Goodbye 20th Century : A Biography Of Sonic Youth

The definitive biography of Sonic Youth, architects of noise rock and the most beloved, longest-running house band of Alternative Nation

Sonic Youth’s distinctive, uncompromising sounds have provided a map for innumerable musicians who followed, from ’90s groundbreakers like Nirvana and Pavement to current faves like the Strokes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. More than perhaps any other act, Sonic Youth has brought fringe” art to the mainstream, helping spawn an alternative arts scene that prospers to this day: a world of punk rock, underground films and comics, experimental music, conceptual art, contemporary classical compositions, and even fashion. In Goodbye 20th Century, David Browne tells the full glorious story of the Velvet Underground of their generation,” an account based on extensive research, fresh interviews with the band and those who have worked with them (from Glenn Branca and Lydia Lunch to Sofia Coppola and Spike Jonze), and unprecedented access to unreleased recordings and documents. This is a richly detailed portrait of an iconic band and the times they helped create.

David Browne is the author of Dream Brother: The Lives & Music of Jeff & Tim Buckley. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, New York, and Spin. He lives in New York City.

Publisher: Da Capo Press
Distributor: Perseus Books Group
Publication Date: 05-27-2008
Pages: 320
Measurements: 9.00in X 6.00in X 24.00oz