Sonic Youth

Remember Sonic Youth? Really, how could anyone forget? Those inciters of noise-heavy rhythms, those provocateurs of alt-rock exploitation -- Sonic Youth, oh, how we hold a tiny place in our grunge-begotten hearts for thee. More than two decades on, the Youth troupe has managed to stay afloat through the turbulent undercurrents of mainstream sewage. And it's been good. Really fucking good. As early innovators of swaggering noise-rock guitars, the band has survived the growing pains of young-punk martyrdom and flourished into indie icons. The fab four exude an underground credibility-slash-sincerity that other major-label acts and their image consultants couldn't even dream of faking. The act's latest disc, Rather Ripped (released last week on Geffen), continues the Youths' evolution from experimental babes of yore into the roaring and distorted pop darlings of today's overground. Sonic Youth is pure musical independence -- and don't you ever forget it.