boring tracks on the album. This is a good introduction to Sonic Youth, but still has plenty for established fans, and is a good window into the making of the album through the outtakes, B-sides and demos.



Track Listing:-

1 Dirty Boots
2 Tunic (Song For Karen)
3 Mary-Christ
4 Kool Thing
5 Mote
6 My Friend Goo
7 Disappearer
8 Mildred Pierce
9 Cinderella's Big Score
10 Scooter And Jinx
11 Titanium Expose


Band Links:-

http://sonicyouth.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sonicyouth/
https://twitter.com/thesonicyouth



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Interviews


Interview with Steve Shelley (2004)
Sonic Youth - Interview with Steve Shelley
Remaining constantly inventive, Sonic Youth are soon to release their nineteenth album, 'Sonic Nurse'. Mark Rowland talks to drummer Steve Shelley about its creation,and their recent turn as curators at the All Tomorrow's Parties alternative rock festiva

Live Reviews


Roundhouse, London, 1/9/2007
Sonic Youth - Roundhouse, London, 1/9/2007
In the iconic recently opened venue of the Roundhouse in London, Dominic Simpson watches Sonic Youth in a 'Don't Look Back' show give a dynamic and forceful perfomance of their classic 1988 album, 'Daydream Nation'
Capital Music Hall, Ottawa, 6/8/2004
Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London,

Favourite Albums


Daydream Nation (2007)
Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
Jon Rogers looks at Sonic Youth's 1988 opus 'Daydream Nation'which has just been re-released with both additional songs and a whole extra disc of live versions of the album
Daydream Nation (2002)

Features


Sonic Youth 'EVOL' and 'Sister' (2011)
Sonic Youth - Sonic Youth 'EVOL' and 'Sister'
In our ‘Soundtrack of Our Lives’ column, in which our writers reflect upon music that has had a personal impact on them, Jon Rogers writes of Sonic Youth’s 1986 and 1987 albums, ‘EVOL’ and ‘Sister’
Reissues (2006)


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Soundcloud




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Smart Bar-Chicago 1985 (2013)
Forceful and raw live album from Sonic Youth, recorded at a 1985 Chicago club gig, which will be of appeal only to hardened fans
Simon Werner A Disparu (2011)
The Destroyed Room (2007)
Rather Ripped (2006)
Sonic Nurse (2004)
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