The Eternal is the fifteenth and final studio album by Sonic Youth, released on June 9, 2009, by Matador Records, their first and only on that label. It was their first studio album in three years (since Rather Ripped), making it the band’s longest delay between studio albums. The Eternal was the band’s highest-charting album of their career in the United States, peaking at No. 18 on the Billboard 200.
After Rather Ripped (2006), the band’s contract with Geffen Records had expired and the two parties decided to go their separate ways. At the same time, Jim O’Rourke was gradually replaced with Pavement bassist Mark Ibold. Gordon suggested recruiting him for live shows after having played with him in Free Kitten. Moore found that Ibold:
“Immediately locked in, and had really prepared himself to the point where he knew the songs better than we did”.
When the band decided to record, it seemed natural to include Ibold. The process involved rehearsing the songs during the week in the basement of Moore and Gordon‘s house and subsequently recording them over the weekend. Shelley recalled:
“It was like having a different project every week, and it felt like we were doing a single every weekend. You kind of have to keep on your feet, the speed aspect to this album was very enjoyable”.
Eventually the band signed with Matador in 2008. However, the band had begun writing much of the material before changing record labels. On the pop-rock aspects of the album, Moore noted:
“I can sort of see a relationship between some of The Eternal and Dirty in terms of the dynamic”. He argued that the band: “Definitely wanted to make songs as opposed to doing an avant-garde opus”.
On the choice of Matador, he explained that:
“We decided that they’re a really strong song-supportive label”. Ranaldo noted how they found inspiration in their earlier recordings on Daydream Nation, which: “Had an energy that we’d kind of forgotten about, and some of that energy and the experience of doing those songs impacted on the new record.”
In 2009, the album was awarded a silver certification from the Independent Music Companies Association, which indicated sales of at least 30,000 copies throughout Europe. The cover art was painted by John Fahey. The album was dedicated to Ron Asheton of the Stooges.
Tracklist:
- Sacred Trickster (Gordon)
- Anti-Orgasm (Gordon, Moore)
- Leaky Lifeboat (For Gregory Corso) (Gordon, Moore)
- Antenna (Moore, Ranaldo)
- What We Know (Ranaldo)
- Calming the Snake (Gordon)
- Poison Arrow (Moore, Gordon, Ranaldo)
- Malibu Gas Station (Gordon)
- Thunderclap for Bobby Pyn (Moore)
- No Way (Moore)
- Walkin Blue (Ranaldo)
- Massage the History (Gordon)
Sonic Youth
Kim Gordon: vocals, guitar, production, album back cover
Mark Ibold: bass, production
Thurston Moore: vocals, guitar, production
Lee Ranaldo: vocals, guitar, production
Steve Shelley: drums, percussion, production
Technical
John Agnello: production, recording, mixing
Greg Calbi: mastering
Aaron Mullan: recording
Justin Pizzoferrato: recording assistant
James Frazee: mixing assistant
Ted Young: ProTools engineer
John Fahey: album front cover
John Moloney: gatefold design
Clarence Major: inner sleeve 1 design
Gene Moore: inner sleeve 1 design
Jutta Koether: inner sleeve 2 design
Danny Fields: inner sleeve 2 design
Cody Ranaldo: sleeve photography
Ron Asheton (July 17, 1948 – January 6, 2009)
