Noise Addict: An introduction to greatness
Sonic Youth
Discovering a band that’s been around for a long time can be a daunting task. Where to begin when a band has a ton of albums? At the beginning of their discography? The end? That strange experimental era or the more straight-ahead commerical albums? Or is it best to just go straight to the album that was the most commercially successful? It’s always a tough call. Well, to help make things a bit easier, here are three legendary music acts and some tips on where to dive in to their catalogues.
Sonic Youth (myspace.com/sonicyouth) have been together for almost 30 years. And through that 30-year stint, they’ve gone through some stylistic changes. But where to start? In 1992, the band released Dirty. Butch Vig, who had just produced Nirvana’s Nevermind, produced the album and Dirty was Sonic Youth’s more direct approach (like Nevermind was for Nirvana) at accessibility. It features the band’s familiar noise-punk sound, but also a more poppy influence in their songwriting. Songs like the six-minute “Sugar Cane” feature a catchy chorus, but are contrasted with a crazy, noise-soaked bridge. Dirty gives listeners a great starting point from which to dive further into the massive Sonic Youth catalogue.
The Tragically Hip (myspace.com/thetragicallyhip) are arguably the best band in Canadian history. Sure, they aren’t the best selling, and, sure, there are probably some bands that sell out more venues all over the world, but can you name another band that’s more Canadian? The Hip have tons of songs about Canadian politics, hockey, and just about being Canadian. The band has been releasing albums since 1987, so where to begin? In 1998, the band put out Phantom Power, an incredibly strong album featuring perhaps their greatest song to date, “Escape is at Hand for the Travellin’ Man.” The album also has upbeat rock anthems like “Fireworks,” and slow, beautiful songs like “The Rules.” It’s a great first impression for someone looking to get into a totally iconic band.
Too many people shrug off Björk (myspace.com/bjork) because all they know is the wacky, swan-dress-wearing side of the Icelandic singer. But her catalogue features some of the most amazing musical performances ever recorded. While not her most ambitious record, the best place to start is her 1995 album, Post. Easily Björk’s most accessible album, it features some of her biggest hits to date, “It’s Oh So Quiet,” and “Army of Me.” It also features one of Björk’s best tracks, “Hyper Ballad,” which sets the tone for albums to come. Post is the perfect foot in the door for someone not wanting to jump into the more experimental side of Björk right off the bat.
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