''Goo'' è il sesto album in studio dei Sonic Youth, primo album pubblicato sotto contratto con una major discografica, per la precisione la Geffen Records.
La band, che fino ad allora aveva pubblicato il proprio materiale soltanto attraverso etichette indipendenti, dopo l'enorme successo derivato da ''Daydream Nation'' decide così di affidarsi ad una casa discografica. Di conseguenza I loro singoli finiscono su MTV, il sound si addolcisce di parecchio; tutto il materiale è decisamente più accessibile.
Ora, dopo questa breve introduzione, sembrerebbe che il disco sia destinato ad essere un flop, specialmente per i fan più fedeli della band.
Ma così non è, ed è facile capire perché: stiamo pur sempre parlando dei Sonic Youth.
Il percorso della band newyorkese si potrebbe riassumere facilmente così: una prima fase nata dall'esperienza No Wave e dalla sperimentazione, per poi raggiungere l'equilibrio perfetto tra sperimentazione e ricercatezza del suono nella seconda fase, periodo che ha difatto portato i Sonic Youth ad essere considerati i maestri del Noise-Rock, rivoluzionando totalmente l'uso delle chitarre. Infine, una terza fase più accessibile, all'insegna dell'Alternative Rock. Ecco, è proprio qui che si trova ''Goo'': è il disco di inaugurazione di questa terza ed ultima fase.
Al di là dei discorsi che abbiamo già trattato riguardanti l'etichetta discografica, io penso che il nuovo sound risulti meno appagante per ben altri motivi: è palese che non siamo più davanti ai Sonic Youth di Bad Moon Rising, ma non siamo ancora troppo distanti dai Sonic Youth di Daydream Nation. Ciò che viene a mancare qui è l'originalità, la ricerca di nuovi suoni.
E probabilmente sarebbe stato chiedere troppo, visto che il percorso che ha portato alla stesura di Daydream Nation è stato lungo ed impegnativo (tengo a sottolineare che nessun disco post-DN è a mio avviso allo stesso livello di DN stesso).
Di conseguenza il sound appare un po' scialbo, privo di idee interessanti. E seppure Thurston Moore dopo aver firmato con la nuova etichetta dichiarò che la band aveva ancora ''il totale controllo sulla propria musica'', appare chiaro che brani come ''Kool Thing'' siano il risultato di un cambiamento di qualche tipo già avvenuto all'interno del gruppo.
Tuttavia, il disco nel complesso risulta ancora essere di ottima fattura: i Sonic Youth in studio sono sempre i soliti perfezionisti del suono, le chitarre conservano quel loro sound unico ed inimitabile. Ottimi brani come ''Tunic (Song For Karen)'' , ''Disappearer'' o '' Titanium Expose'' aumentano di parecchio il valore complessivo dell'album, senza far rimpiangere il precedente sound. Fu inoltre stranamente scartata ''I Know There's an Answer'', cover, a mio avviso, bellissima dei Beach Boys (facilmente reperibile sul Web per i più interessati).
Riassumendo, ''Goo'' a mio avviso non è assolutamente un disco mediocre, ma come spesso accade e la storia ci insegna, sfornare due capolavori uno dopo l'altro non è facile. Ecco perché intimorisce parecchio nel confronto con il precedente ''Daydream Nation''.
Nonostante il sound risulti più accessibile, Thurston Moore e Lee Ranaldo mantengono alto il livello generale dell'album.
Grande nota di riguardo per la splendida copertina realizzata da Raymond Pettibon.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Dirty Boots (05:28)
Here we go to another candle I know,
All the girls there playin' on a jelly roll.
Time to take a ride,
Time to take it in a midnight eye.
And if you wanna go, get on below.
Pinkin' out the day, dreamin' out the crazy way.
Finger on the love, it's all above.
Everywhere it's six-sex-six by luck,
A satellite wish will make it just enough.
You be makin' out with a witch in a coffee truck.
Time to rock the road, and tell the story of the jelly rollin'.
Dirty boots are on, hi-de-ho.
Pinkin' out the black, dreamin' in a crack.
Satan got her tongue, now it's undone.
I got some dirty boots,
Yeah, dirty boots.
I got some dirty boots, baby, dirty boots.
Ha!
02 Tunic (Song for Karen) (06:22)
Dreamin', dreamin' of a girl like me.
Hey, what are you waiting for?
Feedin, feedin' me.
And I feel like I'm disappearing, getting smaller everyday,
But I look in the mirror, and I'm bigger in every way.
She said, "You aren't never going anywhere."
She said, "You aren't never going anywhere."
"I ain't never going anywhere."
"I ain't never going anywhere."
I'm in Heaven now.
I can see you, Richard.
Goodbye, Hollywood.
Goodbye, Downey.
Hello, Janis.
Hello, Dennis, Elvis, and all my brand new friends.
I'm so glad you're all here with me until the very end.
Dreamin', dreamin' of how it's supposed to be,
But now this tunic's spinning around my arms and knees.
I feel like I'm disappearing, getting smaller everyday.
But when I open my mouth to sing, I'm bigger in every way.
She said, "You aren't never going anywhere."
She said, "You aren't never going anywhere."
"I ain't never going anywhere."
"I ain't never going anywhere."
Hey Mom, look! I'm over here!
I finally made it.
I'm playing the drums again, too.
Don't be sad - the band doesn't sound that bad.
And I remember, Mom, what you said.
You said, "Honey, you look so underfed."
(Kim and J Mascis sing Carpenters songs in background)
Another green salad, another iced tea.
I feel like I'm disappearing, getting smaller everyday.
But I look in your eyes, and I'm bigger in every way.
She said, "You aren't never going anywhere."
She said, "You aren't never going anywhere."
"I ain't never going anywhere."
"I ain't never going anywhere."
Goodbye, Richard, gotta go now.
I'm finally on my own, but Dan's got a gig.
Keep the love lights glowing.
Little girl's got the blues.
I can still hear Mama say, "Honey, don't let it go to your head."
03 Mary-Christ (03:11)
Talkin' to a punker priest,
Just doggin' the breeze bout bein' in a tree.
(He says they're free now.)
Along comes Mary-Christ, skatin' light on ice,
Says "Let's go on high."
(Later, priestoid.)
Gotta go, I got a date now.
Yeah, I know, shall not be late now.
Possessed by X-ray eyes, her spirit spies into my lie.
(Let's burn 'em out now.)
Wraps my head in skin, says now I'm in, dig the candy sin.
(Yeh, spit it out now.)
Every time she sings that low song,
Every time I know she's right/wrong.
Angel in a devil skirt buys me a shirt,
Says "I hope you like."
(Like what now?)
Hope, I hope you like,
Like you like your hope,
Walk the tightest rope.
(I see, I know now.)
Here we go, been waiting so long.
Yeah, I know, for Mary to come along.
Talkin' to a punker priest,
Just doggin' the breeze bout bein' in a tree.
(He says they're free now.)
Along comes Mary-Christ, skatin' light on ice,
Says "Let's go on high."
(Later, priestoid.)
Gotta go, I got a date now.
Yeah, I know, shall not be late now.
Possessed by X-ray eyes, her spirit spies into my lie.
(Let's burn 'em out now.)
Angel in a devil skirt buys me a shirt,
Says "I hope you like."
(Yeh, spit it out now.)
Here we go, been waitin' so long.
Yeah, I know, for Mary to come along.
04 Kool Thing (04:06)
Kool thing, sittin' with a kitty.
Now you know you're sure lookin' pretty.
Like a lover, not a dancer,
Superboy, take a little chance here.
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
Kool thing, let me play with your radio,
Move me, turn me on, baby-o.
I'll be your slave, give you a shave.
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
Chuck D: ''Yeah, tell 'em 'bout it. Hit 'em where it hurts.''
Kim: ''Hey, kool thing, come here. Sit down beside me. There's something I gotta ask 'ya. I just wanna know, what are you gonna do for me? I mean, are you gonna liberate us girls... from male white corporate opression?''
CD: ''Tell it like it is.''
K: ''Hmm?''
CD: ''Yeah.''
K: ''Don't be shy.''
CD: ''Word up.''
K: ''Fear of a female planet.''
CD: ''Fear of a female planet. Fear it, baby.''
K: ''I just want you to know that we can still be friends.''
CD: ''Let everybody know.''
K: ''Come on, come on, come on, come on...''
Kool, kool thing.
Kool, kool thing.
When you're a star, I know that you'll fix everything.
Kool thing, sittin' with a kitty.
Now you know you're sure lookin' pretty.
Rock the beat just a little faster,
Now I know you are the master.
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
Kool thing walkin' like a panther,
Come on and give me an answer.
Kool thing walkin' like a panther,
What'd he say?
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
I don't wanna, I don't think so.
05 Mote (07:37)
When you feel the spiral turning through alone,
And you feel so heavy that you just can't stop it...
When this sea of madness turns you into stone,
A picture of your life shoots like a rocket all the time...
Put me in the equation, it's all right.
I've seen you moving in and out of sight.
My friends tell me it'll all cut through you,
From nowhere to nowhere.
Cut together, cutting through.
I'm island-bound, a mote inside my eye,
And I can't see you breathing as before.
I am airless -- a vacuum child.
I can't stand to reason at your door in this time.
Put me in the equation, it's all right.
I've seen you moving in and out of sight.
My friends tell me it'll all cut through you,
From nowhere to nowhere.
Cut together.
I'm down in the daytime out of sight,
Comin' in from dreamland, I'm on fire.
I can see it's all been here before.
Dream a dream that lies right at your door.
When the seasons circle sideways out of turn,
And words don't speak, just fall across the carpet,
You're just in time to watch the fires burn.
It seems a crime but your face is bright, you love it all the time...
07 Disappearer (05:08)
Here it comes again, out of the rain.
Seems to have a new kind of same.
Been playin' on a simple ride,
The sign comes alive and speaks the mind.
It turns to me and it turns to gold.
It turns to see the fast lane slow.
It's been away too long,
It's been away, I'm gone.
East coast and on, to the west star.
Lookin' out, I thought I saw you blink.
Coming on to me like a silver eye.
Pick it up and tune it on in,
Head on out to western starland.
It's been mad and gone, now it's singing a song.
Like a western star, it's going my way.
Looking out, I'm back in time to stay.
Into the eastern, sign away.
It comes alive through the clearer,
The ghost arrives into your mirror.
You've been away too long,
It's been way too long.
Eastern star is on, a disappearer.
09 Cinderella's Big Score (05:54)
[Kim]
if I could give you anything
I would give you a kick
you'd rather have a dollar
than a hug from your sis
you really fucked up this time
your old lady's really pissed
she's not just laughing
she's polishing her fist
if you could give me anything
would you consider a fist?
don't give me yr soul
it's caught is an abyss
here's a pack of ciggies
fresh from the wonder lips
a dream, a wish, a heart's desires
cinderella is a kiss
a cold is gonna take you
and freeze away your tears
ome a little closer honey
you can be so near
mind your heart aside you (?)
really got no sense of time (?)
ninety-nine inside you (?)
that I'm scared if you were cryin'
if I could give you anything
I would give you a kick
you'd rather have a dollar
than a hug from your sis
a cold is gonna take you
and freeze away your tears
come a little closer honey
we can be so near
11 Titanium Exposé (06:24)
Waking up, I see you dreaming of a drive-in.
Open your eyes to see the TV set in mute.
I been waiting for you to smile, all the pretty freezing.
Wintertime comes summer, you are why it's happening.
Sugar babe, sugar babe, turn the TV.
Turn it babe, turn it babe, can't you see me?
Sugar now, sugar now, turn the TV.
Turn it babe, turn it babe, can't you see me?
I feel the morning slip its sights into your mirror.
Now I see what you might see, it's pretty clear.
I been looking just to feel that funny feeling,
I don't know, but it's a mystery to reckon.
Sugar babe, sugar babe, turn the TV.
Turn it babe, turn it babe, can't you see me?
Sugar now, sugar now, turn the TV.
Turn it babe, turn it babe, can't you see me?
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di Antonino91
Il suono della gioventù sonica rimane intatto, anzi acquista anche maggior compattezza e "Goo" lo dimostra alla grande.
Vale la pena parlare anche della splendida copertina che immortala un uomo e una donna che recita una frase...
Di Dan Erre
«I don’t wanna die, guys» – Thurston Moore nel ricordo del 1998.
«Nei Sonic, lo sfondamento della soglia del rumore determinava l’approdo a un nuovo gradino espressivo, non l’esibizione d’una confusa rabbia iconoclasta.»
