Getting new people in to Sonic Youth.
 

I've spent my entire adult life, and a far too much of my adolescence, trying to expose people who would otherwise never get the opportunity, (friends, partners, family), to Sonic Youth's music.

WHY DO I CONSISTENTLY FAIL?

I've tried. Believe it, I have tried and tried and tried. I have bought countless copies of DN, Washing Machine, Sister, Murray Street, and so on for countless people, usually depending on that person's taste. I have played SY for girlfriends, confident that they will be blown away. Then Kim's voice comes on, and I start to view what's happening from the girlfriend's perspective. I realize, at that point, that it appears as though I am playing some kind of joke on her. Or that I am insane. Or that, maybe, this is just really, really shit music. When I think about it from the point of view of an SY "layperson", I understand completely why none of my efforts has ever been effective.

Have you ever tried to get someone with no real experience with non-traditional pop music in to Sonic Youth? If so, how has it worked out?

For me, long ago, I, quite luckily, found a girl who loved the band almost as much as I do. But I've come to the conclusion that SY is not a "Man, check out this kickass new track!!!" kind of band, unless you're dealing with someone who's already into something similar.

Now there's a new person who I want to get into SY. Cool person, but limited music perspective, and low tolerance for outright noise. Would you be so kind as to help me create a playlist that will be more likely to catch someone's ear. It's not for a girl I like or anything, just a younger co-worker who was probably a toddler when Kurt Cobain died, and she could really use a history lesson on alternative music.

So please help me. Suggest songs for a playlist that I can give her that will turn her ON to the music and not OFF. Also, please tell me I'm not the only one who suffers from this. Tell me I'm not the only one who's interrupted a party to put on "Bad Moon Rising" only to be met with immediate silence, the focus of a hundred blank irritated drunk stares.

Severian.

I played a live show for a girl once. Shed never heard them before. As soon as Kim's voice kicked in I knew it was a mistake. I was even a trifle embarrassed, because I had talked SY up so much for so long. Then I gave some bullshit "aquired taste" explanation that sounded pretentious as hell I'm sure.

An intro SY tape would be hard to make. I'm sure it would depend on the person it was made for. But for the average modern alt rock fan I'm sure it would rely heavily on Dirty and maybe the Eternal. A punk fan might require more Sister. A hippie or guitar player would be more easily won over by ATL and MS.

But I want a go-to tape that I can hand to anyone that will put the bands sound into context and not bleed the eardrums.

Diamond Sea radio edit would be essential.

Ok 1st I'm glad your not a robot
2nd Sonic Youth is not something that you can really encourage someone to embrace. Either u get them or u don't.
3dly great effort in attempting to spread the sonic love
4tHly I would personaLly start out with these:

Drunken Butterfly
100%
Always winners

have you ever played any songs from their later stuff? I don't know why anyone wouldn't be able to tolerate it... I have tried once or twice (keep in mind that I have absolutely no social life, no one to hang out with in my area either) and many times on the internet. Most people listen to 2 songs and say "yeah they're alright" and never listen to it again. This band demands lots of patience. I first listened to them when I was 14 maybe. Had no idea what to make of it... now they're easily one of my favorite bands of all time and possibly my biggest inspiration. I'm not aware of these people you speak of but where I live, majority are hooked to that fast paced life of clicking a button and listening to a 2 minute single. Observation of any kind is rarely done by them. If there are others they must be residing somewhere in the underground caverns of florida.

some of the easiest songs to get into for a beginner I guess would be Theresa's Sound World, Kool Thing, Catholic Block, Schizophrenia, Kotton Krown, Shadow of a Doubt, Expressway etc.

I haven't bothered with this kind of stuff anymore since nearly everyone disagrees with me about most things.

Yeah not many floridians dig the yout. Fuck em. We just know our shit baby:)

Ctoss the breeze

The key to getting a potential fan into the Youth is knowing what album to let them listen to...especially being that Sonic Youth has covered so much musical terrain as a band. If someone typically digs more chaotic noise rock, Confusion is a good start. If they like prettier stuff...maybe Murray Street. Pop boredom...Rather Ripped.

It can be a challenge sometimes, sure.

"How can you listen to this? "

That's the common reaction to Kim's voice. I never can quite explain why I love it so much.

Played my grandmother 'Santa Doesn't Cop Out on Dope' - she disliked.

I've also tried to spread the sonic gospel over the years, and it usually doesn't work out. Once or twice, it has, and it was very gratifying. Those people may have never heard SY otherwise.

I guess SY just isn't for everyone. The fact that they sounded so unlike anything I had ever heard was a big part of their intial appeal to me. That may be the same reason other people can't grasp them.

Maybe it's for the best. Besides the Beatles, how many bands have made great, innovative music with mass appeal?

I think the most of the people just don´t be as excited about any music as I am. For example my wife has never been as excited about the music as I am and I think it´s ok. As Sonic Gail said I think also SY is the band you really love or don´t like at all. Most of my friends don`t like SY at all and those who like haven´t listened it after Washing Machine. I think the certain music just hit you and there is no way to make somebody like the music he just don´t like.

I have never been abl to do this either because it always seems like I don't know where to start!!! If someone wants to hear them, or I want to show someone what they sound like, I'm stumped, because I don't know whether to point them to ATL/Murray Street, or DN/Goo, or Evol/Sister... ah! Either way it feels wrong to me, like i'm not properly representing the band.

don't do this to people

Well, if somebody wanted to hear Sonic Youth who had never heard it and I knew he had quite ordinary music taste, I would put Rather Ripped on. If he had experimental music taste, I would put EVOL or Sister or maybe SYR1.

Most people who know me don't even ask me for music recommendations....since my first is always Sonic youth.

If accessibility is what you're after, make your friend the following mix:

1. Teen Age Riot
2. Hey Joni
3. Candle
4. Dirty Boots
5. Kool Thing
6. Disappearer
7. 100%
8. Sugar Kane
9. Purr
10. Superstar
11. Bull In The Heather
12. Starfield Road
13. Self-Obessed and Sexxee
14. Becuz
15. Unwind
16. The Diamond Sea [radio edit]
17. Sunday
18. The Empty Page
19. Disconnection Notice
20. Pattern Recognition
21. New Hampshire
22. I Love You Golden Blue
23. Reena
24. Incinerate
25. Jams Run Free
26. Sacred Trickster
27. What We Know
28. No Way

The production values of the pre-Daydream Nation albums make them difficult to "hook" the average listener with. Start with Daydream and give them the career overview listed below. If they're still not into it, they don't like Sonic Youth.

Everyone has to find their own way

I just wouldn't bother. It doesn't really work. You either like it or your don't.

ya, i used to have that problem. i gave up in trying to get anyone into them. i might stick 'em on a mix cd or something but that's the extent of it. interestingly enough, i kind of know that feeling of people who don't get sonic youth's music. i was kind of that way with the grateful dead, my boss always had the dead channel on at work, and many friends were into them and played them for me. i just couldn't get into it until very recently. the dead aren't my favorite band, but they just 'clicked' for me recently.

Whoah there's a ot of EJST&NS on that set list! I'm not sure that would be smart, unless this friend is like a huge Beck or Blonde Redhead fan, in which case.... I guess s/he would have already most likely heard sonic youth. :)
I would definitely cherry pick the ten most listenable songs and give them that. I wouldn't be able to keep myself from including "Kotton Krown", but that's probably not a deal-breaker.

What friend are you talking about anyway?

I'd never show them this thread.

Yup, and you'll notice SY's two weakest albums - ATL and especially NYCG&F - are represented by only one song, "Sunday".

Stick a drill in their temple.

hahaha good story.

i don't know why everyone always says new people should check out the less noisy stuff first.
i just tell them to go get DDN, like someone here said if they don't like it now they never will.

i recall hearing Teen Age Riot for the first time.. screwed me for life. :D

That's true. I mean, 100% was a pretty hopping video backintheday, and while it does use some standard root changes, there's little but noise on top.

BTW, thank god for this thread. I thought I was the only one who has completely failed to turn others on.

I'm now at the point where if someone were to say, "They aren't my cup of tea at all, but I appriciate what they're trying to do," I'd consider that a resounding success.

I guess I'd make them sit and watch these videos:

1st Video, some fav songs comp from a fan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yivxPCgMYqA
-Schizophrenia
-Drunken Butterfly
-Youth Against Facism
-Kool Thing
-Halloween
-100%
-Teenage Riot
-The Diamond Sea
-Tunic (Song For Karen)

2nd Video - the eternal promo montage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gt265l6XYg

If they don't seem enthusiastic/attracted by the music and looks then I'd put 'Panty Lies' on loud+repeat and lock them inside the room until they drown and choke in their own vomit which will sure taste like shit just like their taste in music, anyway, they'll be used to the taste for sure, so I'd have to get in and hit them in the head with a open F sharp tuned jazzmaster until they bleed and die.

I don't really try to sway people to listen to bands anymore. Ever try to explain to someone that you sincerely honestly like yoko ono? Good luck. If it was me I would just give them a copy of Sister and see what happens. The first few times I heard the youth, via daydream nation, I didn't really get it, and it took a while before it clicked.

You are hiding your own identity why don't you do the same for other people. Why do you have to throw someone's name out there like that for everyone to see!

its hard to find people patient enough to like sy. i've tried a few times and i always meet people who are completely enthusiastic about them but then later admit they've only heard "a few songs". if SY weren't in guitar hero and rockband, they wouldn't have heard those songs

catl plus
 

you've an amazing weblog here! would you wish to make some invite posts on my weblog?

I never bothered to make this attempt, but I appreciate the suggestions. SY has to be discovered, not forced down throats. I think my best bet is to put it on in the background, and if someone notices, I will consider it a success.

^ lies, I've managed to jam it down two of my friends' throats. and it worked all right.

Yeah, so have I. But "worked all right" in these cases just means they now have a copy of Murray Street, and listen to it once every other year or so. I'd like to actually turn someone into a fan. I've only managed to do so once. It was in '02 and I played Source Tags and Codes (a new and somewhay exciting album at the time) for my roomate during a road trip. He liked it and said it was exactly the kind of music he was looking for. So I said, "man, if you're into this you should listen to Sonic Youth's late '80s albums." He was playing everything from Sister through Dirty basically on loop for the rest of the year. So much, in fact, that to this day I can't hear "Sugar Kane" without seeing images of his pomaded fauxhawk bouncing up and down in my minds eye.

That was my one real success, and because the guy was kind of a pretentious ass, I consider it something of a failure as well.

Ahh...sounds like you may have created a monster. You're a real Dr. Frankenstein. Yeah both of my friends do like 'em a lot...and I've managed to bring out with me to see 'em in STL and NYC. But yeah...



Oh and now I'm reminded of another story. So after a night out, my friends and I decided to get some Mexican food(Nothin is better after drinking). BUt yeh....for some reason the group behind decided to start singing....WTF. I start talking loudly and tell them to shut up. But yeah...two doods are like UGhgrdac gra. What do you prefer...I said "nothing, just don't sing"
but yeah...Sonic YOuth eventually left my mouth. and yeh. they suggested a band, and I remembered for like a day, but yeh.

You have no idea. I won't bore you with the story, but suffice it to say this "monster" actually embarrassed me in front of Thurston Moore with his histrionic fanboy bullshit. I couldn't listen to the band's '88-92 output for a while because it made me think of him. Seriously.

I did have a great winter storm acid trip with him once though. Teenage riot played on repeat for hours while we rolled cigarettes and waxed philosophical like baby Ginsbergs while the wind threatened to blow in the windows. SoI our time together was not a complete waste.