Goo

Sonic Youth

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 15, 1990)
• Original Release Date: June 26, 1990
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B000003TA2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #31,490 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

After spending the 1980s terrorizing the underground alternative scene with their oddly tuned guitars and inventive song structure, this New York City art-punk band started the next decade with a major label deal and a determination to make rock loud and sexy for all concerned. The single "Kool Thing," which features a cameo from Public Enemy's Chuck D, immediately proved they had both the dynamic control and the range to meet such a challenge. Backed by an album of taut, riff-driven anthems ("Dirty Boots," "Titanium Expose") and moments of extended feedback bliss (Lee Ranaldo's "Mote"), Sonic Youth redefined what hard rock would sound like in the '90s. It's no wonder Nirvana respected them so. --Rob O'Connor

Product Description

Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing includes four bonus tracks. Universal. 2008. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best youth album, June 9, 2004

By A Customer

ok, here it is, plain and simple--goo is (in my opinion) the best out of the 4 or 5 "best" youth albums(washing machine, d dream nation, dirty,....whatever). ive read lies about washing machine. everyone thinks its the best and that its ground breaking when in fact its at best good.it only has about 3 great tracks. and, day dream and dirty are both amazing but after a while i noticed that evey song sounds some what the same. goo on the other hand is PURE gold. here, the writing and playing is the best. all of the songs great in there own way. every track is a highlight. but i have to mention that "titainium expose" is beyond incredible, probably my fav youth song. buy it or continue to suck

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sonic noise and alien grooves, March 24, 2006

By	Scott Hedegard "Scott" (Fayetteville, AR USA) - See all my reviews

Inspired by the New York art scene, Sonic Youth bludgeoned their way into the rock and roll world courtesy of SST Records, which handled all their material up to "Goo", which is now considered an alt-rock classic.
Sonic Youth specialize in a peculiar blend of detuned and unconventionally tuned guitars, swirling in feedback, distortion and volume. Far from being nothing but a metallic shriek, SY somehow manage to work in bits of beauty, albeit the kind that extra-terrestrials probably dig, a solid beat thanks to Steve Shelley, one of rock's best drummers, and vocals that scream, moan, whisper and croon.
"Dirty Boots" opens with an almost ethereal intro until bassist Kim Gordon bulls her way in with fuzz bass and Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo slam away at their guitars, creating sounds that captivate as well as maim.
We progress through a homage to Karen Carpenter (!?), a guest rap by Chuck D. and a glorious feedback symphony with "Mote" that churns and burns, making the listener fear his stereo may overload and combust into flames.
"Disappearer" is the most accessible tune before closing with "Scooter + Jinx" and "Titanium Exposure".
"Goo" and Sonic Youth are not for the faint hearted. Music should reflect all our emotions and SY, with every release, somehow capture the sound of chaos, the beauty of parallel worlds and lyrics of urban life. The fact that they have survived for a couple of decades now shows that there is a need for this special kind of noise in each one of us.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Introducing THE Band, December 19, 2002

By	Mr. James A. Hinks "rhinestonecatboy" (London) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sonic Youth have been associated with a bewildering number of styles and movements over their 20 year history and whilst it a near impossible task to pick a favourite album out of their rich and varied oeuvre, `Goo' is probably the best place for the uninitiated to start.

The last of five indispensable albums Sonic Youth released in the late 1980s, they had the good sense to ensure their first release with major label muscle behind it was also their most accessible. Their well-documented tendency toward feedback-drenched experimentation is held in check and forced into coherent 3-minute song structures.

But this temporary embrace of rock n' roll conventions is solely on SY's terms and in no way smacks of a sell out (Goo is often unfairly labelled as bubblegum punk by elitist SY fans) yet in it's own way as adventurous and diverse any of its predecessors, the only constant being those expertly de-tuned guitars. Lyrically and musically all three of the band's songwriters are at the top of their game: Kim Gordon manages to simultaneously trash the mythologizing of dead musical icons and pay tribute to heroine Karen Carpenter on `Tunic.' Whilst Thurston Moore displays his long term love of hardcore punk on the abrasive `Mildred Pierce' and the often over looked Lee Ranaldo produces one of the finest songs on this or any Sonic Youth album in the form of `Disappearer.'

Like all great Sonic Youth albums, Goo manages to simultaneously give an immediate pure noise thrill, whilst ceaselessly pushing the boundary of popular music. By ceaselessly innovating Sonic Youth have changed the face of `alternative' music. Almost every great band of the past decade is forever in their debt and Goo is the best place to begin finding out why