Customer Reviews

Goo

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This would be album number six (depending on your counting method) by the Greatest American Rock Band of the last 25 years. This particular edition is a super-deluxe two-disc reissue of the album. whether you're a fan of the original version or a curious newcomer, this is definitely the version to get, unless you have budgetary concerns, in which case the original will do just fine. Still, my motto is: "if you're going to go for it, go all the way!" I realize that's a moronic cliche, but in a country in which morons like Kevin Federline are more famous than Sonic Youth, sometimes it's rewarding to dumb down. I'll save the lecture about the ethical implications stemming from this for later. Now's the time for "Goo."

"Goo" found the band at the apex of their "pop culture can be fun" phase from the late 80's/early 90's, when they started dressing more fashionably (well, at least Kim Gordon did) and started storming MTV and the then-burgeoning alt-rock radio format. It's also no coincidence that "Goo" was also the band's official major label debut ("Daydream Nation," which was released by the indie Enigma, had major label distribution). Thus begun their long association with DGC, an album that at one point was rumored to be called, um, a slang term also known as a "Lewinsky." The music was also getting slightly poppier as well. Of course, for Sonic Youth, "pop" meant taking a standard verse-chorus-verse structure and slathering it with their trademark oddly-tuned and feedback-spewing guitars. They also embraced pop-cultural themes, or at least those that resonated with them. The album's lead single, "Kool Thing" reflected Kim's post-feminist fascination with the male bravado of hip-hop. LL Kool J is referenced ("Kool thing/walking like a panther") and Public Enemy's Chuck D does a calculatedly brief guest vocal. Then there's "Tunic (Song For Karen)," about the late pop idol Karen Carpenter, who died from complications from anorexia. Rather than being a snide hipster mock-fest, it's sympathetic to her life and situation. Later on, the band would record a cover of "Superstar" that was surprisingly restrained and touching (alas, it's not included here, but you can find it, along with videos for every "Goo" song, on the DVD collection "Corporate Ghost," which makes a fine companion to this release). Elsewhere, you'll find "Dirty Boots," one of Thurston's most accesible rockers, and the classic Hollywood inspired throwaway "Mildred Pierce" (the video for which features A-list director Sofia Coppola years before her big breakthrough). Lee Ranaldo's "Mote" is surely one of his best songs, and was to be the only one of his tracks to make the finished album.

Which is part of the reason disc two is so essential. Here you'll find an unfinished Ranaldo track, as well as "I Know There's An Answer," a shockingly reverent Beach Boys cover. Most important of all, however, is the original 8-track demos the band recorded for "Goo." These have been heavily bootlegged by fans--if internet file-sharing services had been around at the time, this material would have been swapped around like Fiona Apple's "Extraordinary Machine." What you have here is essentially an alternate version of the entire album in a much more raw, and rowdier, form. Although the songs are mostly the same as the ones on the final product, these live-in-the-studio takes ooze more feedback and grit, and the vocals are more tossed-off and almost buried in the mix. This, my friends, is the real "dirty." To be honest, and speaking as a huge slobbering Sonic Youth junkie, I kind of prefer this version, which in sound quality also compares with what I consider the band's best work, "Sister." The one (very slight) drawback is the track order, which is completely different than the "official" version. I guess that's only a problem if you're an anal retentive freak like yours truly, and CD'S are, of course, programmable.

The deluxe package also includes an expanded booklet with photos not in the original package (check out Thurston rockin' a Roland Kirk t-shirt!) and an essay by music critic/SY friend Byron Coley. Sorry kids, no lyrics, but those are, as always, on the band's extensive and very cool web site. While the price may be a bit high (compare, if you will, with the just-as-overloaded reissue of Pavement's classic "Slanted & Enchanted"), the reward is well worth it. So is the hearing loss you'll experience when you play it as loud as it should.

Released in June of 1990 as the follow-up to Daydream Nation - the album that placed Sonic Youth at the top of the late `80s independent rock scene - Goo was the band's major label debut with Geffen. Given the Deluxe Edition treatment, this pivotal work is now available in a remastered form with bonus tracks and a second disc of extras.
The original album - nicely freshened up by John Golden - is strung together with heavy doses of Sonic Youth's signature dissonance; however, the bizarre tunings and jagged distortion are crammed into tight song structures, making this one of their most accessible efforts. Essential tracks like "Dirty Boots," "Mote" and "Kool Thing" (featuring Public Enemy's Chuck D) may be dated, but remain potent, assaulting rock clichés with an art-school cynicism.
The Deluxe Edition package includes widely bootlegged 8-track demos from Goo featuring Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis and a handful of unreleased tracks. The demos aren't wildly different than the finished product, but they do provide a more immediate and raw take on the songs. And of the previously unreleased material, only "Lee #2" - a stripped down, poetic outtake written and sung by guitarist Lee Ranaldo - is particularly noteworthy. However, the liner notes make for a good read, providing a nice snapshot of the group at that tumultuous time in pop music history.
Goo may not be Sonic Youth's best, but it's undoubtedly an important album in their career and proves that an experimental underground band could make the major label jump without sacrificing their credibility. For that reason alone, it's nice to see Goo get paid the respect it deserves.

James Barone
Synthesis.net

Long time SY fan here. I own and love all of their output from the past 24+ years they've been around (Including all SYR releases, side-projects, solo projects, soundtracks, etc.) All great great stuff, I love them to death. The DIRTY deluxe edition was excellent, and the same goes for the legendary GOO. And much like the DIRTY reissue, the remastered classic is almost just a bonus along side the wonderful b-sides/outtakes/demos from this era. I would usually be put off by re-issued and remastered albums being released, but SY does them really well and make it worth your money. I hear that a re-release of their hard to find very first 1982 self-titled album is on it's way for re-issuing, as well as their 1989 side-project "The Whitey Album" done under the alias of Ciccone Youth is also rumored to be re-issued. And thankfully a brand new LP due out sometime in 2006! I can't wait!

"Goo" never sounded any better. Sonic Youth's first major label album had mixed reviews, from hardcore fans, the "industry", the mainstream, and yes, even the band itself. However, this deluxe edition sounds incredibly good and is just as new and powerful sounding as any other current modern release. This re-master finally gets the band's stamp of approval as well. While "Goo" is helmed as a transition album, some of the songs on this album are "classic" Sonic Youth songs, and rock just as good as scream and drone.
The new re-master of the album is much more clearer than the original release, allowing you to hear the songs breath and flow, especially with the demo version disc of the album. These group of songs sound ten's of times better than the old original 'bootleg' release, and show you what a true "re-master" of an album should sound like.
The new bonus songs are pretty good as well, particularly 'Tuff Boyz' and 'Issac'. One thing I wished they would of done is included the live songs from the 'Dirty Boots' single, in which 'The Bedroom' from disc one comes from. Otherwise, this re-master makes a great album sound even better, and bring some of those older fans down memory lane for a bit.
If you got the dough, I recommend getting this album, and if you already own it, but if for the demos. Rock on!!

Normally I can't stand the reissue but when it comes to Sonic Youth, you gotta let it slide.

You have the record in it's remasted entiretity along with all the B-Sides from the "Goo" era of Sonic Youth.

The liner notes are a nice touch.

The Gem here is Disc 2... The demos of the songs that make up Goo. To see what the songs started as and to what they became is an amazing listening experience. What you want to do is listen to the demo and then the actual album version from Goo back to back and check out the care and craft that Sonic Youth goes into making a record. You hear these rough recordings and you get to see behind the curtain. That alone is worth the price of this 2 CD set.

This should tide you over until the next Sonic Youth release... or maybe a Dirty reissue????????

There is something about reissues that we all hate, but I always buy them!!!
I listened to my original copy of Goo on the way to the store to pick up the reissue, and forgot what a great, great disc it was...Then I put in the remaster and WOW! worth the $$ for the improved sound quality alone. It is full, dynamic, deep, perfect! The bonus tracks are all a treat and the icing on a very impressive cake. This may be my favorite Sonic Youth disc, though I'm sure next week it'll be EVOL, follwed by another...They are all great!!
Buy the remaster, you won't regret it!

Goo is one of my favorite albums of all time. When this album came out it was so far ahead of its time. The new remastered version sounds amazing. I really loved all of the extra stuff like the demo songs and the collectors booklet. If you do not have this album you should and if you only have the original version, the extras make the deluxe edition a great addition.

A dirty reissue has been out for a few years now and is similarly incredible

Excellent work here!

This, along with "Dirty" is Soniy Youths greatest work...If you disagree that's 'cause your ears are full of bob.

Yes...their other albums are brill' but these 2 are their best.