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Rating: ''Goo'' is the sixth studio album by Sonic Youth, the first album released under a contract with a major record label, specifically Geffen Records.
The band, which until then had released their material only through independent labels, decided to rely on a record label after the enormous success derived from ''Daydream Nation''. Consequently, their singles end up on MTV, the sound softens considerably; all the material is decidedly more accessible.
Now, after this brief introduction, it might seem that the album is destined to be a flop, especially for the band's most loyal fans.
But it's not, and it's easy to understand why: after all, we are still talking about Sonic Youth.
The journey of the New York band could easily be summarized as follows: a first phase born from the No Wave experience and experimentation, then reaching the perfect balance between experimentation and sound refinement in the second phase, a period that effectively led Sonic Youth to be considered the masters of Noise-Rock, totally revolutionizing the use of guitars. Finally, a more accessible third phase, characterized by Alternative Rock. This is precisely where ''Goo'' is: it is the inaugural album of this third and final phase.
Beyond the discussions we've already covered regarding the record label, I think the new sound is less satisfying for quite different reasons: it's obvious that we are no longer facing the Sonic Youth of Bad Moon Rising, but we are not yet too far from the Sonic Youth of Daydream Nation. What is missing here is originality, the search for new sounds.
And it would probably have been asking too much, given that the path leading to the creation of Daydream Nation was long and demanding (I must emphasize that no post-DN album is, in my opinion, on the same level as DN itself).
Consequently, the sound appears a bit bland, lacking interesting ideas. And even though Thurston Moore, after signing with the new label, stated that the band still had ''total control over their music'', it is clear that tracks like ''Kool Thing'' are the result of some type of change that had already occurred within the group.
However, overall the album still turns out to be of excellent quality: Sonic Youth in the studio are always the same sound perfectionists, the guitars retain their unique and inimitable sound. Great tracks like ''Tunic (Song For Karen)'', ''Disappearer'' or ''Titanium Expose'' greatly increase the overall value of the album, without causing one to miss the previous sound. Also oddly discarded was ''I Know There's an Answer'', a cover, in my opinion, a beautiful one by the Beach Boys (easily found on the Web for those more interested).
In summary, ''Goo'' in my opinion is not at all a mediocre album, but as often happens and as history teaches us, producing two masterpieces one after the other is not easy. This is why it seems quite daunting compared to the previous ''Daydream Nation''.
Despite the more accessible sound, Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo maintain the overall level of the album.
Great credit is due to the splendid cover created by Raymond Pettibon.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Dirty Boots (05:28)
Here we go to another candle I know,
All the girls there playin' on a jelly roll.
Time to take a ride,
Time to take it in a midnight eye.
And if you wanna go, get on below.
Pinkin' out the day, dreamin' out the crazy way.
Finger on the love, it's all above.
Everywhere it's six-sex-six by luck,
A satellite wish will make it just enough.
You be makin' out with a witch in a coffee truck.
Time to rock the road, and tell the story of the jelly rollin'.
Dirty boots are on, hi-de-ho.
Pinkin' out the black, dreamin' in a crack.
Satan got her tongue, now it's undone.
I got some dirty boots,
Yeah, dirty boots.
I got some dirty boots, baby, dirty boots.
Ha!
02 Tunic (Song for Karen) (06:22)
Dreamin', dreamin' of a girl like me.
Hey, what are you waiting for?
Feedin, feedin' me.
And I feel like I'm disappearing, getting smaller everyday,
But I look in the mirror, and I'm bigger in every way.
She said, "You aren't never going anywhere."
She said, "You aren't never going anywhere."
"I ain't never going anywhere."
"I ain't never going anywhere."
I'm in Heaven now.
I can see you, Richard.
Goodbye, Hollywood.
Goodbye, Downey.
Hello, Janis.
Hello, Dennis, Elvis, and all my brand new friends.
I'm so glad you're all here with me until the very end.
Dreamin', dreamin' of how it's supposed to be,
But now this tunic's spinning around my arms and knees.
I feel like I'm disappearing, getting smaller everyday.
But when I open my mouth to sing, I'm bigger in every way.
She said, "You aren't never going anywhere."
She said, "You aren't never going anywhere."
"I ain't never going anywhere."
"I ain't never going anywhere."
Hey Mom, look! I'm over here!
I finally made it.
I'm playing the drums again, too.
Don't be sad - the band doesn't sound that bad.
And I remember, Mom, what you said.
You said, "Honey, you look so underfed."
(Kim and J Mascis sing Carpenters songs in background)
Another green salad, another iced tea.
I feel like I'm disappearing, getting smaller everyday.
But I look in your eyes, and I'm bigger in every way.
She said, "You aren't never going anywhere."
She said, "You aren't never going anywhere."
"I ain't never going anywhere."
"I ain't never going anywhere."
Goodbye, Richard, gotta go now.
I'm finally on my own, but Dan's got a gig.
Keep the love lights glowing.
Little girl's got the blues.
I can still hear Mama say, "Honey, don't let it go to your head."
03 Mary-Christ (03:11)
Talkin' to a punker priest,
Just doggin' the breeze bout bein' in a tree.
(He says they're free now.)
Along comes Mary-Christ, skatin' light on ice,
Says "Let's go on high."
(Later, priestoid.)
Gotta go, I got a date now.
Yeah, I know, shall not be late now.
Possessed by X-ray eyes, her spirit spies into my lie.
(Let's burn 'em out now.)
Wraps my head in skin, says now I'm in, dig the candy sin.
(Yeh, spit it out now.)
Every time she sings that low song,
Every time I know she's right/wrong.
Angel in a devil skirt buys me a shirt,
Says "I hope you like."
(Like what now?)
Hope, I hope you like,
Like you like your hope,
Walk the tightest rope.
(I see, I know now.)
Here we go, been waiting so long.
Yeah, I know, for Mary to come along.
Talkin' to a punker priest,
Just doggin' the breeze bout bein' in a tree.
(He says they're free now.)
Along comes Mary-Christ, skatin' light on ice,
Says "Let's go on high."
(Later, priestoid.)
Gotta go, I got a date now.
Yeah, I know, shall not be late now.
Possessed by X-ray eyes, her spirit spies into my lie.
(Let's burn 'em out now.)
Angel in a devil skirt buys me a shirt,
Says "I hope you like."
(Yeh, spit it out now.)
Here we go, been waitin' so long.
Yeah, I know, for Mary to come along.
04 Kool Thing (04:06)
Kool thing, sittin' with a kitty.
Now you know you're sure lookin' pretty.
Like a lover, not a dancer,
Superboy, take a little chance here.
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
Kool thing, let me play with your radio,
Move me, turn me on, baby-o.
I'll be your slave, give you a shave.
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
Chuck D: ''Yeah, tell 'em 'bout it. Hit 'em where it hurts.''
Kim: ''Hey, kool thing, come here. Sit down beside me. There's something I gotta ask 'ya. I just wanna know, what are you gonna do for me? I mean, are you gonna liberate us girls... from male white corporate opression?''
CD: ''Tell it like it is.''
K: ''Hmm?''
CD: ''Yeah.''
K: ''Don't be shy.''
CD: ''Word up.''
K: ''Fear of a female planet.''
CD: ''Fear of a female planet. Fear it, baby.''
K: ''I just want you to know that we can still be friends.''
CD: ''Let everybody know.''
K: ''Come on, come on, come on, come on...''
Kool, kool thing.
Kool, kool thing.
When you're a star, I know that you'll fix everything.
Kool thing, sittin' with a kitty.
Now you know you're sure lookin' pretty.
Rock the beat just a little faster,
Now I know you are the master.
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
Kool thing walkin' like a panther,
Come on and give me an answer.
Kool thing walkin' like a panther,
What'd he say?
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
05 Mote (07:37)
When you feel the spiral turning through alone,
And you feel so heavy that you just can't stop it...
When this sea of madness turns you into stone,
A picture of your life shoots like a rocket all the time...
Put me in the equation, it's all right.
I've seen you moving in and out of sight.
My friends tell me it'll all cut through you,
From nowhere to nowhere.
Cut together, cutting through.
I'm island-bound, a mote inside my eye,
And I can't see you breathing as before.
I am airless -- a vacuum child.
I can't stand to reason at your door in this time.
Put me in the equation, it's all right.
I've seen you moving in and out of sight.
My friends tell me it'll all cut through you,
From nowhere to nowhere.
Cut together.
I'm down in the daytime out of sight,
Comin' in from dreamland, I'm on fire.
I can see it's all been here before.
Dream a dream that lies right at your door.
When the seasons circle sideways out of turn,
And words don't speak, just fall across the carpet,
You're just in time to watch the fires burn.
It seems a crime but your face is bright, you love it all the time...
07 Disappearer (05:08)
Here it comes again, out of the rain.
Seems to have a new kind of same.
Been playin' on a simple ride,
The sign comes alive and speaks the mind.
It turns to me and it turns to gold.
It turns to see the fast lane slow.
It's been away too long,
It's been away, I'm gone.
East coast and on, to the west star.
Lookin' out, I thought I saw you blink.
Coming on to me like a silver eye.
Pick it up and tune it on in,
Head on out to western starland.
It's been mad and gone, now it's singing a song.
Like a western star, it's going my way.
Looking out, I'm back in time to stay.
Into the eastern, sign away.
It comes alive through the clearer,
The ghost arrives into your mirror.
You've been away too long,
It's been way too long.
Eastern star is on, a disappearer.
09 Cinderella's Big Score (05:54)
[Kim]
if I could give you anything
I would give you a kick
you'd rather have a dollar
than a hug from your sis
you really fucked up this time
your old lady's really pissed
she's not just laughing
she's polishing her fist
if you could give me anything
would you consider a fist?
don't give me yr soul
it's caught is an abyss
here's a pack of ciggies
fresh from the wonder lips
a dream, a wish, a heart's desires
cinderella is a kiss
a cold is gonna take you
and freeze away your tears
ome a little closer honey
you can be so near
mind your heart aside you (?)
really got no sense of time (?)
ninety-nine inside you (?)
that I'm scared if you were cryin'
if I could give you anything
I would give you a kick
you'd rather have a dollar
than a hug from your sis
a cold is gonna take you
and freeze away your tears
come a little closer honey
we can be so near
11 Titanium Exposé (06:24)
Waking up, I see you dreaming of a drive-in.
Open your eyes to see the TV set in mute.
I been waiting for you to smile, all the pretty freezing.
Wintertime comes summer, you are why it's happening.
Sugar babe, sugar babe, turn the TV.
Turn it babe, turn it babe, can't you see me?
Sugar now, sugar now, turn the TV.
Turn it babe, turn it babe, can't you see me?
I feel the morning slip its sights into your mirror.
Now I see what you might see, it's pretty clear.
I been looking just to feel that funny feeling,
I don't know, but it's a mystery to reckon.
Sugar babe, sugar babe, turn the TV.
Turn it babe, turn it babe, can't you see me?
Sugar now, sugar now, turn the TV.
Turn it babe, turn it babe, can't you see me?
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Other reviews
By Antonino91
"Goo proves the ultimate balance between the explosive anger of early years and the noisy guitar outbursts."
"Good Sonic Youth does not lie!"
By Dan Erre
Thurston Moore shouting: 'I don’t wanna die, guys.'
Their noise, especially live, could also be pure abstractionism.
