sonic-youth

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The fast-rising, indie-rock outfit shows how they bring their varied four-piece string section to life on tour.

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In this episode, Nick Millevoi and Jason Shadrick dig deep into the work of Jazzmaster-master Nels Cline—best known for his brain-melting work with Wilco. They get into what makes Cline’s sound so unmistakable, from his obsession with the Jazzmaster to his pedalboard that could double as a small spaceship, as well as his ability to draw from an extremely wide range of influences.

But Nels Cline isn’t just Wilco’s lead guitarist (a chair he’s held for two decades)—he’s created his own musical universe. The hosts take you on a whirlwind tour of his wild discography, including the Nels Cline Singers’ Instrumentals as well as his never-ending list of collaborations (we’re starting to suspect he’s cloned himself to pull it all off). And then there’s “Impossible Germany”—one of the greatest rock guitar solos on this century.

Nick and Jason can’t stop raving about how Cline’s magic really shines when he’s playing with others, making him not just a guitar hero but the ultimate team player. One minute, he’s shredding like a beast, next he’s creating sonic explosions, and then he’s pulling on your heartstrings. You’ll be leaving this episode with some homework!

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Thurston Moore is back with some new ideas on his ninth solo release, saying that he feels like a perennial apprentice in the world of music.

Photo by Vera Marmelo

The Sonic Youth founding member is best known for his uniquely experimental approach to the guitar. On his latest solo release, Flow Critical Lucidity, he only proves to further that reputation, mixing in spoken word, his favorite alternate tuning, and prepared instruments.

On the cover of Thurston Moore’s new solo effort, Flow Critical Lucidity, sits a lone metal soldier’s helmet, spiked with an array of tuning forks jutting out in all different directions. The image, a piece from the artist Jamie Nares titled “Samurai Walkman,” seemed to Moore an apt musical descriptor of the record.

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