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The sound of women singing. I love them all, always have:
At around 1pm on July 10, 1964—almost exactly 45 years ago—percussionist Sunny Murray, bassist Gary Peacock, and saxophonist Albert Ayler met at the Variety Arts Recording Studio just off of Times Square to record what would become the first jazz release for Benard Stollman's ESP-Disk. The studio was tiny and cramped and its walls were covered with Latin album covers and its doors were open so that the musicians could breathe. Can you imagine how hot it must have been?
The label began as Esperanto Disk; it was Bernard Stollman's vision to create a label devoted to…
Afterwards, we spent the most delicious morning together, just holding one another. Everything felt so thick and hot and gorged. We couldn't help but move slowly. Time felt eternal.
I know, I know. Things were going pretty fast, but it all felt so natural and neither one of us wanted it to stop. When it all got a bit too heated, we slowly moved on to the couch.
Afterwards...
And then I just sort of couldn't help myself. I mean, maybe you've been in a situation like this, too. I don't know. It was kind of just hanging there, waiting to happen. I know we had only just met—I hope you don't think less of me because of this—but I really think the time was right.
So I made my move. I know, I know...
My copy of Sonic Youth's new album, The Eternal, arrived earlier this week. It's hard to imagine a more embraceable package of vinyl. We hit it off immediately. I mean, we really just sort of clicked. It was all very natural, very comfortable. It was, you know, easy.
First we enjoyed some stimulating conversation. And then...
Earlier this week, when I deemed Lights "the world's sexiest band," I had kinda sorta forgotten about Sonic Youth for a second. Sorry about that. I was momentarily blinded by the light.
Sonic Youth made an appearance at David Letterman's place a couple nights ago. I love seeing Kim Gordon, free from the bass, rocking the mic in all her gold-gloved go-go glory.
I want you to levitate me
Don't you love me yet?
Press up against the amp
Turn up the treble, don't forget
Uh-huh, uh-huh.
The July issue of Stereophile (which you should totally get a hold of; steal it, if you have to) includes Robert Baird's interview with Sonic Youth. Robert visited the band at their studio, Echo Canyon West, in Hoboken, NJ. I wish I could have been there. I would've laid right down on that floor and soaked it all up.
In the interview, the band talks about the process of recording their incendiary new album, The Eternal. Turn to page 66, and you'll read:
"Sound is a huge part of the band. On The Eternal there are very few overdubs. Everything you hear on this…
The July 2009 issue of Stereophile is now on newsstands. You should be able to spot it easily. It's all dressed up in orange and blue (like Colorado's favorite football team, the Denver Broncos) in tribute to the cover model, Boulder's incredible 1021 Disc Player.
Actually, we chose blue to go along with the CD metadata for "Rhapsody in Blue," which cleverly appears on the Boulder's large display, and orange simply because we hadn't used orange in the past. I especially liked the combination of orange and blue for New York Mets-ical reasons. (Even though the Mets continue to…
In this excellent article, Seth Colter Walls discusses Sonic Youth's new album, ponders the band's place in the history of rock music, and challenges the worlds of mainstream art and politics.
And in the video for "Sacred Trickster," the first single off of The Eternal, the band hits the streets and drops art bombs on The Man.
That's what you get, Establishment. Let this be a reminder: If you see something, say something!