A week and change after doing “Sacred Trickster” on Letterman, Sonic Youth skipped over the chance to repeat The Eternal‘s Yves Klein/Noise Nomads/hipster girl anthem and instead offered Fallon the Thurston-fronted, Lee harmonized “No Way.” A game-faced Moore wore shades for the occasion, Gordon a silver (Goo-era?) dress. Mark Ibold, clearly locking in with Ranaldo (when not locking in with Steve), received a favorable bass mix. The flashing lights during the breakdown part? Clearly deserved. Afterward, they’re all smiles.

I find it predictable, but still surprising people are so by-the-numbers nitpicky with their critiques of this record. Gotta agree with Sasha Frere-Jones this time. (And, of course, with ourselves.)

The Eternal is out via Matador.

Comments (16)
  1. They honestly look/sound like teenagers who just got their first guitars and figured out what power chords were.

  2. noise nomads link is busted.

  3. Rrob  |   Posted on Jun 23rd, 2009 0

    well obviously they look that way. that’s why they’re awesome

  4. Fucking MARK IBOLD!!!!!!!

    • I don’t get it. Why are you screaming “MARK IBOLD!!!!!!”? Is it because of that awesome performance where he played the most boring note at all times and only moved through the progression on the 1? Is it because of all the amazing rhythmic textures he brought to the song?

  5. dru  |   Posted on Jun 23rd, 2009 0

    video doesn’t work. I am getting “invalid parameters”

  6. sufdub  |   Posted on Jun 23rd, 2009 0

    sometimes the vocals are distracting but they always put on a great damn show

  7. Their performance here is just great, great mix too. Flawless.

  8. wingedgopher  |   Posted on Jun 23rd, 2009 0

    What, you’re too good to shake Lee’s hand after he extends his arm? Fuck you, Jimmy Fallon.

    But yeah, good performance. This record is growing on me.

    • Middletownie  |   Posted on Jun 24th, 2009 0

      Dude, I think Fallon was under time constraint, I don’t think he’s showed any signs of “being too good for shaking Lee’s hand”.

  9. dickhead jones  |   Posted on Jun 23rd, 2009 0

    Like their music, but the people in this band are such snobs. I remember when Thurston Moore used to say how Green Day weren’t punk rock, though I guess Starbucks is.

    • I disagree. Everyone is SY is great. They are not snobs at all. When I have talked with Thurston he was the most friendly and down to Earth guy I have come in contact with.

      Perhaps people are scared by intelligence in their musicians, and they think they are being snobbish when in fact they are just well-read and well-articulate.

  10. I just had an eargasm.. gracias Sonic Youth.

  11. Fantastic!

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