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Sonic Life
- Narrated by: Thurston Moore
- Length: 19 hrs and 8 mins
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Sonic Life
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Summary
A music-obsessed retrospective, beginning with his childhood epiphany of rock 'n' roll in the early 1960s into an infatuation with the subversive world of 1970s punk and no wave blasting forth from New York City - where he eventually runs off to join a band in 1978. By 1981 Moore would form the legendary and notorious experimental rock group Sonic Youth, who proceeded to record and tour relentlessly for almost 30 years, always progressing, always exploring.
Along the way we meet a constellation of artists and musicians who colluded and collided with Sonic Youth including Velvet Underground, Stooges, Patti Smith, Television, Sex Pistols, Clash, Nirvana, Hole, Beastie Boys, Neil Young and a cavalcade of other musical visionaries, as well as figures from the art world - Jean Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and Gerhard Richter.
Simply put, Thurston Moore and Sonic Youth changed the sound of modern alternative rock music and opened the minds of a generation of artists to new possibilities within the form. This is essential listening.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Critic reviews
'Were you there? Well this is as close as it gets! Thurston Moore's compelling and spirited account of the streets, the songs, the clothes, the clubs and the contenders! A sensitive and authentic testimony to Moore's life lived through art and music. Beats with the heart of a true artist and mutineer.' Viv Albertine
'Downtown scientists rejoice! For Thurston Moore has unearthed the missing links, the sacred texts, the forgotten stories, and the secret maps of the lost golden age. This is history-scuffed, slightly bent, plenty noisy, and indispensable.' Colson Whitehead
'I thoroughly enjoyed Thurston Moore's trip down the gauntlet of memory lane, dodging beer bottles and pools of blood as he balances the demands of art and survival. Plus I'm a sucker for anyone who name-checks Saccharine Trust. A raw, rollicking document.' Nell Zink
What listeners say about Sonic Life
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- DARREN MCDONNELL
- 09-06-24
How he told the truth behind the music industry
A brilliant listen.
Loved how he classifies himself as someone who makes sounds not a guitarist.. Pushing the boundaries of how to make music and wouldn’t change just to make the industry money..
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Robert Fryer
- 20-06-24
Storied career in Alt-Rock.
I enjoyed this book overall. At one point I didn’t think I’d be able to get through it due to the overbearing bleakness of 70’s/80’s New York. It was good to hear about one of the all time greats of alternative rock music.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Steven R Miller
- 29-05-24
Sonic Life
Absolutely loved this audiobook. Already looking forward to a second listen. Would recommend to anyone with an interest in Sonic Youth, the New York punk scene, history of Grunge etc.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 01-12-23
Excellent insight
Excellent insight to an excellent band. Thurston paints an extraordinary picture of 70's/80's New York as well as documenting the life, travels, recordings and techniques of his awesome band. Highly recommend.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Paul
- 21-02-24
sonic life
I liked Thurstons honest review of his life as an artist from.young man setting out to art rock history maker .
I saw him in the white hotel 2022 Manchester doing experimental.music .. could see he was a very experienced musician.. he played his strat and created some interesting sounds in those moments .. this gig has become a great memory as something not seen often experienced.He has laid himself out there.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 10-12-23
A love story about alternative music
Thurston Moore tells an incredible story of his band's journey from 1970s New York Punk through hardcore, 80s weirdos, 90s grunge, and all the experimental stuff around it and it is compelling and glorious. Well written, well told.
He skirts around the personal stuff though. Anyone looking for the gory details of his and Kim's marriage ending will be disappointed.
Love of music is what this book is about.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 13-11-23
Don't Kill Yr Idols
Get ready to be transported back to a time before punk rock broke, and a hell of a trip across 30 years at the centre of underground music. I never wanted this audiobook to end...xxxxx
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Elastic
- 28-10-23
Sonic history
Long awaited memoir from one of the key founders of one of the most seminal ‘alternative’ bands from the last century.
From his adolescent beginnings growing up in Connecticut, to his adventurous days in crime ridden 70s Manhattan, Thurston’s story telling is expansive and epic.
The only thing that sat uncomfortably with me was his delivery, which is a little cool cat at times.
That aside, it left me with an appreciation for their - at times - unlikely success and recognition by mainstream(ish) markets.
Don’t expect mud slinging, accusations or regret. Kim Gordon - and other band mates - is spoken of with loving appreciation and respect. And quite frankly, the rest is private.
As Moore mentions, SY either inspired adoration or disgust. And this biography will no doubt do the same; regardless of whether you’re a fan or not.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- C Walker
- 20-11-23
Fascinating rise and fall of punk and new wave
Captivating account of the influences and contact with the American guitar music scene by an artist whose music I am yet to investigate.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 14-02-24
Beautiful telling of a fascinating life
Thurston guides us through a history of alternative and expermental rock, of punk and how iconoclastic art of the time sprang from the same seeds. He guides us through a history of New York, Manhatten mainly, at a time in history when New York magically birthed an astonishingly explosion of musical and artistic creativity. Our guide writes beautifully, his inner and outer reflections are sensitive, kind and free.
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