THE GOOD AND THE BAD
   
Originally Released on:

SONIC YOUTH EP

also appears on:

  • Sonic Death (live)
  • Sonic Youth 2006 reissue

Line-up:
Thurston - bass
Kim - guitar
Lee - guitar
Richard Edson - drums

Lyrics

instrumental

 Track length: 7:55

First Known Performance: 07/??/81
Last Known Performance:  03/23/85

NOTES:

  • Working title: "Loud & Soft"
  • Sonic Youth's first released instrumental. Also the first instance of instrument swapping between Thurston and Kim.
  • One of the cooler discoveries provided by the greatly anticipated SONIC YOUTH ep reissue in 2006 was that the live version of this song (then titled 'Loud & Soft') from 09/18/81 is actually the source for the opening track of the 'Sonic Death' live collage. The full recording, available on the reissue, also demonstrates an earlier framework for the song, with a much more halted, frenzied rhythm during the beginning of the song (compared to the rather loose, Gang of Four style groove captured on the record). Unlike the finished version, the song does not return to the main bass figure after the 2-note breakdown, but also unlike the studio version, this performance features spoken word by Lee (as featured on Sonic Death). Another performance on Sonic Death also has Lee doing spoken word. The song's earliest known performance was performed without drums in July '81, with the guitars taking over as percussion.

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