Lee Ranaldo needs no introduction - the conservative, unsung,
hero of the magnum opus that is Sonic Youth.
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| Image from flowerscrackconcrete |
For a musician who’s spent the last three decades aurally assaulting
unsuspecting music fans, it is near criminal to attempt to throttle his
impressive back-catalogue to three records. But, after much debate and procrastination,
The Orbiting Beatnik presents to you the holy trinity of Lee Ranaldo records.
The Father
Lee Ranaldo – Between
the Times and the Tides
Lee Ranaldo’s first full-length attempt as a singer and
songwriter comes in the form of 47 minutes of stripped down rock’n’roll. Whilst
No-Wave reminiscers expecting a noise-rock masterpiece may be disappointed that
the inspirational touchstones for ‘The Times and The Tides’ comes in the shape
of The Rolling Stones. This, added with the albums psychedelic overtones, accumulates in one damn fine rock’n’roll
record.
The Son
Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation
Often cited as the bands tour de force, Daydream Nation is
where Ranaldo first grappled the microphone from his limelight-hogging
bandmates and became everyone’s favourite Sonic Youther. From Ranaldo’s
surrealist masterpieces ‘Hey Joni’ and ‘Rain King’ that incorporated Ranaldo
bellowing hypnagogic lyrics over face-shattering guitar shredding, to the now
legendary LSD & Warhol-influenced anthem ‘Eric’s Trip’. Ranaldo’s contributions
to Daydream Nation are what make it a true masterpiece.
The Holy Ghost
Sonic Youth – Bad Moon Rising
The band’s schizoid sophomore album is No-wave noise rock at
its finest. Ranaldo’s extensive use of prepared guitar in ‘I Love Her All the
Time’ and brief stint on the acoustic guitar for ‘Ghost Bitch’ emphasises his
sheer talent, and accumulates with one bloody brilliant record.
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