Name: Walls Have Ears
Brand: Sonic Youth

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

GOO 023 LP

Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2024-02-09

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Revol­ver

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

787996802336

Total Cap

Black LPx2

GOO 023 XX

Yellow

Extended format: Yes

2024-03-22

657628443933

Yellow LPx2

GOO 023 CD

787996802329

GOO 023 MC

Tape

795154144846

Artist

Sonic Youth

Genre US

Rock-Pop

Label US

Goofin' Records

Sonic Youth, formed in New York City in 1981, is a highly influential band that emerged from the No-Wave music scene. Comprised of Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, Kim Gordon, and Richard Edson initially, they later added drummer Steve Shelley. With their roots in experimental music and collaborations with Glenn Branca, Sonic Youth has consistently pushed boundaries throughout their career.

Over the years, Sonic Youth recorded 15 albums together and embarked on various side and solo projects. Their work is known for its challenging and innovative nature, making them one of the most intriguing bands of their time. The album "Sonic Nurse," featuring Jim O'Rourke's talents alongside the band members', further solidified their reputation.

In 2011, Sonic Youth went on an indefinite hiatus following the separation of Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore after nearly three decades of marriage. Despite this setback, their impact on alternative rock remains undeniable.

Restored classics, rare finds, and sought-after releases. Whether you're a vinyl enthusiast or a tape collector, we have something for everyone.

Reissues

Newest Listed Items

“Culled from three 1985 gigs in the UK during a transitional and transcendent time in the band’s story, Sonic Youth’s The Walls Have Ears appeared / disappeared as a 2LP set in 1986, not just a live album but an artful tapestry full of live experimentation with songs, between-song tape segues, darkness, humor and audio verité. It’s now issued for the first time officially under the band’s auspices.

“The ’85 shows were the second time the band appeared on UK soil, Brits now getting juiced to the mythos of the emerging guitar-slinging American independent underground; an art / punk band from NYC sporting casual attitudes and tees sporting Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, and Prince made some good press copy on top of their bludgeoning stage appearance. Paul Smith of the newly-founded Blast First label acted as an overseas diplomatic envoy for Sonic Youth through their SST years as well as issuing their classic 1988 Daydream Nation outside the USA. However the Smith-produced ‘bootleg’ of their ’85 UK gigs surfaced much to everyone’s surprise, just before EVOL was to be released. It turned out to be a marker of the group’s dissatisfaction that ultimately led to the release’s deletion, and the band and Smith parting ways after Daydream.

“In this 2LP set brimming with primitive classics like ‘The Burning Spear,’ ‘Death Valley 69,’ and ‘I’m Insane’ (uncredited on sleeve), segues and live guitar changes ooze together threaded by Madonna tapes and vocal loops off the board (somewhat a necessity for distraction until the band had a full fledged stage crew to prepare guitars). The first two sides of Walls are massive, cavernous, with newly-drafted drummer Steve Shelley. SY tear it up especially on one trash-fi excerpt of ‘Blood On Brighton Beach’ (actually ‘Making The Nature Scene’) from a legendary outdoor gig November 8th where [Thurston] Moore, [Kim] Gordon and [Lee] Ranaldo’s guitars treble-blast dissonant shockwaves over the black-stoned beach of Quadrophenia fame.

“The record’s second slab spotlights an April 1985 at London’s Hammersmith Palais and was one of the final appearances live of Bob Bert on drums, again featuring some molten takes on ‘Brother James,’ ‘Flower’ (listed as ‘The Word (E.V.O.L.)’), and others. This document remains an essential representation of some lean and mean years of the quartet’s throttling march out into the world.” – Brian Turner

Walls Have Ears

Music US

Discover Walls Have Ears by Sonic Youth. Culled from three 1985 gigs, this artful tapestry of live experimentation is now officially issued for the first time. Available in various formats from Goofin' Records.