sonic books

SonicBebs · 11.14.2009, 04:37 AM

i know there's been a couple (or 3?) books about sonic youth out over the last year or so, and i remember 1 of them being very highly rated by you lot, and the others not so much.
Which one was the good one? Was it Goodbye 20th Century?

Cheers

jennthebenn · 11.14.2009, 08:06 AM

"Goodbye 20th Century" by David Browne--good

"Psychic Confusion" by Stevie Chick--I haven't read this, but a lot of
folks I respect on here say it's pretty mediocre

SonicBebs · 11.14.2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennthebenn

"Goodbye 20th Century" by David Browne--good

"Psychic Confusion" by Stevie Chick--I haven't read this, but a lot of
folks I respect on here say it's pretty mediocre

thanks!

Leetdude · 11.14.2009, 09:50 AM

Confusion is Next is really good, but it does cut off at Experimental Jet Set since it came out in '94 IIRC.

RanaldoNecro · 11.14.2009, 09:54 AM

"Goodbye 20th Century" by David Browne is your best bet

Tokolosh · 11.14.2009, 11:58 AM

The Sensational Fix book is another must-have.

notyourfiend · 11.14.2009, 12:04 PM

i learned a lot from goodbye 20th century

greedrex · 11.14.2009, 05:09 PM

Goodbye 20th century FTMFW.

cagedbird · 11.14.2009, 05:58 PM

Goodbye 20th Century is good.

Seandi · 11.14.2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shirttail

Goodbye 20th Century was fantastic.

There's also a book called Confusion Is Next: The Sonic Youth Story by Alec Foege from the mid-90s, but I haven't read it.

It's shit

jennthebenn · 11.14.2009, 10:54 PM

The "Daydream Nation" 33 1/3 by Matthew Stearns is garbage. That series
is hit and miss by design and well, that book sailed way left. Or right. It
sailed in a direction away from its intended target, ok. Its trajectory of fail leaves one awestruck.

Magic Wheel Memory · 11.14.2009, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennthebenn

"Goodbye 20th Century" by David Browne--good

"Psychic Confusion" by Stevie Chick--I haven't read this, but a lot of
folks I respect on here say it's pretty mediocre

You forgot to mention a great book called "No Setlist." It's not a biography of Sonic Youth, but a tour diary from one of their top fans.

jennthebenn · 11.14.2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magic Wheel Memory

You forgot to mention a great book called "No Setlist." It's not a biography of Sonic Youth, but a tour diary from one of their top fans.

Oh yeah, I saw a pic of Lee Ranaldo with that book.

SonicBebs · 11.15.2009, 10:07 AM

Thanks again
how do you become one of their "top fans"? Is there a league or something? Or playoffs?
does it depend on how much rep you get on here?

Massenvernichtungswaffen · 11.15.2009, 10:26 AM

goodbye 20th century
+1

jennthebenn · 11.15.2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonicBebs

Thanks again
how do you become one of their "top fans"? Is there a league or something? Or playoffs?
does it depend on how much rep you get on here?

No, you just have to see a hell of a lot of their concerts.

SonicBebs · 11.15.2009, 11:59 AM

true. i dont suppose a book about me seeing them at the forum a few weeks back and brixton a few years ago would be especially interesting...

will definitley be getting goodbye 20th century, and might have a look at no setlist too

demonrail666 · 11.15.2009, 01:10 PM

Goodbye 20th Century and No Setlist are easily the best.

I like Confusion is Next a lot and generally find it more inspiring than Goodbye 20th Century but far less informative. Goodbye sometimes felt like a bit of a slog and the enjoyment I got from it did at times rely a a bit too much on my thoughts about Thurston and Kim as people rather than the band in general. It is packed with info though.

I stopped reading Psychic Confusion about midway through.

the 33 1/3 Daydream Nation book is, as jennthebenn mentions, almost jawdropping in its badness. Borderline unreadable but at times almost enjoyable in its wrongness. Psychic Confusion was just dull.

No Setlist is a fantastic book. Obviously very different to the others but wonderful nonetheless.

stu666 · 11.15.2009, 01:38 PM

There's also the Sonic Life book which is ok and comes with cd/7" depending which edition you buy.

jennthebenn · 11.15.2009, 01:44 PM

Also, if you can locate one on Ebay, "I Dreamed of Noise" is definitely worth
your money. Came out around the same time as "Confusion is Next," all
black and white pics, all band member quotes with no real authorial voice.

11.14.2009, 04:37 AM	#1
SonicBebs expwy. to yr skull Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,680	i know there's been a couple (or 3?) books about sonic youth out over the last year or so, and i remember 1 of them being very highly rated by you lot, and the others not so much. Which one was the good one? Was it Goodbye 20th Century? Cheers
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

11.14.2009, 08:06 AM	#2
jennthebenn expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,261	"Goodbye 20th Century" by David Browne--good "Psychic Confusion" by Stevie Chick--I haven't read this, but a lot of folks I respect on here say it's pretty mediocre __________________ http://jennthebenn.tumblr.com/
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11.14.2009, 09:50 AM	#4
Leetdude little trouble girl Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 52	Confusion is Next is really good, but it does cut off at Experimental Jet Set since it came out in '94 IIRC.
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11.14.2009, 09:54 AM	#5
RanaldoNecro expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Eye Of The Squirrel Posts: 1,481	"Goodbye 20th Century" by David Browne is your best bet __________________ He is not Alone
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11.14.2009, 11:58 AM	#6
Tokolosh invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Plaza de Toros Posts: 6,731	The Sensational Fix book is another must-have. __________________ Anything you can /imagine is real
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11.14.2009, 12:04 PM	#7
notyourfiend expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: baltimore, murderland by way of new york city Posts: 1,454	i learned a lot from goodbye 20th century __________________
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11.14.2009, 05:09 PM	#8
greedrex invito al cielo Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: in yr fotobukit Posts: 6,588	Goodbye 20th century FTMFW. __________________ Greed Recordings bandcamp ~The Rex~, stalkin' yr shit since 2008.
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11.14.2009, 05:58 PM	#9
cagedbird the destroyed room Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mid-Manhattan Library Posts: 567	Goodbye 20th Century is good.
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11.14.2009, 10:54 PM	#11
jennthebenn expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,261	The "Daydream Nation" 33 1/3 by Matthew Stearns is garbage. That series is hit and miss by design and well, that book sailed way left. Or right. It sailed in a direction away from its intended target, ok. Its trajectory of fail leaves one awestruck. __________________ http://jennthebenn.tumblr.com/
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

11.15.2009, 10:07 AM	#14
SonicBebs expwy. to yr skull Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,680	Thanks again how do you become one of their "top fans"? Is there a league or something? Or playoffs? does it depend on how much rep you get on here?
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

11.15.2009, 10:26 AM	#15
Massenvernichtungswaffen stalker Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On a large piece of rock in the Ocean Posts: 403	goodbye 20th century +1 __________________ Jeg kysser katastrofer.
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11.15.2009, 11:59 AM	#17
SonicBebs expwy. to yr skull Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,680	true. i dont suppose a book about me seeing them at the forum a few weeks back and brixton a few years ago would be especially interesting... will definitley be getting goodbye 20th century, and might have a look at no setlist too
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

11.15.2009, 01:10 PM	#18
demonrail666 invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18,510	Goodbye 20th Century and No Setlist are easily the best. I like Confusion is Next a lot and generally find it more inspiring than Goodbye 20th Century but far less informative. Goodbye sometimes felt like a bit of a slog and the enjoyment I got from it did at times rely a a bit too much on my thoughts about Thurston and Kim as people rather than the band in general. It is packed with info though. I stopped reading Psychic Confusion about midway through. the 33 1/3 Daydream Nation book is, as jennthebenn mentions, almost jawdropping in its badness. Borderline unreadable but at times almost enjoyable in its wrongness. Psychic Confusion was just dull. No Setlist is a fantastic book. Obviously very different to the others but wonderful nonetheless.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

11.15.2009, 01:38 PM	#19
stu666 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Stowmarket Posts: 13,503	There's also the Sonic Life book which is ok and comes with cd/7" depending which edition you buy. __________________ http://tapewormstu.blogspot.co.uk/
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11.15.2009, 01:44 PM	#20
jennthebenn expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,261	Also, if you can locate one on Ebay, "I Dreamed of Noise" is definitely worth your money. Came out around the same time as "Confusion is Next," all black and white pics, all band member quotes with no real authorial voice. __________________ http://jennthebenn.tumblr.com/
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