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Sonic Youth, "Sacred Trickster"

by Jason S. Lipshutz  |   July 27, 2009 6:35 EDT

The first and most immediate track off "The Eternal," "Sacred Trickster" finds the alt-rock legends exploring a punchier sound after decades of creating sprawling noise-rock. Clocking in at just over two minutes, the track lets Kim Gordon snarl lines like "I want you to levitate me!" over razor-wire guitar licks from Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo. While "Trickster" is a condensation of Sonic Youth's most familiar elements, the band's inherent talent for tossing off classic riffs, as well as Gordon's engaging lyrics, prevents the track from becoming a retread. The song's rumbling instrumentation appeals to the band's hardcore fans, but its bite-size running time make it a perfect introduction for modern-rock listeners unfamiliar with their illustrious catalogue. --Jason S. Lipshutz

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