Goo

by Sonic Youth

Type: Album
Released: June 26, 1990
Label: DGC
Country: United States
Length: 49:40
Community rating: 4.41/5 from 21 ratings

Artists on this release: Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, Steve Shelley, Kim Gordon

Album Notes & Community Reviews

As Sonic Youth's major-label debut, 'Goo' expanded on the layered, alternating guitar arrangements of its predecessor 'Daydream Nation' while shifting towards more topical songwriting and overt pop culture references. The production, co-helmed by Nick Sansano and mixer Ron Saint Germain, polished the band's experimental noise-rock tendencies, resulting in a sound that was both raw and accessible enough for mainstream attention. Kim Gordon's songwriting is prominent, challenging female roles in tracks like "Tunic (Song for Karen)" and the single "Kool Thing," a collaboration with Public Enemy's Chuck D that underscored the album's thematic focus.

Genres

Descriptors: noisy, unconventional, dissonant, stylish, street

Tracklist

Credits

Thurston Moore - vocals, guitar, production, bass (track 6)
Lee Ranaldo - guitar, vocals, production, harmonica
Kim Gordon - vocals, bass guitar, production, guitar
Steve Shelley - drums, percussion, production
J Mascis - backing vocals (tracks 2, 5 and 6), additional production, tambourine
Don Fleming - backing vocals (tracks 1 and 7), additional production, additional percussion
Chuck D - additional vocals (track 4)
Nick Sansano - production, recording, engineer, additional percussion, keyboards
Ron Saint Germain - production, engineering, mixing
Dan Wood - assistant engineering
John Herman - assistant engineering
Judy Kirschner - assistant engineering
Howie Weinberg - mastering
Jim Waters - additional recording (track 8), vocal recording (track 8)
Kevin Reagan - art direction
Raymond Pettibon - illustration [cover drawings]
Michael Lavine - photography
Suzanne Sasic - stylist