r/sonicyouth • u/_Jub_Jub_ • 1d ago

Can someone succinctly explain the SY bassist evolution to me plz?

So I’m a major Sonic Youth fan, have been since high school, but I’m also fairly young and didn’t pay attention to the band when they started their mid 90s-2000s lineup changes.

I’ve read GIAB and Sonic Life, so I know that around the time of Experimental Jet Set, Kim focused on being tbe band’s third guitarist moreso than a bassist, and stayed that way. But, of course, songs like Bull in the Heather and The Diamond Sea had bass on them, before they ever adopted a 5th member.

I also think that around the SYR era, Jim O Rourke played bass sometimes? And was kind of in the band? And so was Mark Ibold until they disbanded? This is where my knowledge wanes; I have no idea what years after ‘94 who was playing what instrument. If someone could give me a short timeline or just info on what band members played what during and after (and a bit before) the SYR era, I’d appreciate it.

TLDR: Dumdum fan wants a timeline of the members and what instruments they played, as specific or general as you’re willing to get. Thanks!

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u/Barilla3113 1d ago

O'Rourke was a full member of the band from 2000 until 2005. He'd play bass when Kim played guitar and vice versa. Ibold was then their bassist from 2006-11.

As for who played bass on the pre-O'Rourke records when Kim had guitar parts, Kim. Unlike other Alternative bands Sonic Youth embraced post-production very rapidly. One person can play multiple parts and you just overlap the tracks in mixing.

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u/asktheages1979 1d ago

Wait, what's an example of a song where Kim plays both a complete guitar part and a complete bass part? I thought Sonic Youth generally kept the records fairly faithful to what they could reproduce live.