A Thousand Leaves is Kim's Absolute Finest Hour. - Page 2

ZEROpumpkins · 05.10.2009, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by summer

I'm not the one who brought up Incubus in the first place, you two childishly did, so hey, I'm just defending a perfectly decent band.

Skuj · 05.10.2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swa(y)

i think sonic youth probally realized this before daydream nation, i just dont think they had any serious desire at that time to approach music in that sort of way.

i agree with ya, on some level. i also agree though that there is plenty of music/sound out there that is AMAZING that totally lacks in "pop hooks". merzbow, early black dice, DNA, prurient, some butthole surfers, most ghoul detail...some people just enjoy the weird/experimental side of things. some people enjoy abrasive sounds that grab them by the throat and throw them to the floor. some people like drones they can get lost/meditate in....

of course, if ya want to sale large quantities of music, you should prolly consider having something, like you said, people can bob their heads to.

just...everyone doesnt want to do that. i think sonic youth still realize this, too. consider silver sessions....

i do believe the future of music is going to be what many folks today would consider "noise". i do believe prurient is an evolutionary stepping stone as far as "metal" is concerned.

i could be wrong...but i dont think i am.

I love you.

And am I the only person on Earth who thinks Contre Le Sexisme (sp?) is a fantastic song?

ScreamingSchool · 05.10.2009, 08:24 AM

A Thousand Leaves actually turned me off to Sonic Youth and that's when I stopped buying every new album they came out with. I do realize that I was probably "expecting" something out of ATL and did remain a fan but my Sonic Youth Rabies had certainly worn off after hearing it. After reading some of the posts here though, I may just give it another listen. As far as Experimental Jet Set is concerned, I actually love that album. There is so much awesome going on with that album. I remember being puzzled by how different it was when it came out, but all those songs kind of instantly grow on you.

I do happen to be one of those heretics who could do without a large majority of Kim's vocal contribution. She had a FEW good song outings, but on the whole I agree with a previous poster; bad singing is bad singing no matter how thin you slice it.

Incubus is kind of cool. They're good for a drive on the freeway. They're a "radio band" but better than a lot of the other "radio bands" out there.

This Is Not Here · 05.10.2009, 08:26 AM

Vocal-wise I still think Dirty is Kim's finest hour. However, all the love shown here for The Ineffable Me is very deserved.

toxic johnny · 05.10.2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skuj

I love you.

And am I the only person on Earth who thinks Contre Le Sexisme (sp?) is a fantastic song?

No you are most certainly not the only person...

SYRFox · 05.10.2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skuj

I love you.

And am I the only person on Earth who thinks Contre Le Sexisme (sp?) is a fantastic song?

Nope, that's an amazing song. Fantastic chill out track

I love the way she says "Contre de la sexisme" - it's totally wrong, yet it sounds so cool

Skuj · 05.10.2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SYRFox

Nope, that's an amazing song. Fantastic chill out track

I love the way she says "Contre de la sexisme" - it's totally wrong, yet it sounds so cool

It scared the shit out of me when I first heard it. Play that for the kiddies at Halloween. The backing reminds me of guys in a dungeon.

SYRFox · 05.10.2009, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skuj

It scared the shit out of me when I first heard it. Play that for the kiddies at Halloween. The backing reminds me of guys in a dungeon.

Or you could play "Death Valley '69" for that matter. Though the little kiddies could turn into psychokillers with that

NWRA · 05.10.2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skuj

(About 73mins actually.)

You know it's true. She is Monufuckingmental on all (6?...it's been a while) of "her" songs on this record. If you took her Thousand Leaves songs and put them into an EP, it would be the Greatest Kim Gordon EP Ever Imagineable.

IDK if Thurston wrote some of those songs that she sings on A Thousand Leaves, but even if he did, Kim's "performance" of them makes them hers. Absolute fucking brilliant peak of Kimness. I shudder just thinking about it.

Discuss.

One of the reasons why it's my favourite S.Y album.

joe11121 · 05.10.2009, 04:18 PM

The Ineffable Me is my favourite Kim track on the album.

samuel · 05.10.2009, 05:00 PM

For me, the stand out tracks of this album are Wildflower Soul, Hoarfrost, Karen Koltrane, and Snare, Girl. Then I'd say comes Contre Le Sexisme. Kim delivers a punch with this track. As for the others, I wouldn't say they are Kim's finest. I do love the endings of Female Mechanic Now On Duty and Heather Angel as well as the middle of The Ineffable Me. However vocally, the rest sounds a little endless... I'm not sure this is the word I'm looking for, but anyway Kim has certainly had greater moments.

As for a girl sounding "ugly," I get that, but it took me a long time to enjoy The Ineffable Me. I guess it's more the pitch of the guitars rather than the vocals themselves though.

I can't choose a particular album where I'd say it's Kim's finest. I think she delivers every album.

Skuj · 05.10.2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samuel

For me, the stand out tracks of this album are Wildflower Soul, Hoarfrost, Karen Koltrane, and Snare, Girl. Then I'd say comes Contre Le Sexisme. Kim delivers a punch with this track. As for the others, I wouldn't say they are Kim's finest. I do love the endings of Female Mechanic Now On Duty and Heather Angel as well as the middle of The Ineffable Me. However vocally, the rest sounds a little endless... I'm not sure this is the word I'm looking for, but anyway Kim has certainly had greater moments.

As for a girl sounding "ugly," I get that, but it took me a long time to enjoy The Ineffable Me. I guess it's more the pitch of the guitars rather than the vocals themselves though.

I can't choose a particular album where I'd say it's Kim's finest. I think she delivers every album.

I think certain albums have been Thurston dominated, or Kim took a back seat......like NYCGF and Murray St.

Dead-Air · 05.10.2009, 05:30 PM

I agree with the premise of the thread. I'm least into Thurston's songs on the album (and I'm a pretty huge T fan) as he was just too into his "hippie" phase, while she seems post-punk/no-wave/avant garde as hell. Her stuff is the most experimental on the record and yet it rocks the most too.

Skuj · 05.10.2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dead-Air

I agree with the premise of the thread. I'm least into Thurston's songs on the album (and I'm a pretty huge T fan) as he was just too into his "hippie" phase, while she seems post-punk/no-wave/avant garde as hell. Her stuff is the most experimental on the record and yet it rocks the most too.

Yeah, I really love ATL, but I always thought that Thurston was a bit "Dad Rock" on it. Sunday never did it for me, lyrically. Coming after Contre, it was like When I'm 64 coming after Within You Without You. Eeeeew.

summer · 05.10.2009, 07:44 PM

I've always wondered, for the songs they sing, do they write those songs exlclusively, or just sing them? Is it a band effort 100%

Peterpuff · 05.10.2009, 08:13 PM

I am surprised so much talk about Kim vocally during the EJSTNS - 1,000 leaves period, and no mention of her switching to guitar around this time yet.

I really think that had a huge overlooked impact to her the overall contribution to the SY sound structure. She often has a tendency to sing "along" with what she is playing. While it usually worked for her on bass, I don't think it worked so well during these times when she was playing her simple guitar "riffs" and simply learning the vocals on top. (first half of Female Mechanic for example). While I love her guitar playing on most of the albums the songs were written often before vocals put to them, and hearing her "sing" on top of her newly treble-filled sound and simplified "I'm relearning my role on a different instrument" style...just never did it for me...

I really do think her picking up the guitar and the general process of their "songwriting" added for some off-moments around the period...but for me personally, it all did seem to click and kinda come full circle again around Sonic Nurse.

Just my 2 cents...

Dead-Air · 05.10.2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by summer

I've always wondered, for the songs they sing, do they write those songs exlclusively, or just sing them? Is it a band effort 100%

When I saw SY in 1986, Thurston sang "Star Power". Made me think maybe he wrote it, since it has those "She knows how to make love to me" lyrics.

joe11121 · 05.10.2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dead-Air

When I saw SY in 1986, Thurston sang "Star Power". Made me think maybe he wrote it, since it has those "She knows how to make love to me" lyrics.

Yes, Thurston did write the lyrics. And I read that Kim doesn't sing the song live, only Thurston does. I'm not sure why though.

joe11121 · 05.11.2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nefeli

nope. count me in too.
in fact, count me in for anything fabulous said about this album.
sonic beauty and intelligence at its finests.
kim is incredible.
heather angel. divine.

Yep

duderanchnurse · 05.11.2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZEROpumpkins

Sorry, I forgot that Incubus clearly are better than anything Sonic Youth have done.

[quote=ZEROpumpkins]True fans wait for cd.

.

05.10.2009, 08:24 AM	#23
ScreamingSchool little trouble girl Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 48	A Thousand Leaves actually turned me off to Sonic Youth and that's when I stopped buying every new album they came out with. I do realize that I was probably "expecting" something out of ATL and did remain a fan but my Sonic Youth Rabies had certainly worn off after hearing it. After reading some of the posts here though, I may just give it another listen. As far as Experimental Jet Set is concerned, I actually love that album. There is so much awesome going on with that album. I remember being puzzled by how different it was when it came out, but all those songs kind of instantly grow on you. I do happen to be one of those heretics who could do without a large majority of Kim's vocal contribution. She had a FEW good song outings, but on the whole I agree with a previous poster; bad singing is bad singing no matter how thin you slice it. Incubus is kind of cool. They're good for a drive on the freeway. They're a "radio band" but better than a lot of the other "radio bands" out there.
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05.10.2009, 08:26 AM	#24
This Is Not Here invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kingston-Upon-Thames, London Posts: 2,586	Vocal-wise I still think Dirty is Kim's finest hour. However, all the love shown here for The Ineffable Me is very deserved. __________________ http://images.google.co.uk/url?sourc...zLTl_B146tcuiw ~~Record of the moment~~
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05.10.2009, 04:18 PM	#30
joe11121 expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brantford, Canada Posts: 1,843	The Ineffable Me is my favourite Kim track on the album.
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05.10.2009, 05:00 PM	#31
samuel the end of the ugly Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Baltimore Posts: 1,175	For me, the stand out tracks of this album are Wildflower Soul, Hoarfrost, Karen Koltrane, and Snare, Girl. Then I'd say comes Contre Le Sexisme. Kim delivers a punch with this track. As for the others, I wouldn't say they are Kim's finest. I do love the endings of Female Mechanic Now On Duty and Heather Angel as well as the middle of The Ineffable Me. However vocally, the rest sounds a little endless... I'm not sure this is the word I'm looking for, but anyway Kim has certainly had greater moments. As for a girl sounding "ugly," I get that, but it took me a long time to enjoy The Ineffable Me. I guess it's more the pitch of the guitars rather than the vocals themselves though. I can't choose a particular album where I'd say it's Kim's finest. I think she delivers every album. __________________ samueldahle.bandcamp.com
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05.10.2009, 05:30 PM	#33
Dead-Air invito al cielo Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Portland OR Posts: 4,300	I agree with the premise of the thread. I'm least into Thurston's songs on the album (and I'm a pretty huge T fan) as he was just too into his "hippie" phase, while she seems post-punk/no-wave/avant garde as hell. Her stuff is the most experimental on the record and yet it rocks the most too. __________________ FuckBook; My Band; My Radio Show; My Flickr Page; Science Fiction Message Board
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05.10.2009, 07:44 PM	#35
summer stalker Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 540	I've always wondered, for the songs they sing, do they write those songs exlclusively, or just sing them? Is it a band effort 100% __________________
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05.10.2009, 08:13 PM	#36
Peterpuff stalker Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 505	I am surprised so much talk about Kim vocally during the EJSTNS - 1,000 leaves period, and no mention of her switching to guitar around this time yet. I really think that had a huge overlooked impact to her the overall contribution to the SY sound structure. She often has a tendency to sing "along" with what she is playing. While it usually worked for her on bass, I don't think it worked so well during these times when she was playing her simple guitar "riffs" and simply learning the vocals on top. (first half of Female Mechanic for example). While I love her guitar playing on most of the albums the songs were written often before vocals put to them, and hearing her "sing" on top of her newly treble-filled sound and simplified "I'm relearning my role on a different instrument" style...just never did it for me... I really do think her picking up the guitar and the general process of their "songwriting" added for some off-moments around the period...but for me personally, it all did seem to click and kinda come full circle again around Sonic Nurse. Just my 2 cents...
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