We'll wrap up the second set of the "Song of the Week" series by closing out the second half of Daydream Nation. There might be a small "encore" of sorts, but the Trilogy will be it for a few months. While it seems an obvious end (made easier by Raj Paden's very helpful decision to tab all three songs!), I actually don't have that much to say about the songs individually. But hey - it's the fuckin' Trilogy.
The sequence made its debut on June 9th, 1988 in Hoboken, New Jersey, closing the main set. The three songs comprising the Trilogy were then known as "Huskeriffic" "Dream" and "ZZ", not yet boasting the lyrical definition that would inspire their future titles: "The Wonder" "Hyperstation" and "Eliminator Jr" (okay, that last one is still kind of a working title). These June pre-Daydream work-out gigs are the last time the three songs were played as an actual triplet in '88 - the European and North American tours kept "The Wonder" and "Hyperstation" as a tightly bound duo, sometimes as an opener, with "Eliminator Jr" typically closing the set on its own. However, the March/April 1989 European tour saw the Trilogy restored for certain gigs (including the pair of Moscow shows used for the 2019 bootleg - if they hadn't abandoned "Eliminator Jr" on night 2, they may have released the "fast food" version). Only "The Wonder" survived past 1989, being played at a dozen or so shows in 1990. Seventeen years later, the three songs were exhumed from a very long slumber to rightfully close the Daydream Nation "reissue" tour set. That meant twenty-four more performances of the Trilogy in its entirety, plus a few more lucky encore recipients at "regular" shows throughout the year.
I encourage you to check out the tapes of the June '88 gigs over at The McKenzie Tapes. It really is fascinating to hear the Daydream Nation material in such a chaotic, unpolished state. Despite my issues with the mix, overdubs, and sequencing, I do still acknowledge the obvious power behind the group of songs that comprise the finished album. I'm thrilled that they found themselves with enough material to release a legitimate double album at that stage in their career. Obviously with longer songs, and more of them, the tour became hyper-focused on the new compositions, offering only "Brother James" "I Love Her All The Time" and the occasional "I Wanna Be Your Dog" as tokens of the past. Following a brief October European visit (most noted for a Peel session of Fall covers), the band embarked on a month-and-a-half North American tour with opening acts like Die Kreuzen, Laughing Hyenas, and Mudhoney. Night after night, the Daydream songs became simultaneously tighter and more free. Several recordings are available on bandcamp to track their progress, including yet another commonly bootlegged Chicago show, and the last show of the year back at CBGB.
In early 1989, Sonic Youth visited New Zealand, Australia, and Japan for the first time. "White Kross" and "Kotton Krown" were sprinkled into the mix as occasional breaks from Daydream Nation, but the new tunes continued to reign. A proper European tour in March/April ended with the band playing their first shows in Lithuania, Russia, and Ukraine. Like the North American tour, Mudhoney were along for much of the ride.
After April, there was no more touring for Daydream Nation. The band played one more show in 1989, a July set in NYC featuring only four songs from Daydream, an indication that they were ready to shake things up. That means the April 14th Kiev gig is technically the last time "Hyperstation" and "Eliminator Jr" were played until June 2007. As mentioned, "The Wonder" snuck into some sets in early 1990, and though not every show is documented, its final performance pre-2007 looks like October 22nd, 1990 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In summer 2007 the band toured Europe, alternating between standard festival sets and special Daydream Nation shows. Unlike "Hey Joni" and "Cross the Breeze", the Trilogy songs didn't cross over into the standard sets right away. In fact, it was "Eliminator Jr" that made the first jump, as the lone encore on July 1st at the Furia Festival in France. It wasn't until August 15th in Portugal that they played the entire Trilogy, as the first encore. On August 29th, in Paris, "The Wonder" broke free on its own. In 2008, "Eliminator" was only played during the Australian Daydream tour, with its final outing on February 23rd in Perth. The "Wonder"/"Hyper" medley stuck it out until October 5th, 2010 in Salt Lake City, Utah, where it was played for the last time as the first encore (the opening song, "Candle", also retired that night).
I suppose "The Wonder" reminded them of Husker Du with a working title like "Huskeriffic". Lyrically, Thurston has identified the "wonder town" as Washington, DC but that may have been a momentary link to pander to the audience. Faced by a particular raucous crowd at their second Moscow gig, Thurston explains that the song is about the perils of drinking bad soda pop, then changes the lyrics to "Let's go to McDonald's / Big Mac, large fries / I think I'll have a Pepsi / And maybe a hot fudge sundae". Thurston seemed to stop singing the "I think I've been there once before" bridge section during live performances. In addition to the Glasgow 2007 quartet set, a version of the song with Mark on second bass was included on the Battery Park July 4th, 2008 live LP.
"Hyperstation", whose working title was "Dream", was supposedly just Thurston's daily trek to the studio in lyrical form. It also has the distinction of containing the lyric that inspired the album's title. Aside from the Bad Moon Rising material, these two songs were the first ones to feature a natural segue built in. It follows "The Wonder" on the Battery Park live LP. A few years after Daydream Nation, Dirty track "Orange Rolls, Angel's Spit" would first appear on set lists as "HYPER II" - though in my opinion, it sounds a lot more like "The Wonder", particularly the instrumental!
"Eliminator Jr" contains a reference to both ZZ Top's Eliminator album, and Dinosaur Jr. Its working title "ZZ" was an even more direct nod to the Texans, and also explains the "z" rather than "c" in its Trilogy designation. An instrumental version of the track from the June 23rd, 1988 NYC gig was released as "Non-Metal Dude Wearing Metal Tee" on the Forced Exposure Silver Rocket 7", conveniently collected on the Rarities 2 compilation. Though Kim had already attempted a vocal at earlier shows, this show featured none. Following up on the "Titanium Exposé" exposé, I'm a little dubious as to whether the lyrics printed for "Eliminator Jr" on sonicyouth.com are correct... (for what it's worth, Alec Foege's Confusion Is Next claims that the song was inspired by "Central Park Strangler" Robert Chambers.)
For all three songs, Thurston uses GGDDD#D#. For "The Wonder" and "Hyperstation", Lee uses GGC#DGG, a slight modification of the GGDDGG tuning he introduced on "Teenage Riot". To be honest, I'm not entirely sure why - the C# seems to force a chord shape that would probably be easier without it, and doesn't seem to have any effect otherwise beyond a stray harmonic that isn't part of any "riff". For "Eliminator Jr", he does use GGDDGG, likely on an Ovation Viper, making a racket while running a slide back and forth over the pickups. Kim plays bass on all three, adding nasty heavy distortion for "Eliminator Jr". In 2007, she favored her Daydream era Gibson Thunderbird bass for the entire set, except for "Eliminator" where she returned to her standard lightweight Gibson EB bass. Larsen (circa '98) and Techno Allah (circa '96) transcribed much of the Trilogy way back when, but Raj Paden has offered a much needed fresh take and prompted me to polish up my old bass tabs. If you have any comments or corrections please let me know, thank you as always for reading!
"THE WONDER"
LAYOUT
INTRO - A - B - A - B - A - B - C - D - C - D - E - F - A - B
KIM
EADG
CENTER
THURSTON
GGDDD#D#
CENTER
LEE
GGC#DGG
LEFT/RIGHT
INTRO 00:00-00:13
The intro is just pick scraping, open strings ringing, behind the bridge tinkling, and switch flicking.
A SECTION 00:14-00:45
Thurston:
D#----------------5---5-5-5-5-5-0-0--- he goes to the open strings on live versions
D#----------------5---5-5-5-5-5-0-0---
D-------5------5---------------------- x 12
D-------5------5----------------------
G---0-0----0-0------------------------
G---0-0----0-0------------------------
Lee doubles Thurston in the right speaker, and does a slide backwards to open low G in the left.
G---------------------
G---------------------
D-------5------5--6--- x 12
C#------6------6--7--- you can let the high or low Gs bleed in
G---0-0----0-0--------
G---0-0----0-0--------
G------------
G------------
D------------
C#----------- (left speaker)
G---13/--0---
G---13/--0---
Kim:
G---0-0-0-12-13--13-13-13-13-13-13-13---
D---------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------
B SECTION 00:46-00:51
Thurston:
D#--------0-----------0-----------0-------------
D#--------0-----------0-----------0-------------
D------0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0----------
D------0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0----------
G---5-----------5-----------3-----------3---2---
G---5-----------5-----------3-----------3---2---
Lee:
G-------8----------------
G-------8----------------
D---------------0-------- listen for timing
C#-----------------------
G---5--------3-------2---
G---5--------3-------2---
Kim:
G---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-2-2-2---
D---------------------------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------------
A SECTION 00:51-01:01
Both Thurston and Lee play the same riff, but only 4 times.
B SECTION 01:02-01:07
A SECTION 01:07-01:18
Thurston and Lee play riff 4 times, but they both slide the last note up an octave while picking.
B SECTION 01:18-01:24
C SECTION 01:24-01:45
Thurston:
D#----------------------------------------------------------------
D#----------------------------------------------------------------
D-------10-10-10-10--10-10-10-10-10-10--8--8-8-8-8--8-8-8-8-8-8--- x 3
D-------10-10-10-10--10-10-10-10-10-10--8--8-8-8-8--8-8-8-8-8-8---
G---0-------------------------------------------------------------
G---0-------------------------------------------------------------
D#---------------------------------------------------------
D#---------------------------------------------------------
D---10--10-10-10-10-----------------------8--8-8-8-8-8-8---
D---10--10-10-10-10-----------------------8--8-8-8-8-8-8---
G--------------------7/10-10-10-10\7-7-7-------------------
G--------------------7/10-10-10-10\7-7-7-------------------
Lee's left speaker guitar plays this:
G------------------------------
G---------12br~---------7br~---
D---10-------------8-----------
C#--11-------------9-----------
G------------------------------
G------------------------------
His right speaker just plays the chords:
G----0------0---- high Gs optional
G----0------0----
D---10------8----
C#--11------9----
G----0------0----
G----0------0----
Kim:
G---17--17-17-17-17--17-17---7--7-7-7-7--7-7---
D---------------------------------------------- x 3
A----------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------
G---17------7\10-10-10-10/7-7\10-12--12-12-12--12-12-12---
D---------------------------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------------
D SECTION 01:46-02:03
Thurston:
D#-------------------------------------------------------------
D#-------------------------------------------------------------
D---3/5-5-5--5-5-5--5-5\3--3--3-3-3-3-3/5-5-5-5/7-7-7-7/8--8---
D---3/5-5-5--5-5-5--5-5\3--3--3-3-3-3-3/5-5-5-5/7-7-7-7/8--8---
G--------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------
D#----------------------------------------------------------------
D#----------------------------------------------------------------
D---8/10-10--10-10-10-10\8--8/10-10-10-10/12-12-12-12/13-13--13---
D---8/10-10--10-10-10-10\8--8/10-10-10-10/12-12-12-12/13-13--13---
G-----------------------------------------------------------------
G-----------------------------------------------------------------
D#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
D#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---13--13--13--13--13--13-13-13--13--13--13-13-13--13--13--13-13-13--13--13---
D---13--13--13--13--13--13-13-13--13--13--13-13-13--13--13--13-13-13--13--13---
G------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It sounds like the open D# strings are bleeding in during this section.
Lee:
w/ slight palm mute + optional G string bleed
G-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8--- x 2
C#--11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9---
G-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------
D---17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17---
C#--18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18--- etc
G--------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------
Kim:
1:46
G--------------------------------------------------------------
D---12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---
A-------------------------------------------------------------- etc
E--------------------------------------------------------------
1:57
G--------------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------------
A---10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10--- etc
E--------------------------------------------------------------
C SECTION 02:03-02:11
Thurston:
D#-------------------------------------------------------------
D#-------------------------------------------------------------
D---8---8-8-8-8-8-8-10-------------------------8---8-8-8-8-8---
D---8---8-8-8-8-8-8-10-------------------------8---8-8-8-8-8---
G------------------------7/10-10-10-10\7-7-7-------------------
G------------------------7/10-10-10-10\7-7-7-------------------
Lee:
G-------------------------------------------
G--------7br~----------12br~---------7br~---
D---8------------10-------------8-----------
C#--9------------11-------------9-----------
G-------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------
Kim:
G---12------17------12------
D---------------------------
A---------------------------
E---------------------------
D SECTION 02:11-02:44
Thurston:
D#-------------------------------------------------------------
D#-------------------------------------------------------------
D---3/5-5-5--5-5-5--5-5\3--3--3-3-3-3-3/5-5-5-5/7-7-7-7/8--8---
D---3/5-5-5--5-5-5--5-5\3--3--3-3-3-3-3/5-5-5-5/7-7-7-7/8--8---
G--------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------
D#----------------------------------------------------------------
D#----------------------------------------------------------------
D---8/10-10--10-10-10-10\8--8/10-10-10-10/12-12-12-12/13-13--13---
D---8/10-10--10-10-10-10\8--8/10-10-10-10/12-12-12-12/13-13--13---
G-----------------------------------------------------------------
G-----------------------------------------------------------------
D#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---15/17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17\15-15-15--15-15-15-15/17-17-17-17/19-19-19-19/20-20-20---
D---15/17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17\15-15-15--15-15-15-15/17-17-17-17/19-19-19-19/20-20-20---
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D#-------------------------
D#-------------------------
D---20-20-20-21\20/21\20---
D---20-20-20-21\20/21\20--- trem pick + bend this part wildly
G--------------------------
G--------------------------
D#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
D#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---13--13--13--13--13--13-13-13--13--13--13-13-13--13--13--13-13-13--13--13--- etc
D---13--13--13--13--13--13-13-13--13--13--13-13-13--13--13--13-13-13--13--13---
G------------------------------------------------------------------------------ bend the strings a bit
G------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lee goes straight for the higher note this time, then starts adding even higher notes on the G string,
trem picking furiously:
G--------- ---19---20---
G--------- ---19---20--- etc
D----17--- ----/----/---
C#---18--- ----/----/---
G--------- -------------
G--------- -------------
Then he goes back to the first note until the next section.
Kim:
2:12
G---12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12--- etc
D--------------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------- she lets the open D ring in sometimes
E--------------------------------------------------------------
2:22
G---0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0---
D-------------------------------------------
A------------------------------------------- etc
E-------------------------------------------
2:34
G---(0)-------------------------------------- keep playing open G string
D---13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13--- etc
A--------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------
eventually end up with a shape like:
G---12---
D---13---
A--------
E--------
E SECTION 02:44-03:17
Thurston plays all of this with a fast, semi trem-picked attack:
D#-------------------------
D#-------------------------
D-------------------------- x 8
D--------------------------
G---17-17--17--15-15--19---
G---17-17--17--15-15--19---
D#------------------------------------
D#------------------------------------
D--------19--17--19--20--19--17------- x 4
D--------19--17--19--20--19--17-------
G---17---------------------------19---
G---17---------------------------19---
D#-------19--17--19--20--19--17-------
D#-------19--17--19--20--19--17-------
D--------19--17--19--20--19--17------- x 4
D--------19--17--19--20--19--17-------
G---17---------------------------19---
G---17---------------------------19---
Lee:
G-----21-----20\---- trem pick w/ slow slide back
G-----21-----20\----
D------/------/----- this is the main riff heard in the right speaker,
C#-----/------/----- there is a quieter, similar but more random riff in the left
G-------------------
G-------------------
Repeat variations of trem picking very high notes.
Kim runs a drumstick up and down her strings while strumming away during this section.
F SECTION 03:17-03:28
Thurston:
D#------x-5---0---
D#------x-5---0---
D-------x-5---0--- x 4
D---0---x-5---0---
G---0-------------
G---0-------------
Lee:
G---------
G---------
D----17--- he trem picks this note continuing into the next section
C#---18---
G-----/---
G-----/---
Kim:
G---0---12-13---
D---------------
A---------------
E---------------
A SECTION 03:28-03:59
Lee and Thurston play the same riff 12 times, sliding the last note up.
B SECTION 04:00-04:16
The final chorus is played slower, and the final chord segues into "Hyperstation" via
Thurston raking 12th fret harmonics from high to low.
text by Chris Lawrence
tab by Raj Paden and Chris Lawrence
special thanks to DoublDwn11 '98 and Techno Allah '96
"HYPERSTATION"
LAYOUT
A - B - C - D - B - C - D - A
KIM
EADG
CENTER
THURSTON
GGDDD#D#
CENTER
LEE
GGC#DGG
LEFT/RIGHT
A SECTION 00:00-01:20
The first 30 seconds or so are just open strings, pick scrapes, tapping the headstock, etc
as it segues from "The Wonder". It does technically start with Thurston raking the 12th fret
harmonics from high to low.
Thurston begins a harmonic riff:
D#---------*7*-*7*-------------------------------------
D#---------*7*-*7*-------------------------------------
D------------------*7*---*7*-*7*-*7*-*7*-*7*----------- x 14
D------------------*7*---*7*-*7*-*7*-*7*-*7*-----------
G---*12*-------------------------------------*9*-*9*---
G---*12*-------------------------------------*9*-*9*---
You can also play:
D#---------*7*-*7*-------------------------------------
D#---------*7*-*7*-------------------------------------
D------------------*7*---*7*-*7*-*7*-*7*-*7*-----------
D------------------*7*---*7*-*7*-*7*-*7*-*7*-----------
G---*5*--------------------------------------*4*-*4*---
G---*5*--------------------------------------*4*-*4*---
In 2007, he skips the final harmonic.
Lee continues with open strings and harmonics until the next section.
Kim just holds this shape and picks away:
G---12---
D---12---
A--------
E--------
B SECTION 01:21-02:04
Thurston:
D#--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-----------------9-9-9-9----------
D#--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-----------------9-9-9-9----------
D---8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8-------------------------9--9-9--- x 6
D---8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--9--9-9-9-9-9-9---------9--9-9---
G---8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--9--9-9-9-9-9-9------------------
G---8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--9--9-9-9-9-9-9------------------
Lee doubles Thurston's part in the right speaker, but also plays a harmonic riff that pans
between speakers.
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9-10--10-10-10-10-10--9--9--- main riff
C#--9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-11--11-11-11-11-11-10-10---
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G---*19*--------*12*---------
G---*19*--------*12*---------
D---------*19*--------*12*--- harmonic riff
C#---------------------------
G----------------------------
G----------------------------
Kim goes back and forth between these notes:
G-------------------
D------------------- x 6
A-------------------
E---18------3-------
C SECTION 02:04-02:19
Thurston:
D#---------------------------------------------------
D#-------X-X-5---------------------------------------
D--------X-X-5------7-7-7-7-7-7-7-8--8-8-8-8\7-7-7--- x 2
D---0----X-X-5------7-7-7-7-7-7-7-8--8-8-8-8\7-7-7---
G---0----X-X-----------------------------------------
G---0------------------------------------------------
Lee:
G---0----------------------------------------
G---0----------------------------------------
D---5-----7-7-7-7-7-7-7-8--8-8-8\7-7-7------- x 2
C#--6-----8-8-8-8-8-8-8-9--9-9-9\8-8-8-------
G---0------------------------------------0---
G---0------------------------------------0---
Kim:
G------------------------------------------------
D---0---------12--12-12-12--12-12--12-12-12-12--- etc etc stick on D
A------------------------------------------------
E------------------------------------------------
D SECTION 02:19-02:54
Thurston:
D#--------0-8-8-8-9--9-8-8--0-0--0-0-0--0-0--0-0-0---
D#--------0-8-8-8-9--9-8-8--0-0--0-0-0--0-0--0-0-0---
D---------------------------------------------------- x 2
D-----0----------------------------------------------
G-----0----------------------------------------------
G-----0----------------------------------------------
then stick on harmonics:
D#---------
D#---------
D---*12*---
D---*12*---
G---*12*---
G---*12*---
Lee:
G-----------------------------
G-----------------------------
D---13-------12-------20------ open G strings optional
C#--14-------13-------21------
G-----------------------------
G-----------------------------
When Thurston hits the open D# in his riff, Lee starts strumming the first note, then moves to the
middle note when Thurston hits the low G again. At this point, Lee does some improv between the
12-17th frets (not tabbed), then goes up to the third note and holds that for a while. I think
he drops back down to the middle note when everything resolves to G.
Then he holds this shape and picks it. In 2007-2010, he didn't have a 22nd fret on his GGDDxx guitar,
so he bent the 21st fret up.
G---22--- ---22---------------------------22---
G---19--- -------19-------------------19-------
D---20--- -----------20-----------20----------- x 4
C#--18--- ---------------18---18---------------
G-------- -------------------------------------
G-------- -------------------------------------
He continues picking this riff into the next section.
Kim starts with:
G-----------------------------------------------------------
D---13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---
A-----------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------
then stick on:
G---12---
D---12--- emphasize D string more she may also play harmonics sometimes?
A--------
E--------
B SECTION 02:54-03:38
Lee picks his riff from the previous section four times over the main verse riff,
then when Thurston starts singing, he plays his harmonic riff from the first verse,
only he plays it twice as fast.
C SECTION 03:38-03:52
D SECTION 03:52-05:04
Thurston:
D#--------0-8-8-8-9--9-8-8--0-0--0-0-0--0-0--0-0-0---
D#--------0-8-8-8-9--9-8-8--0-0--0-0-0--0-0--0-0-0---
D---------------------------------------------------- x 2
D-----0----------------------------------------------
G-----0----------------------------------------------
G-----0----------------------------------------------
D#--20--21--20--12\---------------- @ the 12th fret, slide backwards while picking
D#--20--21--20--12\----------------
D----/---/---/---/----------------- x 4
D----------------/-------------/---
G---------------------------0\12---
G---------------------------0\12--- this is a very quick slide up to the 12th fret while picking
D#---------
D#---------
D---------- then repeat this a few times + go up high on the fretboard + back down to this again
D------/---
G---0\12---
G---0\12---
Release to open strings for final section.
Lee starts out like the previous D SECTION but becomes more loose and crazy with the trem picking
between the "beat notes" listed before. He increases the intensity of his picking until the
section breaks into the repeat of the intro. Just go wild high up the neck!
Kim plays basically the same thing as before, just more of an extended jam on the 12th fret
and open D/G strings as the song winds down.
A SECTION 05:04-07:13
Thurston starts with open strings ringing, then begins his harmonic riff:
D#---------*7*-*7*-------------------------------------
D#---------*7*-*7*-------------------------------------
D------------------*7*---*7*-*7*-*7*-*7*-*7*----------- repeat til fade
D------------------*7*---*7*-*7*-*7*-*7*-*7*-----------
G---*12*-------------------------------------*9*-*9*---
G---*12*-------------------------------------*9*-*9*---
Lee continues with open strings and harmonics (mostly 12th fret). As the song winds down,
he just lets harmonics and feedback ring, with some open string + behind the bridge droning.
Kim holds the same shape as the intro:
G---12---
D---12---
A--------
E--------
text by Chris Lawrence
tab by Raj Paden and Chris Lawrence
special thanks to DoublDwn11 '98 and Techno Allah '96
"ELIMINATOR JR"
LAYOUT
A - B - C - B - C - B - A - B - C - B - C - B
KIM
EADG
CENTER
THURSTON
GGDDD#D#
CENTER
LEE
GGDDGG
LEFT/RIGHT
A SECTION 00:00-00:40
Thurston starts with muted strings then launches into the main riff:
D#--0-3-0--0--0--0-3-0--x-x-x-x-x-x---
D#--0-3-0--0--0--0-3-0--x-x-x-x-x-x---
D---0-3-0--0--0--0-3-0--x-x-x-x-x-x---
D---0-3-0--0--0--0-3-0--x-x-x-x-x-x--- x 16
G---0-3-0--0--0--0-3-0--x-x-x-x-x-x---
G---0-3-0--0--0--0-3-0--x-x-x-x-x-x---
Sometimes instead of the mutes, he plays:
D#--0-3-0--0--0--0-3-0-----------
D#--0-3-0--0--0--0-3-0-----------
D---0-3-0--0--0--0-3-0---3-3-5---
D---0-3-0--0--0--0-3-0---3-3-5---
G---0-3-0--0--0--0-3-0-----------
G---0-3-0--0--0--0-3-0-----------
The D# strings are not emphasized as much as the lower strings.
Lee holds a slide in his left hand for the entire song, and he just vigorously rubs it
back and forth over his pickups. The guitar he probably used for Daydream Nation was
an Ovation Viper that made a specific sound when you ran a slide over its pick-ups, but he
replaced that with a Univox Dan Armstrong model later in '88 and in 2007 he stuck with his
trusty Jazzblaster.
Lee is doing the slide noise in both speakers.
Once the drums kick in, Kim plays something this with heavy distortion/fuzz:
G---------------------------0---0---
D---------------------------0---0---
A---------------------------0---0---
E---------------------------0---0---
On the 2007 versions, she seems to be attacking harmonics from the 5th, then the 12th,
then the 17th fret, before making it to the 19th fret for the B SECTION. Her tone is
so distorted that it's tough to really discern any pitch.
B SECTION 00:41-00:50
Thurston mutes the strings near the nut, picking a choppy combination of X and O (if you will).
D#--X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X---
D#--X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X---
D---X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X--- etc etc
D---X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X---
G---X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X---
G---X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X---
Sometimes he does toss in brief sharp stabs at the open strings.
Lee keeps running the slide over his pick ups.
Kim:
G-----------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------------------------------
A---19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19--- etc
E-----------------------------------------------------
C SECTION 00:51-00:56
Thurston:
D#------------------------------------
D#------------------------------------
D---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5--- etc.
D---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5---
G---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5---
G---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5---
Lee holds the slide at the 5th fret while picking. Then he slides it up to the 17th fret.
Kim:
G---------------------------------
D---------------------------------
A---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3--- etc.
E---------------------------------
B SECTION 00:56-01:01
C SECTION 01:01-01:06
On the repeats it sounds like Thurston slides up to the 17th fret after playing the
5th fret (he definitely does live). Lee gets pretty free with the slide during this
section too, not just anchored to the C chord.
B SECTION 01:06-01:11
A SECTION 01:11-01:41
B SECTION 01:41-01:51
C SECTION 01:51-01:56
B SECTION 01:56-02:01
C SECTION 02:01-02:06
B SECTION 02:06-02:48
Thurston starts striking the open strings in sharp staccato fashion, then increases
the speed.
D#--0-----0-----0-----0-----
D#--0-----0-----0-----0-----
D---0-----0-----0-----0-----
D---0-----0-----0-----0-----
G---0-----0-----0-----0-----
G---0-----0-----0-----0-----
D#--0---0---0---0---
D#--0---0---0---0---
D---0---0---0---0--- x 6
D---0---0---0---0---
G---0---0---0---0---
G---0---0---0---0---
end on open strings.
Lee keeps working the slide, but another guitar comes in around 2:22 playing big booming
open chords by hitting the strings with the slide:
G---0-----0-----0-----0-----
G---0-----0-----0-----0-----
D---0-----0-----0-----0-----
D---0-----0-----0-----0----- x 2
G---0-----0-----0-----0-----
G---0-----0-----0-----0-----
end on open strings.
Kim:
G-----------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------------------------------
A---19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19--- etc
E-----------------------------------------------------
When Lee starts banging his open chords, Kim starts making distorted pick scrape type noise til end.
text by Chris Lawrence
tab by Raj Paden and Chris Lawrence
Return to the Sonic Youth Guitar/Bass Tab Archive