HITS ARE FOR SQUARES
   
TRACK LIST:

1. Bull in the Heather
2. 100%
3. Sugar Kane
4. Kool Thing
5. Disappearer
6. Superstar
7. Stones
8. Tuff Gnarl
9. Teenage Riot
10. Shadow of a Doubt
11. Rain on Tin
12. Tom Violence
13. Mary-Christ
14. World Looks Red
15. Expressway to yr Skull
16. Slow Revolution 6:14
 

NOTES

The long-rumoured Starbucks compilation finally arrived in 2008, boasting the following mission statement:

Sonic Youth rip into their 28th year and invite a stellar cast to pick their favorite Sonic jams for this exclusive compilation. Writers, actors, artists and musicians come together to celebrate this legendary group's vibrant history. An essential sonic sampling of the world's most illustrious experimental rock 'n' roll band.

Somehow it ends up being a pretty even combination of early 90s singles and bizarre 80s album tracks, capped off by the obligatory exclusive new track 'Slow Revolution', unavailable elsewhere.

It's certainly curious to examine who picked which tracks:

  • Bull in the Heather - Catherine Keener
  • 100% - Mike D
  • Sugar Kane - Beck
  • Kool Thing - Radiohead
  • Disappearer - Portia de Rossi
  • Superstar - Diablo Cody
  • Stones - Allison Anders
  • Tuff Gnarl - Dave Eggers and Mike Watt
  • Teenage Riot - Eddie Vedder
  • Shadow of a Doubt - Michelle Williams
  • Rain on Tin - Flea
  • Tom Violence - Gus Van Sant
  • Mary-Christ - David Cross
  • World Looks Red - Chloe Sevigny
  • Expressway to Yr Skull - The Flaming Lips

    Proof that actresses have more abstract taste than mega-music superstar dudes? Perhaps. Their reasons for their choices are included in the liner notes, and are augmented by Sonic Youth's thoughts, which you can view to the right. For those who enjoy statistics, here's a rundown on how many songs appear from each album:

    Confusion is Sex - 1
    Bad Moon Rising - 0
    EVOL - 3 (!)
    Sister - 1
    Daydream Nation - 1
    Goo - 3
    Dirty - 2
    Experimental Jet Set - 1
    Washing Machine - 0
    A Thousand Leaves - 0
    NYC Ghosts - 0
    Murray Street - 1
    Sonic Nurse - 1
    Rather Ripped - 0
    Non-LP - 1

    All tracks appear to be the original album versions.

    "Slow Revolution" is described in the liners as "An unreleased track recorded exclusively for Hits Are for Squares. "Slow Revolution" was written in the deep winter of 2007 in a New England basement and transformed into an odd ethereal black bliss by the band at their Hoboken, New Jersey, hideaway, Echo Canyon. Recorded by the bearded John Agnello, who produced their 2006 release Rather Ripped."

    The title "Hits Are For Squares" is taken directly from the lyrics to Rather Ripped outtake "Eyeliner", and is of course a play on the term 'Hip to be Square'.

    A double-vinyl version of the compilation was released for Record Store Day in April 2010.

    RELEASE INFO

    CD

    RELEASE DATE
    ORIGIN
    LABEL
    CATALOG #
    06/10/08
    US
    Starbucks Entertainment
    Universal Music
    B0011251-02
    NOTES: CD compilation exclusively available at starbucks coffee shops.
    08/23/11
    US
    ?
    ?
    NOTES: reissue for sale outside of coffee shops.
     

    LP

    RELEASE DATE
    ORIGIN
    LABEL
    CATALOG #
    04/17/10
    US
    Starbucks Entertainment
    Geffen Records
    B0014109-01
    NOTES: 180 gram 2x12" compilation for record store day.
    INFO NEEDED FOR THIS RELEASE

  • Please write me w/ anything that's missing!

  • cover


    insert


    'then and now' pix in booklet


    liners page 1


    liners page 2


    liners page 3


    liners page 4


    liners page 5


    liners page 6


    liners page 7


    liners page 8


    disc


    back cover


    tray liner


    vinyl cover


    vinyl gatefold inside left


    vinyl gatefold inside right