#358 Sonic Youth, 'Goo' (1990)

New Entry

Although the band’s 6th studio album this was their major label debut. The album is more socially conscious than any of their previous works dealing with themes such as female empowerment and pop culture. There’s even a song dedicated to Karen Carpenter - ‘Tunic (Song For Karen).’ Bassist and co-vocalist, Kim Gordan took the lead on that one. The song sees Carpenter, who had died from complications due to Anorexia Nervosa just 7 years before, saying goodbye to Hollywood and hello to other deceased musicians such as Elvis and Janis Joplin. It’s as raw as you get and a pretty heartbreaking song. The lead single from the album, another Gordon song, was ‘Kool Thing,’ a song dealing with female empowerment (“I mean, are you gonna liberate us girls/From male white corporate oppression?”). Public Enemy’s Chuck D lends his vocals to the call-and-response middle section. Public Enemy had been at the same studio recording their landmark record, ‘Fear Of A Black Planet’ (more on that later, I’m sure).

This album is one of the most important alternative records of all time, no doubt influencing bands like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and others. Dinosaur Jr’s ‘J Mascis served as a consulting producer on the record and his influence on the sound is plainly obvious. The album is loud, it’s dirty and it has a conscious.

#rs500albums