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Sonic Youth
On Tour548,004 listeners (15,588,347 plays)
Listening now: ziovinc
alternative, indie, experimental, post-punk, rock… see all
New York, United States (1981 – present)
Sonic Youth is an experimental rock group formed in New York City in 1981. The band consists of Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals, bass), Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar), Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals, electric drill) and Steve Shelley (drums)
Early in their career, Sonic Youth were associated with the no wave art and music scene in New York City, but they have outlasted most associated bands.
Initially inspired by the experimentation of Glenn Branca and The Velvet Underground and the heavy garage rock of The Stooges, they are known for using a variety of unorthodox guitar tunings, and for applying screwdrivers, drumsticks or other preparations to guitars to alter the instruments’ timbres.
Members of the band have released books of poetry and prose (a beatnik influence is evident in both their writing and lyrics), produced, written and performed in films (such as “1991: The Year Punk Broke”, “Perfect Partner”, “(this is known as) the blues scale” and “last days”). They have staged shows of visual art, and curated the All Tomorrows Parties music festival. They’ve even appeared in and performed a version of the theme song for “The Simpsons”.
In addition to their 21 albums as Sonic Youth there is much material recorded and performed with other artists, solo albums, and side-projects such as Ciccone Youth. It can be said that Sonic Youth are an artistic collective just as much as they are a traditional rock/pop band.
Early in their career, Sonic Youth were associated with the no wave art and music scene in New York City, but they have outlasted most associated bands.
Initially inspired by the experimentation of Glenn Branca and The Velvet Underground and the heavy garage rock of The Stooges, they are known for using a variety of unorthodox guitar tunings, and for applying screwdrivers, drumsticks or other preparations to guitars to alter the instruments’ timbres.
Members of the band have released books of poetry and prose (a beatnik influence is evident in both their writing and lyrics), produced, written and performed in films (such as “1991: The Year Punk Broke”, “Perfect Partner”, “(this is known as) the blues scale” and “last days”). They have staged shows of visual art, and curated the All Tomorrows Parties music festival. They’ve even appeared in and performed a version of the theme song for “The Simpsons”.
In addition to their 21 albums as Sonic Youth there is much material recorded and performed with other artists, solo albums, and side-projects such as Ciccone Youth. It can be said that Sonic Youth are an artistic collective just as much as they are a traditional rock/pop band.
Similar Artists
Thurston Moore, Dinosaur Jr., Ciccone Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Pixies, Pavement, Free Kitten… see all
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Top Tracks
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Superstar
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Teen Age Riot
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Silver Rocket
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Kool Thing
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The Sprawl
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Candle
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Eric's Trip
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Hey Joni
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Dirty Boots
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Total Trash
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100%
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Sugar Kane
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Kissability
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Providence
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Top Albums
Shoutbox
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Waqcku wrote:
kim gordon had daniel johnston's autistic savant lovechild.
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TehGreyFox wrote:
i luv the juno soundtrack
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emily63259 wrote:
nancykitten, that's hilarious! you too, soldout. i love "thurston jumps into the frying pan" haha
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higginst wrote:
these are all very good, love brew for all!
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nancykitten wrote:
Great work, guys! No poem from me, but here's a rap: "OH YOU DON'T KNOW? THIS SHIT AIN'T NO JUNO. THIS IS SONIC DEATH AND IT'S THE 4 REAL QUEST. LEE RANALDO GUITAR ALL IN YOUR BITCHBOX, HE'S THE MAN WITH THE WHOREFROST. KIM GORDON IS SITTIN' WITH A KITTY, SHE COULD EAT YOU ALIVE, BUT SHE'S SO PRETTY."
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ihavesoldout wrote:
I did one too I think its really good:........." An exprimental band from New York Strike the guitars with drumsticks and fork But they wont eat em up Its just to play songs like Quest for the Cup But in the kitchen Lee and Shelley are cooking Tacos It is thier favorite dish But Thurston would rather eat a fish Gordon has a fish in the tank she calls Goo It rather stay there than in a zoo The pain, the pain is coming Thurston jumps into the frying pan.... The music comes, The burning spear"...
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ihavesoldout wrote:
Nice poem by Emily66295.
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absolia wrote:
haha emily that was cute <3
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JuMeSyn wrote:
That pic is beyond amazing.
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nancykitten wrote:
Emily, that was sublime. Lee is now truly free!
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Waqcku wrote:
this band was important to people from 1974 who thought it was experimental to wear sunglasses inside!???!!!!
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emily63259 wrote:
I am totally setting myself up for cruel Internet-forum-insults, but this is just a silly poem I wrote because I need to get a life, and there must be some other Lee fans around here.... ODE TO LEE RANALDO! You say it so well, you play it so well Your voice has taken up permanent residence, my deepest thoughts evaporated in the heat of your guitar therapy Remedy my day Sing, Lee, sing! Sing of Kingdom No. 19, Sing of Rain Kings, Erics, and Jonis Sing of Karen, Sing of Motes, of Rats Oh Lee, won't you Kill Time with me? Will you grant my Wish Fulfillment? Walk with me Lee, through the Hoarfrost, towards the Saucer-Like, the myths Tell me tales, of NYC Ghosts, and Flowers, and Skip Tracers Meet me at the Paper Cup Exit, Don't worry if it's dark and I'm late
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nymph_ wrote:
unique
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nancykitten wrote:
Praise be for the return of the awesome Daydream Nation pic.
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Bossu12 wrote:
so good
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SonicExplosion wrote:
anything?
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Empathy82 wrote:
nice
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optimistic_tour wrote:
cetaphil you are corniness embodied.
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Skinhorse wrote:
:-| i'm just sayin' there 'orta be a better picture up. like the last one!
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cetaphil wrote:
its corny to even write anything.
Listeners
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ziovinc
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mancap
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zenzizi
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moglyhempel
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EmilytheGreat
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LornARGH
Top Listener
Events
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Aug
29
Sonic Youth
Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, United States
27 shouts
| 39 attendees -
Aug
30
Sonic Youth
McCarren Pool, New York, United States
23 shouts
| 86 attendees
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Oct
11
Transart_Postludium
Museion, Bolzano, Italy
16 shouts
| 41 attendees
Recent Activity
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- matrixx333 tagged Sonic Youth with ‘alternative rock’. 5 hours ago
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- missmathcore tagged Sonic Youth with ‘love love’. 7 hours ago
- Bugkiss and selinatravis added selinatravis and 1 other track to the playlist ‘Sonic Youth’. 8 hours ago
- adibou59 tagged Sonic Youth with ‘american’ and ‘rock’. 9 hours ago
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Groups (639)
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Coachella 2007
256 members
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Sonic Youth
1,915 members
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Dinosaur Jr Network
199 members
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EMD
105 members
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For the Damaged
229 members
More Information
- Links
- Band Members
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- Bob Bert (1983 - 1985)
- Jim O'Rourke
- Kim Gordon (1981 - present)
- Lee Ranaldo (1981 - present)
- Steve Shelley (1985 - present)
- Thurston Moore (1981 - present)
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