SONIC YOUTH Released Their 6th LP ‘GOO’ Today 35 Years Ago
Significant longplayers from yesteryear
Iconic garage noizz rockers SONIC YOUTH (1981–2011) released their 6th longplayer, named GOO on 26 June 1990, today 35 years ago. It was produced by the band, Don Fleming and J Mascis and followed their fuzz/buzz and trash/slash masterclass album Daydream Nation.
The working title for the album was Blowjob?, mostly to test the humor of their new
label DGC Records, but ultimately the band was convinced to drop the name in favor
of Goo, a title inspired by one of the record’s tracks My Friend Goo.
The album’s front cover design was created by American visual artist Raymond
Pettibon. He also designed early covers for Black Flag. The band chose his illustration
of two sunglasses-wearing British mods, based on a photograph of Maureen Hindley and David Smith, two witnesses in the trial of the Moors murders committed by English serial killers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in the 60s.
By the time Goo was complete, its costs rose to $150,000 (US), five times as
much as Daydream Nation. The figure was staggering for a cost-conscious band.
Despite its universal, critical praise, it reached only #96 in the US and #32 in the UK.
The Los Angeles Times said: “Sonic Youth are The Rolling Stones of noise music.
Their distorted guitars, danceable rhythms and catchy choruses are fit for radio
airplay.”
KEY SINGLE
ALBUM
