Anybody think that Sonic Youth was the best career opportunity for Shelley after the Crucifucks??

I really shouldn't answer this because I don't know him, but I would say "yes" because playing drums seems so much more fun than painting houses or being a broker or a produce department manager or a fireman or being in the Coast Guard or being an operations manager at an auto parts warehouse or...well... I think you get my point.

I think it would be cool to able to make neon signs for a job or museum installation, or maybe be a tattoo artist. Or... even a recording engineer. Alas, I'm just a lowly truck driver that delivers wine and booze. I know I'll never make money playing the drums. I don't care as long as I can play the drums.

Maybe you were asking if he should have joined a better band.

Should have joined a better band? As a native Michigander, I'm the last one you'll hear talking smack about the Crucifucks, but Shelley's move to Sonic Youth to me was a big qualitative step forward.

He also didn't just assume a hack drummer role in that band- he instantly transformed their sound. While EVOL may not feature too much flashy drumming of his, SISTER was loaded with it. His drum parts on that album qualified as "hooks" by themselves- Catholic Block, Stereo Sanctity, etc.

Just my .02 on the Stevemeister.

Let's also not forget that adding him was possibly Sonic Youth's best career move as well. This works both ways.

Bob Bert was OK, but they probably wouldn't have become such a great band without him.
In my opinion, Sister, Daydream Nation, EVOL and Goo, in order, are their best records. Much as I like Halloween, it's half the album that those are.

-A

Luv Steve Shelley! He is without a doubt one of my favorite drummers and quite influential to my playing style as a drummer. And, I agree that Sonic Youth would not be the band that it is without him...or, at least without a drummer like him that can keep all the pieces together and create a sort of "controlled chaos," which I think is the beauty of Sonic Youth.

Can't comment on Shelley's former band, as I am unfamiliar. But, with that said, I would venture to guess it was a good move for his career since Sonic Youth has managed to sustain an incredibly stable career compared to most indie-type bands.

Steve Shelley is the master of the skins.

Sonic Youth catch a hell of a lot of flack around here. Everyone seems to think of them as a New York-style Grateful Dead. I don't even know what to say about that... Other than they are one of the greatest, most influential bands of all time. Have you guys heard the guitar on A Thousand Leaves...? NO ONE fucking does that. No one. Didn't mean to hijack this... But I love them. I don't think they are the greatest band ever by any means. Their live show is incredible and they have a really good feel.

I think he was a great replacement for Bob Bert (Whose drumming I didn't like at all). He does his job.

As far as career opportunity... Do you really think that being in a band is a career move?

syntaxfree07 wrote:As far as career opportunity... Do you really think that being in a band is a career move?

Yes, since by they earned enough to give up their day jobs around the time of Evol. Or so their biography said anyway.

Sonic Youth is probably my favorite band. They have become great musicians and their music is great, they have kept their shit togeather since the early 80's and their catalog is VERY solid. Steve really was a huge step forward for the band musically, they would be very different without him. Just compare the structure of Bad Moon Rising to Evol.

No mention of Richard Edson?
Sure, not their best drummer but pretty good/funny actor.

Well... Now there are three sy forum members on this board... Including the former troll.