It’s been a rough few months for Sonic Youth. Apart from longtime indie power couple Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore’s marriage breaking up the band is also on indefinite hiatus.
However, one more hit to their self-esteem came yesterday. The band posted on their Facebook page what a 13 year-old wrote to them, venting about the quality of their music.
Our fan’s writing:
“I’m going to be 100% honest with you.
I’m 13. I have a little band. We are so much better than you. Honestly. You are the worst band I have ever seen in your entire life. You are worse than Rebecca Black. The bass player just hacks the bass and plays one chord. The guitar players are playing out of tune guitars and… well not even playing actually chords. I couldn’t sound worse if I tried. It actually sounds like a joke to me. The drummer is okay. But honestly the vocalist is completely out of tune. Oh and The Black keys have two people and are better than you.
From: Me, and pretty much everyone else who has accidentally stumbled upon your terrible music. ”
The youth of today, amiright?
April 06, 2012 at 3:19 pm, Jason Torres said:
"I'm 13, so you know I know what I'm talking about."
April 06, 2012 at 4:45 pm, Austin Dutmer said:
I guess I don't disagree? ha ha
April 06, 2012 at 5:08 pm, Craig Brown said:
They do suck but he shouldve left that Black keys crap out. They really are the worst. Well he is just a 13yr old dipshit.
April 06, 2012 at 5:44 pm, Adam Lovinus said:
it needed to be said. thank you.
April 06, 2012 at 10:23 pm, Elliott Oliver said:
In related news a seven year old said "death and taxes" is the worst blog they had ever read. It's been a tuff year for the widely derided blog.
April 06, 2012 at 4:52 pm, Jack McKever said:
He'll understand when he grows up.
April 06, 2012 at 1:13 pm, Sonic Youth Hate Mail: 13-Year-Old Says They’re ‘Worse Than Rebecca Black’ | music tube said:
[...] anonymous kid wrote a letter to lauded ’90s rockers Sonic Youth with the express intention of telling them that they suck. [...]
April 06, 2012 at 5:43 pm, Amy Jordan said:
Reasons why NOBODY should take what a 13 year old says seriously. Lets see if that kid can do even HALF of what Sonic Youth has done with their career.
April 06, 2012 at 6:01 pm, David Taylor said:
Love them!
April 06, 2012 at 6:01 pm, David Taylor said:
Saw them open for REM in 95
April 06, 2012 at 7:41 pm, Alejandro Cruz said:
Am I a terrible person for wanting to punch that kid in the face?
April 07, 2012 at 1:46 am, Amy Jordan said:
Alejandro Cruz NO! In fact, I'll join you.
April 08, 2012 at 11:34 pm, Dave Slutzkin said:
let's see sonic youth do half of what u2 have done with their career – does that make u2 a better band than sonic youth?
April 09, 2012 at 5:48 am, Amy Jordan said:
Dave Slutzkin No, but it further proves my point that this 13 year old is a dumbass.
April 28, 2012 at 6:25 am, Dan Jay-jay Gessner said:
im sure essays like this will make child abuse legal one day, i bleed sonic youth
April 28, 2012 at 6:25 am, Dan Jay-jay Gessner said:
im sure essays like this will make child abuse legal one day, i bleed sonic youth
April 06, 2012 at 9:10 pm, Bill Graff said:
I didn't give a shit what 13-year olds thought about music when I was 13, and I sure don't now. Although that kid probably has a future job posting snarky articles at Pitchfork.
April 06, 2012 at 9:14 pm, Marco Mirenzi said:
When that kid hits his 20's, he'll be bragging about how when he was 13 he was into Sonic Youth. And I bet his band sounds like a shittier version of Hanson, lol.
April 06, 2012 at 9:52 pm, Michael Dominici said:
I don't listen much to them anymore but liked a lot of sonic youth songs in their prime. they fashioned branca's sound into a song structure format that still stands out today as some of the most interesting and compelling music of its time. few bands at the time even attempted anything 1/100th as ambitious as sonic youth were doing in the '80s and throughout their career as dozens of gimmick bands found way to ride their coattails to fame then complete obscurity save that one band that sonic youth discovered. great live band, too and all very cool people to spend time with and talk to, which we got the chance to do in 1986 in baton rouge. they were so gracious and humble. not for everybody but I'm sure that 13 year old's taste in music sucks. she's already a disrespectful ignorant twat. who cares what a 13 year old fucktard has to say about ANYTHING…fuck, who cares what a 26 year old has to say?
April 06, 2012 at 9:59 pm, Michael Dominici said:
I don't listen much to them anymore but liked a lot of sonic youth songs in their prime. they fashioned branca's sound into a song structure format that still stands out today and was without a doubt some the of the most interesting and compelling music of its time. few bands at the time even attempted anything 1/100th as ambitious as sonic youth were doing in the '80s and throughout their career. And furthermore, they did it without overdubs and protools, studio gimmicks, and bullshit. Whatever you heard on their records they could duplicate and often improve upon live. phil specter might be remembered for his wall of sound but sonic youth delivered wave after wave of cascading, swirling sounds that dazzled their audiences world wide for decades. dozens of gimmick bands found way to ride their coattails to fame then complete obscurity save that one band that sonic youth discovered. reason why? those bands were not creative. they were copycats and copycats always run out ideas and cannot commit to concepts they didn't create and build up through years of shedding and shredding in little shit clubs like sonic youth did before they captured the golden ring. great live band, too and all very cool people to spend time with and talk to, which we got the chance to do in 1986 in baton rouge. they were so gracious and humble. not for everybody but I'm sure that 13 year old's taste in music sucks. this little shit is already a disrespectful ignorant twat. who cares what a 13 year old fucktard has to say about ANYTHING…fuck, who cares what a 26 year old has to say?
April 06, 2012 at 10:02 pm, Michael Dominici said:
I don't listen much to them anymore but liked a lot of sonic youth songs in their prime. they fashioned branca's sound into a song structure format that still stands out today and was without a doubt some the of the most interesting and compelling music of its time. few bands at the time even attempted anything 1/100th as ambitious as sonic youth were doing in the '80s and throughout their career. And furthermore, they did it without overdubs and protools, studio gimmicks, and bullshit. Whatever you heard on their records they could duplicate and often improve upon live. phil spector might be remembered for his wall of sound but sonic youth delivered wave after wave of cascading, swirling sounds that dazzled their audiences world wide for decades. dozens of gimmick bands found way to ride their coattails to fame then complete obscurity save that one band that sonic youth discovered. reason why? those bands were not creative. they were copycats and copycats always run out ideas and cannot commit to concepts they didn't create and build up through years of shedding and shredding in little shit clubs like sonic youth did before they captured the golden ring. great live band, too and all very cool people to spend time with and talk to, which we got the chance to do in 1986 in baton rouge. they were so gracious and humble. not for everybody but I'm sure that 13 year old's taste in music sucks. this little shit is already a disrespectful ignorant twat. who cares what a 13 year old fucktard has to say about ANYTHING…fuck, who cares what a 26 year old has to say?
April 06, 2012 at 10:05 pm, Andrew Bizer said:
Sonic Youth rules. You don't need an essay to convey it.
April 06, 2012 at 10:12 pm, Colby Spath said:
The best part of about being 13 and saying stupid shit is that you have a lifetime to regret it…..
April 06, 2012 at 10:13 pm, Tim Hailey said:
who bothers to read the criticism of 13 year olds?
April 06, 2012 at 10:20 pm, Michael Dominici said:
They've been written off their whole career. If they would have broken up or had some tragedy befall them they'd be spoken of in the same way as the velvet underground.
April 06, 2012 at 10:50 pm, Andrew Lee said:
my personal fave….and fortunately saw them live about 3 times….they really had a string of albums throu Dirty that are unrivalled
April 06, 2012 at 11:19 pm, Tiana Hux said:
Who cares what a 13 year old says about sonic youth? Why is this news worthy?
April 07, 2012 at 1:32 am, Lou Thevenot said:
Preach it Rev Michael !!
April 07, 2012 at 1:48 am, Christopher Nelson said:
Amen, Reverend Michael. And thank you Deacon Lou.
April 07, 2012 at 1:57 am, Michael Dominici said:
Another thing that should also be mentioned that pretty much without exception, every band that even remotely had a chance to cash in, sell out or whatever you want to call eventually did. Sonic Youth never did that, never wanted to, and never really had to. So many bands from that era embarrassed their legacy and ruined their discography with shitty, short-sighted choices and career moves. All the while Sonic Youth simply blossomed and extended their legacy by branching out to other upcoming bands they thought held promise. Critics always wanted to be cooler than Sonic Youth, dismissing them with ** and *** reviews while they heaped praise on derivative upstarts. Thing is nobody remembers those critics nor those upstart wannabees whose CDs are toxic landfill now. Sonic Youth endures, legacy intact.
April 07, 2012 at 2:01 am, Michael Dominici said:
Another thing that should also be mentioned that pretty much without exception, every band that even remotely had a chance to cash in, sell out or whatever you want to call eventually did. Sonic Youth never did that, never wanted to, and never really had to. So many bands from that era embarrassed themselves and ruined their discography with shitty, short-sighted choices and career moves. All the while Sonic Youth simply blossomed as well as branching out to other upcoming bands they thought held promise. Critics always wanted to be cooler than Sonic Youth, dismissing them with ** and *** reviews while they heaped praise on derivative upstarts. Thing is nobody remembers those critics nor those upstart wannabees whose CDs are toxic landfill now. Sonic Youth endures, legacy intact.
April 07, 2012 at 2:05 am, Michael Dominici said:
Another thing that should also be mentioned that pretty much without exception, every band from that era that even remotely had a chance to cash in, sell out or whatever you want to call eventually did. Sonic Youth never did that, never wanted to, and never really had to. So many bands from that era embarrassed themselves and ruined their discography with shitty, short-sighted choices and career moves. All the while Sonic Youth simply blossomed as well as reached out to other upcoming bands they thought held promise. Critics always wanted to be cooler than Sonic Youth, dismissing them with * and ** reviews while they heaped praise on derivative upstarts. Thing is nobody remembers those critics nor those crappy copycat bands whose CDs are toxic landfill now. Sonic Youth endures, legacy intact.
April 07, 2012 at 2:15 am, John Arrizza said:
Bad Moon Rising and Evol….both masterpieces from the mid 80's by Sonic Youth! All punk rock! Loved them live back then! They were an exceptional quartet that hummed melodies into the sweetness of youth, ah, and yes sonically!
April 07, 2012 at 2:32 am, Dave Hersh said:
Tiana… Michael has a real pension for judging bands on the basis of ridiculous criteria… he finds someone who either passionately agrees or disagrees with them, accordingly, for that days hate/love du jour. Ask him about Miles Davis, or Billy Joel, or_____…then watch 13-yr old Mikey emerge and sound JUST LIKE this kid… but like a train wreck, I read his reviewed musical opines, and then watch him defend/support his fragmented mind's spewings. Truly a good fri night when Mikey espouses upon artistic themes. Mikey, I'd say the Billy Joel Op-ed is about as valid as this kid's diatribe…HAHA!
April 07, 2012 at 5:10 am, Michael Dominici said:
'ridiculous criteria' yup, i either like them or think they're ridiculous, that is my criteria in a nutshell.
April 07, 2012 at 6:38 am, John Arrizza said:
Are they still around? Even with the break-up?
April 07, 2012 at 1:26 pm, K.k. Felvey said:
Colby Spath I'm with you…
BUT, maybe it's their kid?
April 07, 2012 at 1:37 pm, Gustavo Turcios said:
English bards and scotch reviewers: well done Dominici ..!
April 07, 2012 at 2:23 pm, Michael Dominici said:
K.k. Felvey I was thinking the same thing. Their kid or relative.
April 07, 2012 at 12:40 pm, Wendy Bermudowitz said:
Reason #5468513548675631312354 why I don't like today's kids, no respect for ANYONE and they think they know EVERYTHING! So apparently, when you're 13, you know EVERYTHING, eh? All right, I see how it is, so maybe kids should rule the world too? Since, I mean, after all, they apparently know more about music and can play better so they must know more about everything and can do everything better. *waves sarcasm flag*.
April 07, 2012 at 12:45 pm, Dustin Bermudez said:
Make me want to live forever so I never have to give the world up to the next generation.
April 07, 2012 at 2:25 pm, Adina Ryter said:
Hey, you kids! Get offa my lawn!
April 07, 2012 at 4:09 pm, Billy Yi said:
8th Grade Syndrome
April 07, 2012 at 7:10 pm, Vic Ching said:
Beyond posting it for ironic shits and giggles, I think SY is illustrating the ease of today's young kids in accessing their 5 minutes of fame. When I was that age, there's no way I would have been able to publicly slag some dinosaur band I hated (eg. Poison, Candlebox, Megadeath…) short of renting a small airplane and banner or taking out an ad in the paper.
April 28, 2012 at 9:11 pm, Andy Rappel said:
Seriously, Sonic Youth is terrible.
January 03, 2013 at 4:08 am, Jack Boyanton said:
I'm 14. I have a little two piece band and I love Sonic Youth. Do not let this little SOB get so much attention. His voice probably sounds like a baby and his "musical skills" probably suck. This kid is most likely a talentless momma's-boy. This kid and the rest of my generation that has no musical taste can kiss my ass.
January 03, 2013 at 4:34 am, Julian Davis said:
i hate todays music…
January 03, 2013 at 6:14 am, Jack Boyanton said:
Julian Davis ftw