Smart Bar • Chicago 1985 by Sonic Youth

Smart Bar • Chicago 1985

Sonic Youth

2012

Smart Bar • Chicago 1985 is a Alt/Indie album by Sonic Youth, originally released in 2012. On Gatefold: 5 pressings tracked.

Sound DNA

  • Alt/Indie
  • Noise Rock
  • raw
  • aggressive
  • art school

About

Recorded to a four-track cassette in August 1985 at Chicago's Smart Bar, this live album captures Sonic Youth on the cusp of its transformation into one of alternative music's most heralded groups. A large portion of Sonic Youth's then-recent album <i>Bad Moon Rising</i> is featured, along with early renditions of future <i>EVOL</i> tracks "Secret Girl" and "Expressway to Yr Skull" (listed as "Madonna, Sean, and Me" on <i>EVOL</i>), shedding light on where Sonic Youth was headed. "Kat 'n' Hat" is a rare performance of a tune that never made it to a proper album, while "Ghost Bitch," "I'm Insane," and "Brave Men Run (In My Family)" marinate in the thick syrup of discordant, feedback-drenched guitar work. "I Love Her All the Time," in particular, benefits from the improvised live setting. The gig is one of the first to feature new drummer Steve Shelley, and his technique comes in handy on the early tunes "The Burning Spear" and "Brother James."

via Apple Music

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Tracklist

  1. 1Hallowe'en (Live at Smart Bar, Chicago, IL, 08/11/85)5:42
  2. 2Death Valley '69 (Live at Smart Bar, Chicago, IL, 08/11/85)7:20
  3. 3Intro / Brave Men Run (In My Family) [Live at Smart Bar, Chicago, IL, 08/11/85]4:51
  4. 4I Love Her All the Time (Live at Smart Bar, Chicago, IL, 08/11/85)5:20
  5. 5Ghost Bitch (Live at Smart Bar, Chicago, IL, 08/11/85)5:55
  6. 6I'm Insane (Live at Smart Bar, Chicago, IL, 08/11/85)5:20
  7. 7Kat 'n' Hat (Live at Smart Bar, Chicago, IL, 08/11/85)3:36
  8. 8Brother James (Live at Smart Bar, Chicago, IL, 08/11/85)2:50
  9. 9Kill Yr Idols (Live at Smart Bar, Chicago, IL, 08/11/85)2:32
  10. 10Secret Girl (Live at Smart Bar, Chicago, IL, 08/11/85)3:13
  11. 11Flower (Live at Smart Bar, Chicago, IL, 08/11/85)2:36
  12. 12The Burning Spear (Live at Smart Bar, Chicago, IL, 08/11/85)5:01
  13. 13Expressway to Yr Skull (Live at Smart Bar, Chicago, IL, 08/11/85)9:04
  14. 14Making the Nature Scene (Live at Smart Bar, Chicago, IL, 08/11/85)3:42

Credits

Performers

Production & Engineering

Songwriting

Rare pressing on Gatefold · 5 pressings tracked on Gatefold