The Eternal (album)
Encyclopedia
The Eternal is the sixteenth studio album by Sonic Youth
, released by Matador Records
on June 9, 2009
, their first on that label. It is their first studio album in three years (since Rather Ripped
), making it the band's longest delay between studio albums. The album peaked at #18 on the Billboard 200
making it the band's highest charting album of their career in the United States and highest charting album since 1994's Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star
, which reached #34. The album was released digitally, on CD, and as a double LP
, in both a standard and a "Buy Early Get Now" (BEGN) edition.
The cover art was painted by John Fahey
. The album is dedicated to Ron Asheton
.
, the band left Geffen Records
. They signed with Matador in 2008, and began working on new music.
said "the album shows signs of life and heart-wrenching vitality that secures its makers’ position at the forefront of American rock music".
In a "Critic's Choice" review for The New York Times
, Ben Ratliff compared the album to two of their albums from the 1990s,Washing Machine and A Thousand Leaves
; he pointed out that the album demonstrates Kim Gordon
's continued rise as a singer, saying she "sings all the best stuff" on The Eternal, particularly the album's last song, "Massage the History", a song he calls the "record's sleeper stunner".
The addition of Mark Ibold in the studio was praised by Monday Field of Frank Booth Review, likening the album's basslines to "a 1AM, alcohol-soaked punch in the gut".
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
, released by Matador Records
Matador Records
Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have...
on June 9, 2009
2009 in music
The following is a list of notable events and releases in 2009 in music. Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest selling album in the world for 2009, selling 8.3 million copies in five weeks; more than any other artist's in the whole year...
, their first on that label. It is their first studio album in three years (since Rather Ripped
Rather Ripped
Rather Ripped is the fifteenth studio album by Sonic Youth, which was released on June 13, 2006. It was their first album without guitarist Jim O'Rourke since 2000's NYC Ghosts & Flowers. The album was described by Thurston Moore as "a super song record" containing "rockers and ballads". The name...
), making it the band's longest delay between studio albums. The album peaked at #18 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
making it the band's highest charting album of their career in the United States and highest charting album since 1994's Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star
Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star
Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star is the eighth album by alternative rock band Sonic Youth. It was released in May 1994. The album includes one of the group's biggest hits, "Bull in the Heather"...
, which reached #34. The album was released digitally, on CD, and as a double LP
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
, in both a standard and a "Buy Early Get Now" (BEGN) edition.
The cover art was painted by John Fahey
John Fahey (musician)
John Fahey was an American fingerstyle guitarist and composer who pioneered the steel-string acoustic guitar as a solo instrument. His style has been greatly influential and has been described as the foundation of American Primitivism, a term borrowed from painting and referring mainly to the...
. The album is dedicated to Ron Asheton
Ron Asheton
Ronald Frank Asheton was an American guitarist and co-songwriter with Iggy Pop for the rock band The Stooges.Asheton is ranked as number 29 on Rolling Stones list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time....
.
Background
After Rather RippedRather Ripped
Rather Ripped is the fifteenth studio album by Sonic Youth, which was released on June 13, 2006. It was their first album without guitarist Jim O'Rourke since 2000's NYC Ghosts & Flowers. The album was described by Thurston Moore as "a super song record" containing "rockers and ballads". The name...
, the band left Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
. They signed with Matador in 2008, and began working on new music.
Tracklist
iTunes bonus tracks
Japanese and Brazilian bonus tracks
Reception
An early review by ClashClash (magazine)
Clash is a popular music and fashion magazine based in the United Kingdom. Its magazine title is published 12 times a year. It has a circulation of around 40,000....
said "the album shows signs of life and heart-wrenching vitality that secures its makers’ position at the forefront of American rock music".
In a "Critic's Choice" review for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, Ben Ratliff compared the album to two of their albums from the 1990s,Washing Machine and A Thousand Leaves
A Thousand Leaves
A Thousand Leaves is an album by Sonic Youth. It was the group's first major album to be recorded in their private Manhattan studio, dubbed Echo Canyon....
; he pointed out that the album demonstrates Kim Gordon
Kim Gordon
Kim Althea Gordon is an American musician, vocalist, artist, record producer, video director and actress. She has sung and played bass and guitar in the alternative rock band Sonic Youth, and in Free Kitten with Julia Cafritz...
's continued rise as a singer, saying she "sings all the best stuff" on The Eternal, particularly the album's last song, "Massage the History", a song he calls the "record's sleeper stunner".
The addition of Mark Ibold in the studio was praised by Monday Field of Frank Booth Review, likening the album's basslines to "a 1AM, alcohol-soaked punch in the gut".
Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Tastemakers | 1 |
| Top Independent Albums (US) | 3 |
| Top Modern Rock/Alternative Albums (US) | 6 |
| Top Rock Albums (US) | 7 |
| Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders) | 9 |
| The Billboard 200 | 18 |
| European Top 100 | 27 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 28 |
| Finnish Albums Chart | 34 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 38 |
| UK Albums Chart | 42 |
| Australian ARIA Albums Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
52 |
| Dutch Albums Chart | 90 |
| Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia) | 92 |
External links
- "Sacred Trickster" at StereogumStereogumStereogum was one of the first MP3 blogs. It was created by Scott Lapatine in January 2002 with a focus on independent and alternative music news, downloads, videos, and gossip. Stereogum has received several awards and citations, including the 2008 Plug Award for best music blog, Blender's...
- "Wonder Town: Thirty years of Sonic Youth", album review and band retrospective by Sasha Frere-Jones at The New YorkerThe New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...