STARPOLISH: A lot of people who will read this are people in bands, dealing with the issue of being in bands, and you have managed to keep one together for more than two decades. So I wanted to know what it was like when you added a member, Jim O'Rourke, to do some production and engineering for you, and whether that changes the dynamic of the band itself in terms of how you do things, particularly live. I think the studio is a little different, as it doesn't have as much of an impact, but Jim is touring with you, right?
SHELLEY: Oh yeah, he has been for the last few years. You know it's funny because we were saying this before; it's changed a lot of stuff on some levels, and on some levels it hasn't changed anything. We still work and operate in the same way that we have. There's just another voice in the mix now.
RANALDO: So it really wasn't that we were searching for somebody to play live with us, it just kind of happened. And it's worked out really well.
STARPOLISH: Do you have any advice for bands in terms of keeping a band together? Sonic Youth is an interesting band because everyone has a really strong personality in it, and there are going to be conflicts. Is there any advice for emerging artists who are going to have to deal with those things?
RANALDO: I don't know. I guess the main thing that's kept us going is that we've stayed focused on the music and the community that we exist in, and we've gotten what we wanted out of it. We weren't looking to make a hit single and go for that dream that for most people is fairly unobtainable. We wanted to make really good music and we kind of just went about it and did it and focused on that.
Expectations
STARPOLISH: I just wanted to ask one more thing about the new album in terms of the expectations. Given the environment that you see where people are complaining that CD sales are down, does the fact that you don't operate in the huge pop mainstream benefit you? What are your expectations for this album in terms of how it's going to do?
SHELLEY: Sales-wise?
STARPOLISH: Yeah, sales-wise but also the reaction from your fans. It seemed like with Murray Street there was some feeling that you were pursuing a slightly more commercial direction that was more song oriented, and listening to the new album I thought it might be similarly perceived. I was just curious how you think your fan base will receive it.
Article comments
1 - dave
the closing song on Washing Machine is Diamond SEA!!! not STAR!!! if your going to write a review get your facts straight!!!!!!
2 - POO
UR BAND IS THE BEST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 - _sheccid_
is my favourite band!! it's great i love them, kim gordon you are so fucking pretty, i lover her xD
4 - HW Saxton
Never heard of the band:"Fuck You All!".
Are they a punk band or what?
5 - sydney
they're a post-punk band... garage-rock sort of experimental indie band. Almost leaders of the indie rock movement in America over the late 80's and early 90's.
They mix alot of experimental noise and soundscapes, sometimes, with catchy melodies.
6 - HW Saxton
Sydney, I was responding in jest to the
way the comment above mine was phrased.
I'm aware of who Sonic Youth are,as well
as Wasted Youth,Reagan Youth & Big Youth
as well.Sarcasm,does not carry well over
the Internet sometimes.Thanx.
7 - Jon Bob
Dave told you, and this is serious, really. If you do intend to redeem yourself or cover this mistake up, you should fix the whole damn paragraph, because it was Moore who did the vocals on DIAMOND SEA. Gordon (Kim) is a female, and for the 19 minutes of this spectacular track you obviously never heard, its easy to tell that thurston is not a female singing. Kim plays great bass on this track by the way, you should know (sarcasm). You dissed my favorite band, now i'm gonna find you like jay and silent bob and kick your ass!
8 - Jon Bob
Thanks for doing the SY piece, though. They're totally cool, and barring that 3rd paragraph i have no complaint. I can forgive, but we can only hope that they will be so merciful and not destroy you, thats right becuz they buy and sell people like you all the time, they'll probably cook you for breakfast and let the leftovers spoil in the fridge when they're not even thinking about you cuz theyre too busy on the road rocking and being totally cool. I'll leave you alone now, i'm sure you've got some homework and studying to do .