album of the week: 6-4

Sonic Youth

The Eternal

Kill Rock Stars (2009)

Why you'll like it: A mashup of old and new Sonic Youth

Why you'll hate it: Won't win over any newcomers.

Break out the ripped jeans and POGs, It's Sonic Youth! That may sound rather flippant, but this is a band that has made about a dozen albums and remained unblinkingly similar throughout. With The Eternal, it appears they are very well aware of this, and happy to bask in it. The opening track "Sacred Trickster" is the most by the numbers Sonic Youth track I've ever heard. Sporting a deadpan delivery, mindless rhyming, and a typical 90's grunge guitar riff... It's almost like a parody.

While the rest of this album maintains this general feeling, it's no where near as obvious, which is good. I suppose if anyone has permission to be a Sonic Youth rip-off, it's Sonic Youth. This is a very retro SY album. While there are still modestly paced jams akin to the last two albums, there is a lot of feedback reminiscent of their Goo - Washing Machine years. Some tracks, like "Anti-Orgasm" and "What We Know" combine the two with great success.

Maybe the 90's are just hip again. We've got Zack Morris on late night TV and the Ninja Turtles coming to Xbox. Despite its shockingly familiar sound, this is a very good album. I'm not a fan of much anything before Sonic Nurse, so hearing them pull off a dirty grungy sound while in their older melodic mindset may be a good combination.