Kool Thing

Last Friday, I probably got the best music deal in the world. I was perusing through a thrift store on 77th and 3rd when I saw a stack of new Sonic Youth CD's for sale. Considering this place is one of those charity Good Will stores, they practically give stuff away. I got new (still wrapped!) copies of A Thousand Leaves, Goo, Sonic Nurse, and Rather Ripped for a total of four dollars. Yes, this comes out to $1 per disc. These albums have since occupied most of the space in my stereosystem, causing me to go on the longest Sonic Youth binge of my life. Which got me to thinking about several things. Although everyone and their mother is aware of Daydream Nation's accolades, this band really hasn't gotten the credit they deserve on most of their other albums. Influential bands like The Pixies and The Replacements have had their catalogs praised, whereas a majority of Sonic Youth records have gone largely unnoticed. The unfortunate part to this is that people are really missing out on some good stuff. Rather Ripped (released in '06) is an instant classic and in my opinion shows the how the band has only gotten riper with age. Bands as far reaching as The Arcade Fire and Silversun Pickups really owe Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon a debt of gratitude for sculpting a sound two decades before it would appeal to the mainstream.

But it looks like this might changing after all. It was announced today that Starbucks Entertainment (Hear Music), of all people, will be releasing semi-best of collection appropriately titled, Hits Are For Squares, that will be hitting most stores on June 10th. The record will include one exclusive song and smattering of 14 tunes that have received the stamp of approval from various celebrities/Sonic Youth enthusiasts that include everyone from Gus Van Sant to Eddie Vedder. The liner notes will include each song's selector and his/her respective reasons for inspiration. If Starbucks isn't mainstream enough, I don't know what is. I pass at least three each day during my walk to work. Here is the album's songlist paired with celebritie(s):

01 "Bull In The Heather" (selected by Catherine Keener)
02 "Sugar Kane" (selected by Beck)
03 "100%" (selected by Mike D)
04 "Kool Thing" (selected by Radiohead)
05 "Disappearer" (selected by Portia de Rossi)
06 "Stones" (selected by Allison Anders)
07 "Tuff Gnarl" (selected by Dave Eggers and Mike Watt)
08 "Teenage Riot" (selected Eddie Vedder)
09 "Shadow Of A Doubt" (selected by Michelle Williams)
10 "Rain on Tin" (selected by Flea)
11 "Tom Violence" (selected by Gus Van Sant)
12 "Mary-Christ" (selected by David Cross)
13 "World Looks Red" (selected by Chloë Sevigny)
14 "Expressway To Yr Skull" (selected by the Flaming Lips)
15 "Slow Revolution" (exclusive)