Post subject: Sonic Youth's 'Hits' Heading To Starbucks
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 5:48 pm
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 4:20 pm Posts: 3649 Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Sonic Youth's 'Hits' Heading To Starbucks
June 29, 2007, 10:10 AM ET Michael Paoletta, N.Y.v
In a recent interview, Sonic Youth guitarist Thurston Moore mentioned that the band needed to record a new song for a Starbucks compilation. Within minutes of his remarks hitting the Internet, chat rooms and fan sites were awash in cries of "foul" and "sellouts."
For many, the idea of the ultimate indie art band getting into bed with the ultimate mainstream lifestyle brand was pure blasphemy. "I never thought of it as being more radical than recording for Universal Music," Moore tells Billboard. "They're both corporations that have ties to things that people find sort of problematic."
The compilation in question, "Hits Are for Squares," is a co-release by Starbucks Entertainment and Universal Special Markets. Scheduled for release early next year, it will be sold at select Starbucks locations in eight U.S. markets (including New York, Chicago and Seattle) as well as online at hearmusic.com.
In addition to one new, exclusive track, the limited-edition CD features Sonic Youth songs, handpicked by Chloe Sevigny, Dave Eggers, Michelle Williams and other enthusiasts. Participants will also each write a few words, explaining their selections, for the liner notes.
"I guess, for some, Sonic Youth represents something that they don't really equate with Starbucks," Moore says. "But I kind of like the absurdity of it. Sonic Youth has always, in a way, made itself available to the super mainstream."
"In a way, Sonic Youth has a branded name," he continues. "People know the name, but not necessarily our music, which might be a little too outsider for some. And when they do hear a little something, it doesn't tell the whole story. I thought it would be interesting to have a CD available in a store like Starbucks where the casual consumer can sort of have access to [our music] more readily."
Sonic Youth has yet to record its own contribution to the compilation, but was recently in the studio recording an unidentified Bob Dylan cover that may be used in Todd Haynes' upcoming film "I'm Not There."
Moore is also looking ahead to the Sept. 18 release of a new solo album, "Trees Outside the Academy," which he will support with some live shows.
"Hopefully, I'll get together the group that plays on the record, including Steve Shelley," he says. "Samara Lubelski from Brooklyn plays the electric violin, which acts as a second instrument on almost every track. J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr. plays some killer guitar all over the record. And I play all the acoustic guitar and bass on it. It's a pretty heavy song-based record."
_________________ "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."
are there still people who waste their time getting upset when bands do stuff like this?
_________________ Tom Waits: Well... we could go to Taco Bell if that's more your style.
Iggy Pop: What are you saying, man? You saying I'm like a Taco Bell kind of guy?
Post subject: Re: Sonic Youth's 'Hits' Heading To Starbucks
Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 1:20 am
Spaceman
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 1:03 am Posts: 24177 Location: Australia
Timber wrote:
i think the key is not giving a fuck when artists do things as this, or else you'd kinda start hating everyone
true.
i'm trying my best to dismiss it and not be all " " but the truth is, this doesn't add to my respect for sonic youth (which was at an all time high).
_________________ Oh, the flowers of indulgence and the weeds of yesteryear, Like criminals, they have choked the breath of conscience and good cheer. The sun beat down upon the steps of time to light the way To ease the pain of idleness and the memory of decay.
Post subject: Re: Sonic Youth's 'Hits' Heading To Starbucks
Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 6:24 am
Secretary of the Contrarian
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 11:05 pm Posts: 3150 Location: www.metaphysics.com
BlueNote wrote:
are there still people who waste their time getting upset when bands do stuff like this?
Thurston Moore: And errrrrr errr it's like eerrrr errrrr to be part of the culture err err and a post modern-capitalistic desire to speak out durrr durrr and really the biggest expression of our art errr errrr because it's an intersting political climate errr errrr and really errr we're all part of that culture and errrr errrr things are different now eerrrrr errrr we were always part of that through being in the band and, uh, the business of selling records errrr errrr and really i'm very comfortable with it errr errr in fact, a very post-modern errr errr of were we are now errr errr.
Post subject: Re: Sonic Youth's 'Hits' Heading To Starbucks
Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:05 am
Unthought Known
Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2004 8:35 pm Posts: 8770 Location: flap flap flap hey no fair i made my saving throw
Kim Gordon should by all rights be the hottest lady in the world but I don;t think I'd fuck her
_________________ New Age bullshit is just a bunch of homo shit that some rich fuck came up with to scam people. It's exactly the same as scientology and every other religion: fake.
Post subject: Re: Sonic Youth's 'Hits' Heading To Starbucks
Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:09 pm
too drunk to moderate properly
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
Shouldn't this news pull this thread into the Pearl Jam Forum?
Quote:
Vedder, Eggers Sign on for Sonic Youth Starbucks CD Plus: David Cross, Chloe Sevigny
Chances are you're still reeling from last month's announcement that underground overlords Sonic Youth will soon release a compilation via Starbucks. What an age we live in!
Any self-pinching on your part would have been painful, however, as this is no daydream/nightmare. Today comes news, via the official press release, that this puppy 1.) is indeed happening, 2.) is titled Hits Are for Squares, and 3.) will hit Starbucks shops like a quadruple mocha espresso americano frappawhatever in early 2008.
In addition to presumed input from Beck, Jeff Tweedy, Marc Jacobs, Portia de Rossi, and Michelle Williams (all of whom Thurston Moore mentioned when we chatted with him back in June), the limited edition Hits Are for Squares will also include choice Sonic Youth cuts selected by the likes of Eddie Vedder, Dave Eggers (whoa, those two are practically anagrams-- telling!), David Cross, and Chloe Sevigny. Peruse the liner notes and you will also find quotes from these curators regarding their selections.
Technically a joint effort between Starbucks Entertainment and Universal Special Markets, Hits will be available for squares at Starbucks locations in select cities-- NYC, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, and DC-- and online at the Starbucks label website, Hear Music.
What you won't find amid the biscotti and all those designer sweets at Starbucks is Sonic Youth playing Daydream Nation live in its scalding-coffee-hot entirety. For that, my friends, you must journey to the 2007 Pitchfork Music Festival (or one of several other locales). The Youth have a number of "regular" shows lined up as well, all recapped below.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Post subject: Re: Sonic Youth's 'Hits' Heading To Starbucks
Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:19 pm
Former PJ Drummer
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 4:01 am Posts: 19477 Location: Brooklyn NY
King wrote:
BlueNote wrote:
are there still people who waste their time getting upset when bands do stuff like this?
Thurston Moore: And errrrrr errr it's like eerrrr errrrr to be part of the culture err err and a post modern-capitalistic desire to speak out durrr durrr and really the biggest expression of our art errr errrr because it's an intersting political climate errr errrr and really errr we're all part of that culture and errrr errrr things are different now eerrrrr errrr we were always part of that through being in the band and, uh, the business of selling records errrr errrr and really i'm very comfortable with it errr errr in fact, a very post-modern errr errr of were we are now errr errr.
_________________
LittleWing sometime in July 2007 wrote:
Unfortunately, it's so elementary, and the big time investors behind the drive in the stock market aren't so stupid. This isn't the false economy of 2000.
Post subject: Re: Sonic Youth's 'Hits' Heading To Starbucks
Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:47 pm
too drunk to moderate properly
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
conoalias wrote:
B wrote:
Shouldn't this news pull this thread into the Pearl Jam Forum?
he only picked a song for a compilation.
Oh, it sounded like he was recording a cover.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Post subject: Re: Sonic Youth's 'Hits' Heading To Starbucks
Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:04 pm
Unthought Known
Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2004 8:35 pm Posts: 8770 Location: flap flap flap hey no fair i made my saving throw
EastHastings wrote:
Sonic Youth are finally recording for an audience that fits their mediocrity.
- not recording anything - your nuts
_________________ New Age bullshit is just a bunch of homo shit that some rich fuck came up with to scam people. It's exactly the same as scientology and every other religion: fake.
Post subject: Re: Sonic Youth's 'Hits' Heading To Starbucks
Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:17 pm
Unthought Known
Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2004 8:35 pm Posts: 8770 Location: flap flap flap hey no fair i made my saving throw
ahhh. Oh well!
This really doesn't seem like too big of a hit on their 'artistic integrity' - they are hardly the vanguard of that anymore.
also you can hate Sonic Youth but like the Boredoms. do not follow this progression of thoughts.
_________________ New Age bullshit is just a bunch of homo shit that some rich fuck came up with to scam people. It's exactly the same as scientology and every other religion: fake.
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