Interviews
Interview with Steve Shelley (2004)
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
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
Sonic Youth recently played Ottawa as part of their current world tour. While not as overwhelming as their reputation would suggest, Andrew Carver still finds them able to play a " very coo" show
Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London,
A large turnout and high expectations were all in order for Sonic Youth's first UK appearance this year since their controversial set at All Tomorrow's Parties. Before they began their set however, ou
Albums
Daydream Nation (2007)
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)
In the latest in our Favourite Album series, in which one of our writers writes about an album of his or her choice, Andy Snowball looks at Sonic Youth's classic 1988 album , 'Daydream Nation'
Features
Sonic Youth 'EVOL' and 'Sister' (2011)
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)
Mark Rowland assesses the recent reissues of three Sonic Youth-related albums-their self-titled 1982 mini album, side project Ciccone Youth's 1988 album 'The Whitey Album' and Thurston Moore's 1995 solo record 'Psychic Hearts'
Reviews
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)
Superb latest album from Sonic Youth composed for a French thriller, which maintains an excellent balance between both the New York-based band's traditional rock and more esoteric halves
The Destroyed Room (2007)
Largely instrumental and experimental, but rewarding compilation of outtakes, leftovers and odds and sods from Sonic Youth released to clear out their major label cupboard
Rather Ripped (2006)
Impressive new album from Sonic Youth, which, despite being their most conventional and straightforward record in some years, finds them having lost little of their explosive edge
Goo (2005)
Remastered re-release of Sonic Youth's 1990 'Goo' album, spread across two CDs, and with the addition of B sides, outtakes and demos
Sonic Nurse (2004)
19th album from the ever impressive Sonic Youth, which finds them as "strong a band as they ever were" and still capable of turning heads
Dirty (2003)
Worthy re-appraisal and re-evaluation with additional B sides and "rehearsal recordings" of Sonic Youth's much under-rated 1992 album, 'Dirty'
Related
Interviews
Lonna Kelley
Interview
Solo artist and Giant Sand member Lonna Kelley speaks to John Clarkson about her first single in four years, 'Will I See You?', and her new band Ard Eevin which includes Sonic Youth's Steve Shelley on drums.
Original Silence
Interview
Original Silence is an improvised alt rock/jazz formed by Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, and which also features Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and producer Jim O' Rourke. Mark Rowland talks to him about it, and 'The First Original Silence', the band's debut CD
Mainline
Interview
Six piece band Irish Mainline merge together distorted Jesus and Mary Chain style guitars with Spiritualised psychedelic grooves. Anthony Strutt chats to them about their first British single and touring with Primal Scream and Sonic Youth
Go ! Team
Interview with Ian Parton
The Go ! Team's mix of old school hip-hop, soul and funk, Sonic Youth style guitars and cheerleader samples have drawn them increasingly big audiences over the last year. The band's songwriter and leader Ian Parton speaks to Mark Rowland
Profiles
All Tomorrow's Parties
Minehead, Somerset, 8/12/2006...10/12/2006
Dominic Simpson casts his mind back on December's All Tomorrow's Parties long weekend, which was curated by Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, and featured performances from among others Fursaxa, Deerhof, the Gang of Four, Dinosaur Jr and Iggy and the Stooges
Live
Thurston Moore
Thurston Moore/Mark Gardener - Bodega, Nottingham, 12/11/2014
At the intimate Bodega in Nottingham, Anthony Strutt watches ex-Sonic Youth front man Thurston Moore, with Ride's Mark Gardener as support, play an intense but versatile set
Lee Ranaldo and the Dust
Garage, London, 21/11/2013
Adrian Janes watches former Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo, with a surprising support slot from his ex-band mate Thurston Moore, play a heartfelt and atmospheric set at the Garage in London
Hallogallo
Barbican, London, 27/10/2010
Hallogallo is the project of Neu's Michael Rother, Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley and Aaron Mullan from Tall Firs. Jon Rogers watches them play a forceful set at the Barbican in London
Albums
Pavement
Brighten the Corners
Jamie Rowland examines influential indie rock outfit Pavement's 1997 fourth album, 'Brighten the Corners', which has just been re-released in a new double CD edition
Features
Pavement
All Tomorrow’s Parties, Minehead, June 2010
Mark Rowland relives his favourite gig of all time, a long-awaited chance to see Pavement at their curated All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in Minehead
Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll
August 2008
In the latest episode of his 'Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll' column, Ben Howarth looks at some of the sacred cows of rock including the Rolling Stones, Pink Gloyd, Alanis Morrisette, Sonic Youth and Fleetwood Mac
Soundtrack of Our Lives
Teenage Life and Sonic Youth
In the latest instalment in our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives', in which our writers write about the effect of music at important times in their lives, Dominic Simpson tells of his teenage discovery of Sonic Youth