Sonic Youth Album: “Silver Session for Jason Knuth”

Granted, this isn't actually music. But the sound etched onto this CD is a glorious one, like stars conversing to each other across space. It sounds reverent, glistening, and multidimensionally spacious. And all it is is guitar feedback and amp noise. This is the only CD I can actually fall asleep to; actual music keeps my attention and thereby keeps me awake, but this stuff just streams out of the speakers and flows over you like radiant waves. Not for everyone, sure, but I like it a lot.

This disc could very appropriately be titled 'the Freezer Burn EP'.. and that's a good thing. I would consider this, without too much pretending, to be a genuine ambient record. I was expecting searing, winceworthy shards of noise in the tradition of SY's album freakouts; what I got was half an hour of rather soothing, sedate drones of feedback. Short guitar washes occasionally make an appearance and serve as small melodic fragments in this ocean of vague aural bliss. The track separations seem a little haphazard and gratuitous, but I suppose some editing was necessary to make it reasonably accessible. In some ways, I could've used a good noise record, but this is actually a nice change. Very relaxing stuff. Part of the conceptual appeal of this record is its purity: no vox, no melodies per-se, little rhythm.. I can see why this is one of Thurston's favorite recordings. There's plenty of documentation on this record, so I won't beat a dead horse. Bottom line: not a good intro to Sonic Youth, but essential if you are a fan, or if you like well-done (but unconventional) ambient music.

What to say? This record is beautiful. Respect to Sonic Youth for putting out records like this which will go right over the heads of a lot of people. If like me you appreciate the pleasures of gently pulsing soundscapes (The washing machine IS an instrument!) then you will adore this album. Listen to this album on good headphones and you can hear the electricty of the recording. Forget about 'melody' and 'song structure', this album is timeless,endlessly listenable perfection.

This is only the second CD I have listened to by Sonic Youth. My recent familiarity with the group comes long overdue. While this music (and yes, it IS music) certainly is not for everyone, and might best fit in a genre called simply "other", it is not without merit. This is sound you experience. The serious listener will be drawn by the moody and textural layering of sounds created primarily by guitars, heavy on the distortion. Songs end abruptly--like falling off the edge of a canvas--giving a painterly nod. Artsy without the fartsy. Lie back, breathe deeply and let your mind take a vacation with this one.

Sonic Youth do best lately when they either stick to pure noise or pure pop. This is of the former category, and it has that wonderfully soothing noise of the best tracks off their recent SYR discs. For those who tire of Thurston's current fascination with the Grateful Dead, and Kim's tired free-association 'beat' schtick, this is for you. And no 'song' lasts longer than 6 minutes! Long live the youth.