CD Review: Sonic Youth – “The Eternal”

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CD Review

This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010.

These were Jose’s first impressions of the songs and were not written after multiple spins.

Artist: Sonic Youth
Album: The Eternal (2009 Matador Records)
Tracks: 12

Artist website: http://www.sonicyouth.com

OVERVIEW

Sonic Youth were grunge and alternative rock way before those genre terms were coined! This is their 16th studio album and they sound just as vital and important as ever. Actually, they kinda sound the same as they have always sounded to us. I think there was a time period in the 1980’s when sounding like this was cool and new. Now it’s just kinda meh since most teenage garage bands can play this stuff too and in some cases play it better.

This album is definitely not your typical run of the mill album. There are a lot of interesting musical moments. If you like the artsy kinda punk meets noise rock meets poppy stylings, this will make you very happy. Honestly, this album did very little for us.

HIGHLIGHTS: 

Leaky Lifeboat and No Way (if I really needed to pick highlights)

PLAY BY PLAY

Track 1 – Sacred Trickster
Interesting punk like song. 

Track 2 – Anti-Orgasm 
We can’t label this song. We’re not even entirely sure if it is a song or a statement! 

Track 3 – Leaky Lifeboat (For Gregory Corso)
This is a cool track. Love the doubled vocals. It’s even catchy. 

Track 4 – Antenna
If this track does something for you, great. It did nothing for us. 

Track 5 – What We Know
Cool bass line. 

Track 6 – Calming the Snake
Boring.

Track 7 – Poison Arrow
See comment for track 6. 

Track 8 – Malibu Gas Station
This has some cool ideas in it. 

Track 9 – Thunderclap (For Bobby Pyn)
… meh … 

Track 10 – No Way
This has a good melody in it. 

Track 11 – Walking Blue
This has some interesting ideas in it.

Track 12 – Message the History
… meh … 

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Posted in CD Reviews, The Weekly Riff (2008-2010) Reprinted.