Sonic Youth Move on From Starbucks

Now that Sonic Youth are embedded in the Matador Records roster, the universe just seems a little more balanced. Or something. It's certainly seems a lot more natural than, say, the band's brief and ill-fated partnership with Starbucks.

"People were not into the idea of that move when we announced it," guitarist Lee Ranaldo admits to Spinner. The concept behind that one-record deal was that people more famous musicians would pick their favorite Sonic Youth track for something resembling a greatest hits compilation. It was a take on other Starbucks' releases where big-name performers curated compilations of lesser-known bands.

"It came out as like a twisted marketing idea," band member Kim Gordon tells Spinner. "But then it took so long that by the time it came out their music division had been basically cut."

Of course, fans viewed the partnership with the coffee chain as a sell-out from the start. But the irony, notes Gordon, is that "it's probably our rarest record. It's impossible to find anywhere."

Unlike, say, that Cinnamon Dulce Latte which is available on virtually every block. Or Sonic Youth's latest, 'The Eternal,' which, thanks to Matador, is also now available everywhere.