Sonic Youth announced a summer tour a few weeks ago and I already bought myself a ticket to the Tulsa show. This has also set me on a Sonic Youth listening spree - for some reason I always want to know a band's every song before I ever see them in concert, so I get the most out of the experience.
But for a band that's been around as long as Sonic Youth, I know I have my work cut out for me. I know them very well in their early years, say, 1985-1990, but haven't heard much of their later output. So beginning with Washing Machine, I plan on listening to and reviewing each Sonic Youth album released from 1995 onward.
Washing Machine surprised me. After hearing the downhill decline starting with the brilliant Goo to the mediocre Dirty (1992) to the horrific Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star (1994), I was beginning to think one of my favorite bands was beginning to lose their magic touch.
But my fear was unfounded - Washing Machine, aside from a few throwaway tracks, is sheer bliss to listen to.
Like previous albums, this is a blend of Sonic Youth's foray into the mainstream with obviously experimental elements, only Washing Machine was to be the last Sonic Youth album that could be considered anywhere near accessible. "Becuz" starts the album off strong, it's bass line repeated measure after measure as Thurston and Ranaldo mess around in the background with their strangely-tuned guitars. Then when the bass line abruptly ends, the noise crescendos in strange harmonies, rising in intensity over anew, simpler bass line that seems to plod on into oblivion, disobeying all laws of harmony.
"Becuz," as well as the rest of the album, showcase Sonic Youth's musical maturity - the band combine so many different elements in their songwriting while making it still make sense. I'm finding it hard to describe exactly how to describe Sonic Youth. As I may have mentioned in another review, Sonic Youth is one of those bands that is simply indescribable. I find it's that way with exceptional music.
Another album highlight is track three, "Saucer-Like." The intro is an absolutely amazing assortment of chromatic note ascensions, after which the song lays back into an ethereal groove. This song has a peculiar quality that makes it sound like you're underwater - in fact, most of Washing Machine's songs sound like this. It's like you're drowning in Sonic Youth's melodic noise.
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