sy to meet at the end of this year to start work on new album
 

check the nme website for info.

The stoppage in Sonic Youth activity, Moore claimed, was at least partly a result of fans “decoding” the band.

"It’s like they know what we’re about, like there isn’t a question mark hanging over the audience any more. Like they’ve figured it out and they appreciate it. That's totally fine and those gigs are totally fine but they’re also a bit business as usual and that kind of turns me off a little bit. So I wanted to back away from that for a while and do other work."

Their pattern WAS predictable. So much so you coulda wrote a book about it.

so now they're going to make shitty records. hope not

Thanks Jenn. That's very interesting because there's an element in their audience I find most annoying. It's like every time any member or the whole band releases something, the fans get it or try to. Your life would be easier if you simply stepped away from expectations you hold for any band, and begin to question what musicians as such are meant to provide for you. You don't like someone's work, fine. But what is the point you're making by projecting blanket-hate for its unfolding, other than you have no real desire of replacing it with your own?

that's true , and when you act like that you start to get boring of everything

bizarre blurb of an article, but maybe my favorite pic of this era of the band!

interesting, though. i always look forward to seeing what they do next (i suggest letting aaron engineer the recordings, though - love how SYR9 and nurse sound, in particular)... i'd dig more exploration of acoustic or semi-acoustic material, "massage the history" was great... or ferocious noise, however they feel...

they all keep so busy, i hear only a fraction of the non-SY output - but am of course eager to see how lee does w/ his 'solo album' + am starting to warm up to thurston's newest...

so does that mean their next album will be as radical a departure from their own back catalog as said catalog was a radical departure from everything that came before it?

He haven't said that they will be recording any new music. He just said that they will meet and they will see what will happen. Am I wrong? ;)

what's up with all the nagging?! A new album, that is fucking great! Can't wait for more updates!

"It’s like they know what we’re about, like there isn’t a question mark hanging over the audience any more."

I happen to agree with him, because a SY show is somewhat predictable these days. After the first few shows of any given tour, you pretty much know what 90% of the set list will be. And you know that at some point there will be some kind of loud noisy breakdown at the end of a song. These loud parts are no longer shocking or "extreme" after 30 years.

I wonder how Thurston arrived at this conclusion? He makes it sound as though he observed this in the audience's reaction, rather than by looking at the band itself and the shows.

As a fan, I still love seeing SY live. I love hearing songs from the latest album, even if I know they are coming. I loved hearing Pink Steam six times in two years, and I still enjoy the noisy breakdowns. The point is, I don't necessarily need to be shocked. But if Thurston feels the need to keep the audiences on their toes, they will need to do something different.

Personally I'm more interested in the SYR series at this point than actual SY albums, but I guess I'll take either......

2 words

piano album

I look forward to this, even though I do agree that their SYR-stuff is much more interesting..but no SY album is bad at all, they're my favourite band so the more they release the happier I will be. :)

Hope it's out soon and that they will return to europe for some gigs.
It's been a while!!

I wish bands were allowed to change the formula and do different things. To me, the same thing album after album, performance after performance and formula after formula is boooring. Although -- I've liked everything Sonic has done, with a few exceptions with songs.

That said, I've always been expecting them to just break out do something crazy new. . . my expectations never truly met -- and yet, still the most adored musical attempt.

I also favor the idea of them exploring more acoustic elements. The way I beat on me 'coustic -- aye, gives me chills at times. . . so Sonic Youthy. Arrrr....

Are u a sy-fan? ;) ;)

I'm pretty sure they are........

They'll meet up in August to play with Wild Flag in Brooklyn. Will that be the only SY show of the year? I'd be surprised if they didn't play another gig this summer and some shows around October too.

other than the March Japan Benefit of course.

http://www.theimproper.com/music/2990/taylor-momsen-x-marks-spot-in-near-topless-shows-photos funny the sonik shirt doesn't get much mention here.

To add the question mark back above the fan's head, do they not need change in some manner?

Band are allowed to change -- certainly. But it is not always met with cheers. So many bands abandon attempted change only to revisit their roots and follow a certain formula with writing, package or performance. There are many bands who have attempted a different style or idea only to have it backfire. . . and lead to their demise or the same-old same-old . . .