Flaming Lips Draw Inspiration From SY
 

Flaming Lips Draw Inspiration From Sonic Youth

Posted Jun 13th 2008 10:00AM by Benjy Eisen
Filed under: News, Exclusive

 

The Flaming Lips are old-school Sonic Youth fans from back in the day. "I can tell you for certain that the first time they played here in 1985 or 1986, Thurston Moore slept on our couch -- and he was too long for our couch," Lips' frontman Wayne Coyne tells Spinner from his home in Oklahoma. "I can't tell you how overjoyed we were as a band, when they came out -- that a group like Sonic Youth exists."

As we reported recently, Sonic Youth released a new album this week, available exclusively at select Starbucks (or online at www.starbucksentertainment.com). Titled 'Hits are for Squares,' the limited-edition CD is intended to serve as a greatest hits compilation. However since Sonic Youth was never the chart-topping kind of band, each "hit" was chosen by a different -- and invariably famous -- Sonic Youth fan. Participants include Eddie Vedder, Beck, Radiohead, writer Dave Eggers and comedian David Cross.

Coyne tells Spinner that when the Flaming Lips were tapped to choose a track, they discussed 'Death Valley '69' and 'Unmade Bed' (which the Lips used to cover), before settling on 'Expressway to Yr Skull.'

"To have a group like Sonic Youth out there -- not only did they rock, but they were beautiful and they were intelligent and they were successful and all these great things," Coyne says. "And we thought, 'F---, if they can do it, why don't we do our own version of what we think is art and punk rock?' It gave us a lot of hope."

:D
thurston was too long for the couch

ok someone explain EXACTLY what hits are for squares is.
is it just another sonic youth compilation?

go to starbucks site or on the www.sonicyouth.com
and you will see you lazy girl :D :p

I think Flaming Lips were one of the bands that originally nudged me to getting more into Sonic Youth. So there's no surprise from me. In fact there is a video of the Lips playing SF's Union Square with the cover art of EVOL (though without the names across it) displayed at the bottom of Wayne's mic stand.

Yes. But with one new song and liner notes of each other song written by famous people.

are you fucking serious? this is what people have been flipping out over?

More flipping out over it being released by Starbucks, I think. Just another comp, I say. Waiting for someone to upload the song, though. That's it for me. Hits Are For Squares really isn't designed for their dedicated fan base so I don't see why people are all bitchy or excited.

people over in that thread are all like OMG ITS BACKORDERED OH NOESSSSSS

and i'm just sitting here like whatever.

cuz you are not sy fan ?

Why would a fan who owns all of their albums want another album full of songs that they already own?

Are you saying a true Sonic Youth fan would pay 16 dollars for one new song?

I don't care at all about that comp, I just wanna hear the new song

until this moment i have never typed this "OMG"
now i have..thank you very much you are such a good and kindhearted person

In the liner notes to Hit To Death In The Future Head, Wayne is wearing an SY shirt. Also one of the riffs in the first track on the same album is strikingly similar to Schizophrenia

no.
cuz i have fkn every song on it already. except the new one which i will download illegally eventually.

see my signature.

Wayne's such a lovely guy. :)

I can't believe how old he is though!

jesus fuck, you act like he's 80. he's like 45.

Yes but HE acts like he's 20.
And sounds like he's 15

well you have something of a point there.