Sonic Youth - ‘The Eternal’

Sonic Youth might be as old as your parents, but remain cooler than most of us will ever be...

Label: MatadorRating: 8It’s strange to ponder how experimental rock trailblazers Sonic Youth required a shift from major to indie label to truly rediscover their whirring cutting edge. That’s ‘The Eternal’ personified, however, carving another contrary chapter in a fascinating history. From two-minute pop-fuzz opener ‘Sacred Trickster’ onward, Thurston Moore and troops have rarely sounded this focused since ‘Kool Thing’. And as Kim Gordon ominously chimes “Not everyone makes it out alive” among the closing bars of ‘Massage The History’, it’s reassuring to know Sonic Youth might be as old as your parents, but remain cooler than most of us will ever be.

For fans of: My Bloody Valentine, Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr

Adam F. Kennedy