Some groups are tied to song structures, such as Sonic Youth. Although they are not representative of the entire genre, they helped popularize noise rock among alternative rock audiences by incorporating melodies into their droning textures of sound, which set a template that numerous other groups followed. Other early noise rock bands were Big Black and Swans.
Characteristics
Noise rock fuses rock to noise, usually with recognizable "rock" instrumentation, but with greater use of distortion and electronic effects, varying degrees of atonality, improvisation, and white noise. One notable band of this genre is Sonic Youth who took inspiration from the no wave composers Glenn Branca and Rhys Chatham.[7] Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore has stated: "Noise has taken the place of punk rock. People who play noise have no real aspirations to being part of the mainstream culture. Punk has been co-opted, and this subterranean noise music and the avant-garde folk scene have replaced it."
History
The Velvet Underground have been credited with creating the first noise rock album in 1968.
See also: Experimental rock, Punk rock, and Grunge
Forerunners
While the music had been around for some time, the term "noise rock" was coined in the 1980s to describe an offshoot of punk groups with an increasingly abrasive approach. An archetypal album is the Velvet Underground's White Light/White Heat (1968). Treblezine's Joe Gross credits White Light/White Heat as the "cult classic" with being the first noise rock album, accordingly, "perhaps it’s an obvious starting point, but it’s also the starting point. Period."
Origins
Guitarist Steve Albini of noise rock band Big Black stated in 1984 in an article that "good noise is like orgasm". He commented: "Anybody can play notes. There's no trick. What is a trick and a good one is to make a guitar do things that don't sound like a guitar at all. The point here is stretching the boundaries." He said that Ron Ashton of the Stooges "made squealy death noise feedback" on "Iggy monstruous songs". Albini also mentioned John McKay of Siouxsie and the Banshees, saying: "The Scream, is notable for a couple of things: only now people are trying to copy it, and even now nobody understands how that guitar player got all that pointless noise to stick together as songs". Albini also said that Keith Levene of Public Image Ltd. had this "ability to make an excruciating noise come out of his guitar".
In an article about noise rock, Spin wrote that a US compilation album titled No New York released in 1978 on an independent label called "Antilles", was important as it documented the no wave New York scene. It featured several songs of Lydia Lunch's first band Teenage Jesus and the Jerks along with material of other groups such as Mars, DNA and The Contortions.
Music
In the 1980s, Big Black, Sonic Youth and Swans were the leading figures of noise rock. Sonic Youth were the first noise rock band to get signed by a major in 1990. Later notable bands of the noise scene were the Jesus Lizard, Liars and Unsane.
While noise rock has never had any mainstream popularity, the raw, distorted and feedback-intensive sound of some noise rock bands had an influence on grunge. Among them are Wisconsin's Killdozer, Chicago's Big Black, and most notably San Francisco's Flipper, a band known for its slowed-down and murky "noise punk". The Butthole Surfers' mix of punk, heavy metal and noise rock was a major influence, particularly on the early work of Soundgarden.
Starting in the 1990s, noise punk developed mostly as a form of party music, with the band Lightning Bolt serving as key players in the 2000s noise punk scene in Providence, Rhode Island.
Kool Thing
Sonic Youth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now you know you're sure lookin' pretty
Like a lover not a dancer
Superboy take a little chance here
I don't want to, I don't think so
I don't want to, I don't think so
Kool Thing let me play it with your radio
Move me, turn me on, baby-o
I'll be your slave
Give you a shave
I don't want to, I don't think so
I don't want to, I don't think so
Yeah, tell'em about it
Hit'em where it hurts
Hey, Kool Thing, come here, sit down beside me
There's something I go to ask you
I just want to know, what are you gonna do for me?
I mean, are you gonna liberate us girls
From male white corporate oppression?
Tell it like it is!
Huh?
Yeah!
Don't be shy
Word up!
Fear of a female planet?
Fear of a female planet?
Fear, baby!
I just want you to know that we can still be friends
Let everybody know
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 want to, I don't think so
I don't want to, 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 want to, I don't think so
I don't want to, I don't think so
The song "Kool Thing" by Sonic Youth is a commentary on feminism and the role of women in the entertainment industry. The lyrics of the song depict Kool Thing, the titular character, as a strong, confident woman who is not afraid to challenge the norms of her time. She is portrayed as someone who is unapologetically herself, and who is happy to take risks and push boundaries.
At the same time, the song also highlights the ways in which women in the entertainment industry are often subjected to the whims of men. Kool Thing's questions about male white corporate oppression and fear of a female planet speak to the larger issues of gender imbalances in society. The lyrics suggest that while women like Kool Thing are making strides in the industry, there is still much work to be done in terms of equality.
Overall, "Kool Thing" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that challenges the norms of its time and addresses important issues that are still relevant today.
Line by Line Meaning
Kool Thing sittin' with a kitty
Kool Thing, a cool woman, is sitting with a cat
Now you know you're sure lookin' pretty
You look beautiful and attractive
Like a lover not a dancer
You look more like a romantic partner than a dancer
Superboy take a little chance here
Hey, attractive man, why don't you take a risk?
I don't want to, I don't think so
I'm not interested, I don't think so
Kool Thing let me play it with your radio
Kool Thing, can I play with your radio?
Move me, turn me on, baby-o
Make me feel something, excite me
I'll be your slave
I'll do anything you ask me to do
Give you a shave
I'll take care of your personal grooming needs
Yeah, tell'em about it
You're doing great, keep going
Hit'em where it hurts
Expose the things that will make them feel uncomfortable
Hey, Kool Thing, come here, sit down beside me
Hey, Kool thing, join me and sit next to me
There's something I go to ask you
I have a question to ask you
I just want to know, what are you gonna do for me?
What can you do to help girls like me who are suffering from male white corporate oppression?
I mean, are you gonna liberate us girls
Are you going to help us achieve independence and freedom?
From male white corporate oppression?
From the domination and exploitation by white male-controlled corporations?
Tell it like it is!
Speak the truth, don't hold back
Huh?
Do you understand me?
Yeah!
That's right!
Don't be shy
Be bold, don't hold back
Word up!
I agree, let's do it
Fear of a female planet?
Are you afraid of women's power and potential?
Fear, baby!
You should be afraid
I just want you to know that we can still be friends
I still value our relationship even if we have different views
Let everybody know
Spread the word, inform others
Kool Kool Thing, Kool Kool Thing
You're really cool, Kool Thing
When you're a star, I know that you'll fix everything
You have the power to change things when you have achieved fame and success
Rock the beat just a little faster
Increase the tempo of the music a bit
Now I know you are the master
I now realize that you are in control, the expert
Kool Thing walkin' like a panther
Kool Thing walks confidently and smoothly like a panther
Come on and give me an answer
Please respond to my question
What'd he say?
What did he say/do?
I don't want to, I don't think so
I'm not interested, I don't think so
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kim Gordon, Lee M. Ranaldo, Steven Jay Shelley, Thurston Joseph Moore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
fishbone3333
@Demonic Sweaters Drum Covers! Nope. I am 50. I lived through the alternative revolution of the late 80's and early 90's
Just because they transformed the landscape of music does not translate to them getting the credit they are due.
In my part of the planet, SY was not talked about much at all.
Daydream Nation never charted in the United States. Goo peaked at #96 in the USA. Dirty peaked at #83 in the USA.
Super influential? Yes
Loved by critics? Yes
Got their just due from the general public? Hell no.
JellieBean23
I love Sonic Youth, they're really underrated in my opinion, not enough people know of their music.
Violet Deliriums
by which rating system?
Ramesh Ramesh
sakx,video
Gamer
@John Mclovington calm down anime man
Rust
@John Mclovington why are you even here?
PC Disciple
Kim's got such an awesome voice. That monologue in the middle of the song is 10/10.
Flying Gondola Productions
Wouldn't be surprised if Shirley Manson considered her to be an influence on her style
El Desgraciado
It's a dialogue.
David G.
Happy 69th Birthday Kim Althea Gordon April 28, 1953 Rochester, New York
In '77 she was in CKM and then met Thurston. The two eventually formed Sonic Youth and the rest is history.. Cheers Kim..
Shoosh
Chuck D came in the studio when Sonic Youth was recording the song and freestyled it.