Questioning the Arbiter of Good "Music"

The words of Thurston Moore insofar as they are spewed re: the gift of music have been taken as gospel by many people for many years. It coincided with Sonic Youth's ascension to indie godhead status 'round about 1988, and has never stopped in the decades since. Whatever bands SY namedropped in interviews would get instant attention, from fans and record companies alike. It was not unlike a slap on the back from King Midas.

No SY member seemed to know more about new music--or at least be more willing to run their mouth--than Mr. Moore, the de facto leader. To this day he boasts an almost superhuman awareness of musical genres and regional scenes, bolstered by a refreshing lack of preoccupation with "newness" that helps explain why a band like Awesome Color can be making music that's been done by several thousand other bands for the past 30 years, yet end up on Moore's label, Ecstatic Peace, and even land several opening gigs for the Youth on their last major tour.

It's a daunting task to try and hunt down the sonic ephemera huzzahed by Thurston Moore throughout the years. Also, it's stupid. Back in the 80s, he gave more face time to more 7 inch hardcore releases than was safe to be aware of, much less take the time to listen to. What's more interesting to me are the albums that Thurston keeps mentioning. This century, especially, I've noticed one standout.

"...super bubblegum-punk...."

"One of the best records I've ever heard...."

"I just crank that shit up in the car."


Released in 2000, Heroes and Villains was intended as a companion piece for the popular Powerpuff Girls cartoon that ran 1998-2005. Creator Craig McCracken picked the artists, showing the same affectionate whimsy that permeated his show about a crime fighting trio of kindergarten girls.

At its best, PPG rocked; villains included the echoey, effeminate Satan stand-in Him; corn pone simian Fuzzy Lumpkins, hellbent on turning people into meat; and prime foe Mojo Jojo, a pint-size monkey with an exchanged gift for words and knack for hi-tech weaponry.

The heroes, of course, were the finely delineated girls: level-headed Blossom, bellicose Buttercup and carefree Bubbles. It was all very winning. At least, on TV it was. Let's see if Thurston is still to be trusted in his advanced age.

1. "The Powerpuff Girls (Main Theme)"--Audio of every episode introduction. Amen break!

2. "Go Monkey Go" - Devo--Sometimes, I wish Devo would do another album. Then I remember their last album. I would cry if they died, but do we need more Devo when Mark is content with children and Gerry is malcontent as ever with life.

3. "Pray For The Girls" - Frank Black--'Cause when I think empowered young girls, I think Frank fuckin' Black, the human embodiment of Charlie Brown. (How has Stereogum not photoshopped him in a zig zag tee yet?) Thurston calls this track "insane". Eh, it's good, dude. It's "insane" if all you've heard is a toothpick plucking a rubber band for three days.

4. "Signal In The Sky (Let's Go)" - The Apples In Stereo--I like this, but I like AIS. They have much better in them than this.

5. "Walk & Chew Gum" - Optiganally Yours--This is poo. I would crank this into a padded room if I wanted the sole occupant to kill themselves.

6. "Buttercup (I'm A Super Girl)" - Shonen Knife--AKA, "Original Powerpuff Girls". You know what it sounds like already--Japanese women in the attic pretending to be the Ramones, down to the leather jackets, buggy shades, and street-tough poses. Except they forgot they're not supposed to smile or add any synth. Oh well. This fucking rules.

7. "B.L.O.S.S.O.M." - Komeda--Songs like this are what smoke would sound like if smoke indeed could produce sound.

8. "Bubbles" - Dressy Bessy--As airy as the titular character is airheaded, but with actual soul lurking in them there clouds.

9. "Fight The Power" - Bis--Video game pyro. Not a cover.

10. "Don't Look Down" - The Sugarplastic--For real, something might be sucking on you. I love that one episode when the Professor's old buddy comes to visit. His name? Dick Hardly. As the day is long, I tell you. They all think he's decent, but he's actually trying to clone the girls. It slowly dawns on them, but they just don't wanna believe it. "But, but, Professor Dick is good, right?"

11. "The Fight" - Cornelius--A brilliant mash of the intro vocals and Cornelius' own guit-spasms. Sounds like a tussle between the Powerpuff Girls and the Rowdyruff Boys and somebody's gettin' a tongue in the mouth.

12. "Friends Win" - The Bill Doss--As in, "dross".

13. "The Powerpuff Girls (End Theme)" - Bis--Aw man, Bis, you fucked up. And I was gonna invite y'all over for ice cream and cookies. Remember that episode that was all Beatles references? Yeah.

So, 6 out of 13 songs are good. Bad, bad percentage. Thurston--fatherhood has made you more accepting of twee diddle diddle. Boo to that. Yay of course to the whole understanding your spiritual role in the universe, that's fantastic, but boo to all that. The Thurston Moore of 1985 woulda kicked your sappy ass. If he weren't too blazed out to get off the couch.

Powerpuff Girls Thurston Moore Sonic Youth