Well, I guess I, we all, have been pretty busy,. We finished recording the new LP with the producer Butch Vig, whom we like working with very much, and we've done a video for the single "Bull in the Heather". Recording the LP was wild. It was done on this old 6/18 track which had a real Rock `n' Roll feel to it. All the songs were done pretty quickly and we're really pleased with the results.
I think it's more in the tradition of "Sister" and "Evol". There's less of the straight Rock and Roll songs like 100%, Sugar Kane, Youth vs Fascism from Dirty - more narrative songs with things going on in them.
Yeah, it's true. We did a song with an acoustic guitar through this distortion amp called "the denis" which brings the vocals and the acoustic out really weird. What happened was that we had a bunch of songs that we wrote at the end of the recordings that we wanted to go in and do all at once, it just ended up on the LP.
No, I don't think that that's the case. I think that we've always made our recordings a little rough - we like to make music and still see the rough edges. In that respect, this LP's no different from any other that we've done. And if it sounds like we're maturing, I guess we're all of us a little older. I think that the tendency is for bands to do their best work earlier on in their careers and as they get older or more successful, they get blander. With Sonic Youth, I think, at the moment, there's still so much to do musically within and without the band, and that hopefully we've still to create our best work - but, at the end of the day, we don't really want to bland out. So long as we can continue to do music that excites us - as musicians and as fans alike -then we'll still continue to create, hopefully, exciting music that still has a spark. Like the stuff we listen to.
Oh, you know, the same stuff we always liked and some kinda new stuff. I've got a tape of some new stuff by Lou Barlow, that he's going to put out on my new record label, I think, recorded on a four track, lot's of sample tapes and percussion, which I think is really good. I really like Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - those guys are great players and I think they're really in a great place , musically, right now. Also the Afghan Whigs, and Neil Young of course, loads of other things too, too numerous to talk about in such a short time."
Well, I can only speak for myself. But I feel at 30 years of age that I really have so much to accomplish in music and I'm such a self-critical type that I don't have much other than my music and my label to concern myself with. We're all kind of interested in film production, but I'd rather be doing sound tracks and more background music. I don't know if you know it, but we did a sound track for a flop American movie called Made in The USA, that starred Chris Penn, that was fun - and, in actual fact, I think Rhino Records are they are planning to release it as an LP some time later on this year. It's basically just instrumental stuff.
Oh, I think so. That's where I'd be most happy, working on some instrumental stuff like that.
Yeh, did you see that? That was fucking wild, in the middle of all those beautiful snatches Yo La Tanga, they all start dancing to Kool Thing.
Well, you've got to distance yourself from that sort of thing, otherwise, you could get a real swelled head. It's pleasing that these people that we're fans of, could be fans of ours - but you don't like to examine it too closely. The whole fan/idol thing's very hard to discuss.
Well, yes in a way, I can see someone developing an idea we've had whether it's a coincidence - or we have directly influenced them. If it's the latter then we're really flattered. There's nothing Sonic Youth likes better than when someone copies us and does something new and different with it.
Oh yes, of course, but these bands - having toured with us - carry a kind of seal of approval `cause they've done something new with it. That's what makes them great bands and, in some ways, humbles us.
Well people keep telling us that and that's what made the tour with him so really weird. It was a dream come true to be playing with Neil and considering that we played with him for three months of the tour, I must have watched him most nights. I was up in the front row for the whole show, getting my head blown off and saying "Wow, this guy's a fucking genius." But in terms of influence, we don't go and see these people and then write stuff, song writing isn't that instant. What happens is more that in music a lot of ideas have been used - but they all bounce round between bands and if you get ideas sometimes they stick later on when you have your own ideas.
I wouldn't say that but it was such a strange time. In the middle of the Gulf War and America was real fuckin' ugly, playing these big arenas that aren't much fun to be at, hanging around all day waiting to play after sound check. When we like to see the places we're at - visit record shops and second-hand clothes shops. The crowd weren't into what we were doing - so we were even more reactionary -playing songs off our early LPs. The crowd were even less receptive and we just pleased ourselves. The crew were this really typical red-neck Rock'n'Roll crew who treated us like shit. It was just a real case of bad timing and unfortunate personnel.
Oh sure, but I think that's really healthy. We're all really into the stuff we all do individually and because it's lower key, it's usually lower-fi! It Helps makes things a lot more interesting. I've got my own record label "Smells Like Records" which I'm going to be working on a lot. Thurston and Lee are still involved with Ecstatic Peace records. Kim and Thurston do work with Geffen and Kim's going to do stuff with Free Kitten. Also I'm going to do stuff with Thurston and this guy called Kim Foly.
Yeh, I used to go to school with him. I don't know what we're going to call it: Thurston Moore Jazz Trio! Who knows. And I'm supporting Nirvana with the Raincoats this Spring.
Well, Geffen are rereleasing the Raincoats LP and they got the chance to tour it. We met them and I knew they were looking for a drummer. I thought it would be fun to go out on the road on such a small level.
I hope that we will, but there are no firm plans. Blast first celebrates its 10th anniversary later on this year and we would like to do something to celebrate that. Perhaps more low-key. We will be touring Europe this year, but I reckon a full tour would be pretty late on.
Oh yeah, there is still so much to do and thats the way we like to work. Sonic Youth are, hopefully, going to be prolifically creative for the rest of our careers and I feel like we're on a roll right now.
Well, I won't say money isn't important `cause I guess we've all got to pay the rent. But as long as there's food on the table, I don't care much. Sonic Youth is rewarding and it makes other, more self indulgent, projects possible, so I guess, ultimately, yes is the answer to your question!