Catalyst For Rock Evolution
Written: Sep 23 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The words, music, vocals, and vision.
Cons: ...
The Bottom Line: A post-punk, indie rock classic. Daydream Nation from Sonic Youth is a must own.
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| lambchops's Full Review: Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth |
Without a doubt, Sonic Youth was the catalyst that sparked the flame that lit the match that would become grunge. Their signature noise rock style resonated throughout the late 1980’s and even through to the 1990’s. Today, the band continues to make music.
Post-punk rock giants Sonic Youth blasted on to the indie music scene initially with 1985’s Bad Moon Rising (the band’s sophomore effort). The foursome consisting of Kim Gordon (bass), Thurston Moore (guitar), Steve Shelley (drums), and Lee Ranaldo (guitar/bass) refused to sign to a major label. Thusly, they released three more increasingly important albums in the late 1980’s.
First came EVOL which garnered support on college and indie rock stations. Subsequent releases Sister (1987) and Daydream Nation each were awarded an increasing amount of attention with the latter commonly recognized as the New York band’s career touchstone. Sister was lauded by Rolling Stone and other music publications while Daydream Nation gave the band their first bona fide radio hit, Teenage Riot.
Daydream Nation was in reality a two-LP release from Enigma Records. Unfortunately for Sonic Youth, the label soon folded and many people were unable to find a copy of the album. Hence the fact that upon the success of the album they soon signed with DGC rather than deal with the hassles associated with a label on the edge of bankruptcy. The band was, as a result of their early work and later major label releases, a prolific indie rock phenomenon and pop culture and rock music figure.
Consisting of fourteen tracks, Daydream Nation is concise and focused. Each song contributes to the album’s overall purpose and innate vision. I can’t help but appreciate Sonic Youth for their ability to create this kind of purposeful masterpiece. Few bands, with their many facets, can successfully assemble this kind of tour de force. Sonic Youth managed to with what seems to be tremendous ease.
The joy I get out of Daydream Nation and Sonic Youth may or may not be a result of my early 1990’s rock roots. I can’t help but adore the loud, yet completely controlled electric guitars. Shelley’s drums are omnipresent and seem to drive each track to excellence. And then there are the vocals. What more can be said except for Moore and Gordon both have unique and exquisite alternative/punk/rock voices.
Kicking off with hit single Teenage Riot, Daydream Nation continues down the single-minded path to greatness for the next seventy minutes or so. With the restrained guitars, anti-anthem lyrics, and steady drums the song takes very little time to develop. It’s an amazing beginning to an overall significant album. And the fact that it features both Moore and Gordon really adds a bit of importance to this otherwise still genuinely perfect track.
Silver Rocket jumps in next. It’s a hard rocking, punk song. The noise is ridiculous, yet completely intentional. It’s easy to appreciate the many layers and instruments that make up the contents of the track. How can you not fall in love with Moore’s pushy vocals?
And so Daydream Nation goes. There’s not one sour note on the entire album. I find myself entertained totally by every track. For example, Gordon’s words on The Sprawl are reverberating. I actually prefer her vocals to Moore, but neither could ever be considered contrived or forced. She just seems to sing with a bit more heart and emotion. I also love the fact that she sing-talks almost in spoken word fashion. Absolutely, utterly, preposterously perfect.
Providence is a different kind of song altogether. It’s bleak and evocative with muddy production and pianos unlike the majority of the other offerings. As the song builds, an increasing amount of gravelly noise is added. Much like the most theatrical offerings from Pink Floyd, the song has no particular place outside of the constraints of the album as a whole. But, then again, I’m a sucker for the unusual. Providence is indeed strange but also worthwhile.
Sounding like a blend between punk rock and classic rock, Eric’s Trip is yet another completely perfect song. The oft-ignored Ranaldo sings with indie fervor (not unlike an early Michael Stipe actually) and the rest of the band fills up every gap in the song. One thing about Sonic Youth is that listeners shouldn’t expect to hear any silence. Their music is noisy. I like noise. Here are a few of the words from this song as an example of the band’s lyrical prowess:
she think's she's a goddess
she says she talks to the spirits
I wonder if she can talk to herself?
If she can bear to hear it?
Other songs that really impress me are Total Trash, Candle and Hey Joni. Though, I must reiterate that each song has it’s own worth. It’s likely that every listener will connect to the album in a different way. Daydream Nation is a definitely 1980’s classic. A must own for any rock, punk, grunge, or indie fan.
I love every note, every word, every yelp of Daydream Nation. Each band member lends their voice, their writing, and their musical skills to every song in such a way that the album is indeed a team effort. Nobody has just one role. This fluid approach to music-making is undoubtedly at least somewhat to blame for Sonic Youth’s string of great albums.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Teenage Riot
02. Silver Rocket
03. The Sprawl
04. ‘Cross The Breeze
05. Eric’s Trip
06. Total Trash
07. Hey Joni
08. Providence
09. Candle
10. Rain King
11. Kissability
12. Trilogy: The Wonder
13. Trilogy: Hyperstation
14. Trilogy: Eliminator Jr.
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As I mentioned earlier, Sonic Youth still makes music. Throughout the 1990’s, the band continued to test various musical waters with the freedom allotted to them by DGC. Most notable among these more recent releases are: Goo (1990), Dirty (1992), and A Thousand Leaves (1998). Most recently, 2002’s Murray Street was hailed by critics.
Recommended:
Yes
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Bye-bye CL hat. Hopefully I'll write some new reviews some time soon!
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