Ever since they left Geffen and signed to Matador Records, it feels like indie rock gods Sonic Youth have started a new chapter in life. And I'm not just talking about signing with a new label after 20 years. There's something different about the band since they announced their new album, The Eternal. Maybe it's that they sought the righteous punk rock riffage of the Wipers, as Thurston Moore admitted recently. Yeah, I think that's it.
Knowing full well how excited this makes everyone, Matador has given away the first evidence of SY's 16th studio album. Featuring Kim Gordon taking the vocal reins, "Sacred Trixter" is everything I was hoping this record would be: muscular, straight-up rock'n'roll peppered with Sonic Youth's inimitable trademarks, condensed into a compact two minutes and 11 seconds.
Anyone looking to hear more before the June 9 release date should take Matador up on its enticing pre-order offer, which gets you a stream of The Eternal on April 28, as well as all sorts of goodies, including an exclusive live LP.
And in case you're interested, here's what the label has to say about this new tune:
"Sacred Trixter" is a 2:10 out-of-the gate hardcore matinee track with Kim singing salutes to French painter Yves Klein and Western Massachusetts noise artist Noise Nomads. It sets the tone for 'The Eternal', which comprises twelve tunes that are a fireworks display of Sonic Youth touchstones. From the primal no wave attack of its earliest days, to the radical chording and song structures of its '90s period, to the more focused and contemporary explorations of the last five years. This their 16th album, and their first for the Matador label, consolidates their move to a more lush, sensual sound as displayed on last album 'Rather Ripped' - but if anything punchier and cleaner, and now backstopped by the addition of Mark Ibold (Pavement, Dustdevils) on bass.
You can download "Sacred Trixter" by right-clicking here.
Knowing full well how excited this makes everyone, Matador has given away the first evidence of SY's 16th studio album. Featuring Kim Gordon taking the vocal reins, "Sacred Trixter" is everything I was hoping this record would be: muscular, straight-up rock'n'roll peppered with Sonic Youth's inimitable trademarks, condensed into a compact two minutes and 11 seconds.
Anyone looking to hear more before the June 9 release date should take Matador up on its enticing pre-order offer, which gets you a stream of The Eternal on April 28, as well as all sorts of goodies, including an exclusive live LP.
And in case you're interested, here's what the label has to say about this new tune:
"Sacred Trixter" is a 2:10 out-of-the gate hardcore matinee track with Kim singing salutes to French painter Yves Klein and Western Massachusetts noise artist Noise Nomads. It sets the tone for 'The Eternal', which comprises twelve tunes that are a fireworks display of Sonic Youth touchstones. From the primal no wave attack of its earliest days, to the radical chording and song structures of its '90s period, to the more focused and contemporary explorations of the last five years. This their 16th album, and their first for the Matador label, consolidates their move to a more lush, sensual sound as displayed on last album 'Rather Ripped' - but if anything punchier and cleaner, and now backstopped by the addition of Mark Ibold (Pavement, Dustdevils) on bass.
You can download "Sacred Trixter" by right-clicking here.
