If you, like us, are a sucker for those hissy, you-are-there live tapes recorded from the back of dingy rock clubs, drop everything you’re doing and behold The McKenzie Tapes, a site that’s been sharing live recordings made in the ’80s and ’90s of bands that performed at the famed Maxwell’s club in Hoboken, N.J,
Former Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore returns later this month with Rock N Roll Consciousness, first new album in two years, which was recorded with his current touring band that includes former SY compatriot Steve Shelley on drums and My Bloody Valentine’s Deb Googe on bass.
This week’s new releases include a new reissue of Sonic Youth’s ‘Daydream Nation,’ the first-ever vinyl pressing of Paul Westerberg’s ’14 Songs,’ a new studio album from former Soft Cell frontman Marc Almond, and a new 3CD box set featuring a trio of albums from Half Japanese.
Sonic Youth will launch a new reissue campaign focused on the band’s ’80s pre-Geffen releases next month with new CD and 2LP pressings of landmark 1988 album Daydream Nation as well as a new CD edition of The Whitey Album, released that same year under the name Ciccone Youth.
Nearing the end of a December swing across the West Coast, Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo brought his new band The Dust — featuring SY drummer Steve Shelley — to TBS’ “Conan” show last night to perform “Lecce, Leaving,” the opening track to the band’s 2013 album Last Night on Earth.
Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo returns this October with a new band — Lee Ranaldo & The Dust, featuring SY drummer Steve Shelley, plus guitarist Alan Licht and bassist Tim Lüntzel — and a new album, the 10-track Last Night on Earth, which will be released Oct. 8 by Matador Records, the label announced this week.
Fans of Sonic Youth may still be struggling to get over the presumed end of the legendary noise-rock band, but there is good news ahead: The band’s four members all will be on tour in the U.S. this fall — albeit separately, for the most part — and three of the four have new music due out later this year.
Q&A: Daniel Ash on Love and Rockets’ reunion, his new band — and figuring out how to play “So Alive” 
Q&A: Chris Frantz talks Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and new book ‘Remain in Love’ 
Q&A: Steve Wynn on The Dream Syndicate’s first new album in nearly 30 years 
Q&A: Bauhaus’ David J on his ‘accidental’ concept album ‘Not Long For This World’ 
Q&A: Peter Murphy on ‘Ninth,’ Bauhaus’ break-up, reuniting Dalis Car 
Q&A: Joey Santiago on Pixies’ ‘Doolittle’ tour, possible ‘Surfer Rosa’ shows, new album talk 
Q&A: Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon on new album, changing the world with music 
Q&A: Peter Hook talks ‘Unknown Pleasures’ tour, re-recording Joy Division 