[GeneticKiss]

...I can't help but feel like Thurston is quickly becoming the most bland member of the group from a singing/songwriting perspective. IMHO his songs on The Eternal pale in comparison to Kim's and Lee's, and his voice just grates on my nerves anymore. I realize he's not in his 20s or even his 30s anymore, but he's been sounding like just another indie rock singer on the past few records, with very little range or excitement in his voice.

Anyone else feel the same way?

[GeneticKiss]

Actually, I feel EJSTNS had one of the most interesting Thurston-sung songs ever, "Androgynous Mind"...

[greedrex]

how dare you

[cagedbird]

this is a sacrilegious thread. but, i tend to agree with the original post. it's not that the lyrics lack originality, e.g. no way, leaky lifeboat. it's just that there is not as much feeling in the vocal delivery. makes me want to listen to Dirty. maybe Mr. Moore is just mellowing out? Kim's vocals haven't changed that much over hte last few albums. I think she was at her most expressive/grating on Dirty and ATL.

[auto-aim]

trees outside the academy was great.

[noisereductions]

Originally Posted by GeneticKiss

Actually, I feel EJSTNS had one of the most interesting Thurston-sung songs ever, "Androgynous Mind"...

repped man! Easily one of my favorite SY songs of all time.

[noisereductions]

Originally Posted by auto-aim

trees outside the academy was great.

agreed. In my Top 10 of 2007.

[chrome noise tape]

Originally Posted by GeneticKiss

...I realize he's not in his 20s or even his 30s anymore, but he's been sounding like just another indie rock singer on the past few records, with very little range or excitement in his voice.

Anyone else feel the same way?

it's true he's not in his 20s or 30s , he's more in his 50s so that "youth energy" from the past it's more settle down in these days.
it's not just the less ( or not ) excitement in his voice, i think is also on his guitar...at least with S.Y...maybe is the normal process of getting old.

[Pax Americana]

Originally Posted by GeneticKiss

...I can't help but feel like Thurston is quickly becoming the most bland member of the group from a singing/songwriting perspective. IMHO his songs on The Eternal pale in comparison to Kim's and Lee's, and his voice just grates on my nerves anymore. I realize he's not in his 20s or even his 30s anymore, but he's been sounding like just another indie rock singer on the past few records, with very little range or excitement in his voice.

Anyone else feel the same way?

I generally really like T Moore's contributions to SY, but I totally agree that his songs on The Eternal were the weakest tracks on the album. Actually I was surprised with just how fucking good I thought Kim's songs were on the record.

Also, Androgynous Mind is fucking awesome.

[atsonicpark]

Thurston's not a bad or uninteresting songwriter in the least, but some of his more traditional "Thurston rocker" stuff has never been that interesting. Sassy vocals over a boring riff, then singing same notes as the guitar is playing. This stuff is most prevalent on dirty/jet set and his first solo album, though. I usually dig 'em, really, but it's certainly not what I listen to SY for.

I love Junkie's Promise, which I think mixes his sassier rock stuff with something that's more interesting.

Anyway, re: the Eternal, I think NO WAY, for example, rules a lot. Though it's pretty much just the same shit he always does, there's something about that song.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by GeneticKiss

...I can't help but feel like Thurston is quickly becoming the most bland member of the group from a singing/songwriting perspective. IMHO his songs on The Eternal pale in comparison to Kim's and Lee's, and his voice just grates on my nerves anymore. I realize he's not in his 20s or even his 30s anymore, but he's been sounding like just another indie rock singer on the past few records, with very little range or excitement in his voice.

Anyone else feel the same way?

I actually noticed that, less so on Rather Ripped, but flagrantly obvious on this last album.. personally, I think that Sonic Nurse was such an explosive and creative record that it drained them.. the sonic nurse and following Daydream Nation tours were some of the most magical moments in Sonic Youth, honestly, how could they come back from that? If they weren't as resilient and honest as the Grateful Dead they would have died.

[GeneticKiss]

Originally Posted by atsonicpark

Thurston's not a bad or uninteresting songwriter in the least, but some of his more traditional "Thurston rocker" stuff has never been that interesting. Sassy vocals over a boring riff, then singing same notes as the guitar is playing. This stuff is most prevalent on dirty/jet set and his first solo album, though. I usually dig 'em, really, but it's certainly not what I listen to SY for.

I love Junkie's Promise, which I think mixes his sassier rock stuff with something that's more interesting.

Anyway, re: the Eternal, I think NO WAY, for example, rules a lot. Though it's pretty much just the same shit he always does, there's something about that song.

Yes, I agree. No Way is easily the best Thurston song on the album.

But-maybe I need to include a little disclaimer on the OP---I've been listening primarily to metal, punk, hardcore, and 1st wave Seattle grunge for the past month or so, so anything without super high-gain riffing, bellowed vocals, and guitar solos may sound a bit weak at first.

Good Thurston songs this decade (I haven't heard NYC Ghosts and Flowers or Trees Outside The Academy): The Empty Page, Radical Adults Lick Godhead Style, Unmade Bed, Dripping Dream, Stones (actually, didn't Lee write that? I seem to recall hearing that somewhere), Incinerate, Pink Steam, Or, Antenna, No Way.

[EVOLghost]

He might be exactly on par with Kim and Lee....but....I love Thunderclap!

[chicka]

look out the cool people are talking to one another

[Keeping It Simple]

For me, Thurston has a vocality I liken to The Beach Boys and the session singers who sang the theme song for M*A*S*H, "Suicide Is Painless". I do have penchant for American vocalists who sound almost like choir boys.

[EVOLghost]

Originally Posted by Keeping It Simple

For me, Thurston has a vocality I liken to The Beach Boys and the session singers who sang the theme song for M*A*S*H, "Suicide Is Painless". I do have penchant for American vocalists who sound almost like choir boys.

ewwwwwwwwwwwww


you like choir boys?


ghey!

[Keeping It Simple]

Originally Posted by EVOLghost

ewwwwwwwwwwwww


you like choir boys?


ghey!

Hey, I'm no catholic priest!

[automatic bzooty]

yr catholic block is showing...

[[Sandbag]]

I tried to get in this frame of mind, and listen to the album, to see if I could get some of what you're talking about, and I can't.. I love his voice, I think it's really powerful, and the songs rock..

is a bit like when I gave this record to a friend and he thought it was a new band..

[Torn Curtain]

Originally Posted by Keeping It Simple

For me, Thurston has a vocality I liken to The Beach Boys and the session singers who sang the theme song for M*A*S*H, "Suicide Is Painless". I do have penchant for American vocalists who sound almost like choir boys.

I have to agree on this, some of Thurston's vocals definitely remind me of the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds era).