Sonic Youth - "Kool Thing"

[halo19]

The breakthrough hit for the "indie" (I really loathe that term) band and the first single from their major label era. The album Goo and its songs kind of set the stage for things to come, and one cool thing was this Kim Gordon song.

Chuck D. also appears on it. The cool thing is that this was the same year as Public Enemy released Fear of a Black Planet and on this song she questions, "fear of a female planet?", a rather cool reference. This track connects rock and hip-hop in many ways although that's not so obvious the first time around, but the chorus was even lifted from L.L. Cool J.

The cool thing (pun intended) is that it is a surprisingly coherent and catchy song from a generally dissonant and experimental band and they pull it off really well.

[oscillations.]

I was gonna post this today, but I found it had already been done. ^_^

It's a fucking great track, and Goo is one of my favorite albums ever.

I saw Sonic Youth this past summer, and my God, it was divine.
Kim Gordon is my Goddess.

[joker]

Great band, very good song.

[jaxxalude]

I believe the chorus was actually rapped by Mr. Chuck D himself.

As for this song, what more can I say? I only got to know Sonic Youth after the grunge explosion - i.e., during Dirty. But, of course, I made my retroactive work and, voilà, this song was there waiting for me.
Still, from their more song-based era, I still have a soft spot for "Teenage Riot", as almost everybody does. That and "Sugar Cane".

[oscillations.]

It's all about "Catholic Block"! I almost punched someone by accident when they played that last summer.

[banet2001]

The song is a classic. I believe this was the beginning of the major label era for Sonic Youth, so this material was more accessible than their 1980's material.

You could see the oncoming popularity of grunge a few years later with the material from Goo.

[oscillations.]

I'll never forgive the "major label Sonic Youth is as evil as, like, Winger" people.

FOOLS!

[Mic Technique]

There is so much to be said about "Kool Thing." But a good summation of it would have to be BRILLIANT. The story surrounding the creation of the track is an interesting one. Kim was interviewing LL Cool J and, well, it lead to this track lol.

The "Goo" album as a whole is an impressive listen. Songs like "Tunic", "My Friend Goo", "Dirty Boots", "Titanium Expose", & everything else on the album are such classics to my ears. Truly one of the best albums I've ever heard.

[oscillations.]

Top 5 SY albums:
1. Sister
2. Daydream Nation
3. Goo
4. Dirty
5. Washing Machine/EVOL

& I'd defend most of their much-maligned early 80's material, too. It was a direct outgrowth of the downtown NYC no-wave scene, and the band was trying to find a niche somewhere between Glenn Branca's dissonance & Lou Reed's songwriting prowess. And you know what? On songs like "Shaking Hell" it really works.

[banet2001]

cherrycrush said:

I'll never forgive the "major label Sonic Youth is as evil as, like, Winger" people.

FOOLS!

LOL. It is an insult to put a crappy band like Winger in the same sentance as Sonic Youth.

[oscillations.]

Taken from when I saw them at McCarren Park Pool, Brooklyn, NYC last August :






Bow down before Greatness, minions.
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