sonic youth news

Get yr library cards out, kids! Two new SY biographies have now come to fruition:

‘Goodbye 20th Century: A Biography of Sonic Youth’ by David Browne is now available from Da Capo Press. Sonic Youth cooperated with the author on this one.

‘Psychic Confusion: The Sonic Youth Story’ by Stevie Chick is available now from Omnibus Press in the UK. No band cooperation on this one, instead it pulls from sources far, wide and deep.

Both offer their respective author’s takes on the SY story from 1981 to the present.

In addition, ‘The Empty Page: Fiction Inspired by Sonic Youth’, a short story collection by a wide range of authors taking their cues from Sonic Youth song titles, will be published by Serpent’s Tail in the UK on May 29, with a US release later in the year on Harper Collins. This book was edited by Peter Wild, with an introduction by Lee.

From Matador Records:

“After rampant speculation, Matador Records can confirm the label will be releasing a new studio album from Sonic Youth sometime in 2009. Having fulfilled their contractual obligations to the Universal Music Group, Sonic Youth recently reached an agreement with Matador to release the band’s 16th album of new material in all worldwide territories, save for Japan.

While Sonic Youth’s status as one of the more innovative and influential bands of the past 30 years needs little explanation, the group’s most recent recordings for Geffen — 2006’s ‘Rather Ripped’ being their final for the label — rank amongst the current decade’s best. For Matador, the opportunity to work in partnership with a group who’ve made such an profound impact on our roster/hometown/collective consciousness was one to jump at. Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo and Steve Shelley will commence recording the new Sonic Youth LP/CD this autumn and we look forward to sharing further details in the very near future.

L.A. ETERNAL RELEASE PARTY JUNE 9

In celebration of their new album, The Eternal, Sonic Youth will take over our little record shop. For one day only, on June 9th, Origami Vinyl will become Sonic Youth’s House of Shifting Plates and Ridiculous Juice, as dubbed by the band itself. Our wall of featured albums will display selections hand-picked by Thurston, Kim, Lee, Steve and Mark –  ranging from Okkyung Lee to John Lennon – as well as a wide range of Sonic Youth and Sonic Youth related releases. The band has also invited their friends Pocahaunted and Shiloe to play sets at the store.

Origami has also teamed up with local artist, Seizer, to create a special limited edition silkscreen print of the art attached. The art poster will be limited to 50 copies, hand numbered and signed, available for pre-order the day of the event.

As if that weren’t enough, Two Boots Pizza will create a special “Eternal” pie that resembles the album’s artwork. Slices of this pie will be given away free during the event at Origami. Phil, owner of Two Boots and long-time friend of the band, is excited to be a part of the band’s new release.

The details of the event are:
Sonic Youth’s House of Shifting Plates and Ridiculous Juice
Tuesday, June 9th from 5.30pm – 9pm
with live performances by Pocahaunted and Shiloe
Limited edition goodies provided by Deathbomb Arc and Not Not Fun
Free “Eternal” Pizza slices provided by Two Boots
+ other SPECIAL surprises
1816 W. Sunset Blvd, Echo Park, Ca 90026
213.413.3030
www.origamiorigami.com

From the High Line park website:

Text of Light–Ulrich Krieger, Alan Licht, Christian Marclay, and Lee Ranaldo–will present a live musical score to Berlin: Symphony of a Great City (Walter Ruttman, 1927), a feature-length “city symphony” film that captures urban life through a vibrant mix of documentary footage, abstract visual compositions, and impressionistic montage techniques. Text of Light’s loosely structured improvisational score will feature the remarkable intonarumori (Futurist noise machines), among many other instruments. The live performance to Berlin will be preceded by a screening of the short film Manhatta (Charles Sheeler and Paul Strand, 1921), another city symphony that depicts a day in New York City. The entire event will take place on the High Line in the 14th Street passage. Tickets

Thurston has edited a new book of photos by Dave Markey and Jordan Schwartz. From Markey’s site: “A book of unique photos taken during the We Got Power fanzine days (1981-83) covering the Southern California hardcore punk scene, edited by Thurston Moore. Featuring The Minutemen, Descendents, Black Flag, Red Cross, Redd Kross, Social Distortion, Big Boys, Butthole Surfers, Saccharine Trust, Gun Club, DRI, Suicidal Tendencies, Circle One, Mood Of Defiance, Civil Dismay, The Urinals / 100 Flowers, Sin 34, & many others. With writings from Joe Carducci, Janet Housden, Dez Cadena, Mike Watt, Jennifer Schwartz, David Markey, Jordan Schwartz, Jack Brewer, Keith Morris, Jeffrey McDonald, Steven McDonald, Tony Cadena, Eugene Tatu, Steve “Human” (Vandals), Sean Wheeler & many others. Where were you in ’82? Coming in 2009 published by Abrams.”Info.”

Mix Tape 6 is up. Just click on the cassette on the front page of sonicyouth.com and listen as it streams. We’ve included a couple of songs from the new Deluxe Edition of Daydream Nation, songs that might be considered outtakes from Daydream Deluxe, one song from Thurston’s upcoming Ecstatic Peace! record and a few rarities or oddities that could’ve wound up on the Destroyed Room LP. There’s also new video up of SY shot by Jonas Mekas. Keep checking the Store, MP3 and Video pages for new additions.

Celebrating the release of ‘The Eternal’ next week, SY will take over the TV section of pitchforkmedia.com.  On June 8 and 9 a two-part version of the show A>D>D featuring SY will air.  The show was filmed at the band’s studio using about 1000 VHS machines and a cassette 4-track.  Airing on Wednesday, June 10 and Thursday, June 11 is a two-part interview with the band, conducted by Pitchfork writer Nitsuh Abebe. And on Friday, June 12 is a video playlist curated by the band. It could get mental.