Monday 9 June 2008

Radiohead and Beck reveal their favourite Sonic Youth songs

Radiohead and Beck are among the artists who have revealed their favourite Sonic Youth songs on a new compilation of tracks by the New York noise-rock band.

Radiohead have selected 1990's 'Kool Thing', while Beck has picked 1992's 'Sugar Kane' as his favourite track by the band.

The Sonic Youth compilation, entitled 'Hits Are For Squares', is controversially released through Starbucks no June 9, and is only available in selected shops in major US cities and online.

Other stars who have picked their favourite songs include The Flaming Lips, Chloe Sevigny, Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist Flea and actress Michelle Williams.

Speaking to Billboard last year about their choice to release the compilation through the coffee shop chain, guitarist Thurston Moore said: "I guess, for some, Sonic Youth represents something that they don't really equate with Starbucks. But I kind of like the absurdity of it. Sonic Youth has always, in a way, made itself available to the super mainstream.

"I thought it would be interesting to have a CD available in a store like Starbucks where the casual consumer can sort of have access to it more readily."

The tracklisting for 'Hits Are For Squares', which also features a new Sonic Youth jam, is:

'Bull In The Heather' (selected by Catherine Keener)
'Sugar Kane' (selected by Beck)
'100%' (selected by Mike D)
'Kool Thing' (selected by Radiohead)
'Disappearer' (selected by Portia De Rossi)
'Superstar' (selected by Diablo Cody)
'Stones' (selected by Allison Anders)
'Tuff Gnarl' (selected by Dave Eggers and Mike Watt)
'Teenage Riot' (selected by Eddie Vedder)
'Shadow Of A Doubt' (selected by Michelle Williams)
'Rain On Tin' (selected by Flea)
'Tom Violence' (selected by Gus Van Zant)
'Mary-Christ' (selected by David Cross)
'World Looks Red' (selected by Chloe Sevigny)
'Expressway To Yr Skull' (selected by Flaming Lips)
'Slow Revolution'