Lunch with Sonic Youth today – recorded in Dusseldorf on April 4, 1996 by WDR in Germany.
Sonic Youth’s influence is widespread across the spectrum of alternative and underground music. The staff of Spin wrote, “It’s hard to imagine where we would be without Sonic Youth. It’s unlikely another smart post-punk band founded around the same time—Big Black, the Meat Puppets—could have delivered us from hardcore’s fury quite the same way. What would indie rock sound like if Sonic Youth’s sublime din hadn’t enchanted and derailed all the college rock bands of the mid-’80s? We would have only been left with a bunch of sanguine Feelies rip offs, never having the chance to divulge a crush via careful mixtape placement of ‘Shadow of A Doubt’.” Jeff Terich of Stereogum wrote, “No artist did more for noise rock’s reputation—or for that matter noise’s reputation—than Sonic Youth. They brought it to a wider audience, made a handful of hit alt-rock singles out of it, crashed grunge as it was happening, and became a beloved institution, despite the fact that the bulk of their catalog features some pretty weird stuff. … Their noise wasn’t just unique—no other band could replicate it.” Heather Phares of AllMusic wrote, “As they redefined what noise meant within rock & roll – and what success meant for a band with experimental roots – Sonic Youth became one of the most influential, and popular, acts to emerge from the American underground. Their inventive use of alternate tunings, dissonance, and feedback, which they combined with the intensity of hardcore punk and the performance art aesthetic of New York’s avant-garde, created a new sonic landscape with an impact that lasted for decades.”
Stephen Malkmus, frontman of indie rock band Pavement, drew inspiration from Sonic Youth for his guitar technique, and has credited the band with giving him “the idea and courage” to explore alternate tunings. Sleater-Kinney have also cited Sonic Youth as an influence, particularly on their detuned guitar sound. Swervedriver have cited the band as an inspiration, with frontman Adam Franklin noting that he plays Fender Jazzmasters guitars in part because that model was favored by Sonic Youth. Other bands and artists who have cited Sonic Youth as an influence include Mauro Pezzente of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Shane Embury of Napalm Death, Slowdive, Dinosaur Jr., Teenage Fanclub, Mogwai, Placebo frontman Brian Molko, Quicksand and Rival Schools frontman Walter Schreifels, Ride, Jawbreaker, …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Polvo Something for Kate, Superchunk, Metz, Jawbox, Pg. 99, and Treepeople.
To get an idea what you missed – press play and crank it up. May not endear you to your co-workers, but who are they, anyway?
