[Tokolosh]

Sonic Youth Breathe New Life into 'Daydream Nation'
July 20, 2007

 

SAN FRANCISCO: Two decades later, SY's 'spirit' and 'desire' remain timeless.

There are three albums necessary to any indie rock fan's arsenal: The Bends by Radiohead, Doolittle by the Pixies, and Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation. And last night (July 19), a lucky sold-out crowd gathered at the Berkeley Community Theatre to see noise rock stalwarts Sonic Youth perform this classic album -- which, when released as a double LP in 1988, culled more superlatives than the band knew what to do with -- in its entirety, thanks to a tour celebrating the album's recent reissue for Geffen.

From the anthemic drive of "Teen Age Riot" and the throbbing bombast of "Eric's Trip" to drummer Steve Shelley's punchy staccato beats on "Kissability" and the final frenzied notes of "Eliminator Jr," Sonic Youth ripped Daydream Nation apart; the kinetic furor between husband-and-wife duo Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon is still a perfect match nearly 25 years later. The band's signature distorted feedback ("Hyperstation") was shifted just so, creating a new dimension to old favorites by extending instrumental interludes, and flowing seamlessly between verses. Gordon also traded playing for dancing, proving that even after all these years, nobody can rock a striped mini dress and chin-length bangs like she can. And while Sonic Youth fall under the veteran category nowadays, the band shared in the feverish energy of the audience's younger members more than with their aged college rock-bred parents. Now if only Thom Yorke and Frank Black would take this success as tour inspiration. CHELSEA SIME / PHOTOS

BY MUHAMMAD ASRANUR

Check out what other people had to say here


I was unaware of the Youth at the time. Where were you?

[screamingskull]

Daydream Nation was released in October 1988, the same month i was born, i don't know what date in October it was released, but i was born on the 13th of October 1988. So i was a very newborn baby at the time.

[whorefrost]

I was a wee laddie - 4 years old

[sonicl]

I was getting very excited about going to see Sonic Youth later that week.

[_slavo_]

I was 8 years old, a jolly happy boy. The only thing I cared for was enough toys to play with.

[pokkeherrie]

Depending on the weather I was either playing football or hide-and-seek outside or else listening to Michael Jackson and playing with my Transformers action figures or Lego or Playmobil.

[_slavo_]

Oh yeah, in 1988 I got my Atari 800 XE, so I was the king of the class for having one of these

 

[pokkeherrie]

haha... I had this MSX 2

 

but most kids in my class would have a Commodore 64... we had a Commodore 64 in the class room too.

[Everyneurotic]

starting elementary school, aceing everything without even trying and playing with friends.

ps: i still don't have doolittle.

[Disgruntled Youth]

I was in New York City in Intermidiate School 52 chillling. I was 12 & didn't know anything about SY until several years later. What can I say I was to busy listening to Megadeth, Maiden & W.A.S.P.

[SynthethicalY]

I was watching Sesame Street.

[Danny Himself]

I wasn't born until 3 years (give or take) later, so I was floating around as part of the force or something.

[Sonic Youth 37]

gestating. I was born in November of 88.

[neptuneg]

I was probably crying, burping, sleeping, crapping, being cute or all 5 at the same time. I was born in January of 1988, so I was 8 months old.

[Kyohan]

Funnily enough, I was just talking about this era earlier and remembering what an amazing time for music it was. In the space of a few months I remember going into my favourite record shop and buying Daydream Nation, Isn't Anything, Tender Prey, Playing With Fire, Fade Out, etc, etc. Great times for music - possibly never matched since.
Or maybe I just want to be 16 again

[Ripchord]

Originally Posted by Danny Himself

I wasn't born until 3 years (give or take) later, so I was floating around as part of the force or something.

ditto

[pbradley]

I was 3 years old.

[youthoftomorrow]

i had just been born the month previously.

so, probably spitting up on my parents.

[Pax Americana]

I'm pretty sure I was masturbating in my room. Hang on, lemme check.



Yep... masturbating in my room. No doubt.

I was playing with my dolls and cutting their heads off after I had applied make up to their faces.