One of their finest releases since the inception of the band in 1981, The Eternal is Sonic Youth's 16th studio album, and first for their new record label, Matador Records.
Hauntingly beautiful melodies laid over richly textured musical compositions make songs from the album such as "Antenna", "Malibu Gas Station", "Poison Arrow", and "Massage The History" rival the frenzied, mood-setting flawlessness of such classic Sonic Youth tracks as "The Diamond Sea", "Disappearer", "Sugar Kane", and the quintessential Sonic Youth song "Teenage Riot".
It’s not simply a return to the sound of their previous albums, albums that put the band light years ahead of their peers and turned on a whole generation of Gen-Xers, but where The Eternal certainly draws upon Daydream Nation, Goo, and Washing Machine, the album is also in the here and now.
Fans that have been somewhat perplexed at the band’s offerings of the last few years, such as their SYR series (put out on their own Sonic Youth Recordings label) that captured the band collaborating with friends in making some truly experimental music, will delight in the dichotomy of mellow and harsh, of melody and strain, and of order and chaos that set the band apart from their imitators.
Whether The Eternal is enough to recapture an aging fan base or to forge ahead and turn on a whole new generation remains to be seen, but there is no denying that the band has turned in yet another masterpiece that will be heralded as one of the greatest of their catalog.
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