It’s safe to say that without the Sonic Youth–led teenage riot of the late ‘80s, there wouldn’t have been a spirit for teens to smell in the ‘90s. The hat trick of guitar sculptured symphonies that took shape with 1986’s EVOL and morphed through 1987’s Sister into the glorious sound and fury that is 1988’s Daydream Nation set the stage in 1991 for the year punk “broke” and lots of people getting rich. Having evolved far beyond from being a mere band into a becoming a chapter of rock history unto themselves, Sonic Youth have attained legendary status while still playing at the peak of their creative powers. June 9 sees the release of their new LP, The Eternal. The record will be issued by Matador after the band’s 16-year/nine-album run on Geffen. The first 30 seconds of the album’s first single, “Sacred Trickster,” builds up the anticipation for an aural assault that hits the “on” switch in your brain and makes you want to go faster. And faster we will go when the band plays what is sure to be the most intimate and intense show in their colourful local history when they hit Massey Hall June 30 (the public on sale begins on Friday). In the meantime, seek out the expanded paperback edition of David Browne’s personal look at the band’s life and music, Goodbye 20th Century, which was originally published last year.
HELLO DOLLYS!
Who would have thought we’d get a good Rolling Stones LP in 2009? Well we did… with this week’s release of Cuz I Sez So (Atco) by the New York Dolls. Packing a strong whiff of the Keef-style songs the Dolls have long embraced, the set sees producer Todd Rundgren returning to steer the ship as he did on the band’s self-titled 1972 debut. Unlike 2006’s all-star-guest-filled comeback disc One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This, Cuz I Sez So is pretty much all Dolls all the time. If you’re interested in a look at the life of late Dolls bassist Arthur Kane, check out the astonishingly honest documentary New York Doll.
DOC DR. MAKING HOUSE CALL
If you’re going to check out this week’s big-screen premiere of Ashes of American Flags — the incredibly personal Wilco concert film that is screening as part of Hot Docs — you’ll get to meet the man behind the lens: Brendan Canty. The longtime Fugazi drummer — who, along with co-director Chris Green, has figured out how to capture all the nuances and subtleties of rock music on film — will be in town for both screenings: May 8, 9:15pm at the Bloor (506 Bloor W.) and May 9, 4:30pm at the Royal (608 College). For complete Hot Docs listings go to www.hotdocs.ca.
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