A Thousand Leaves
Encyclopedia
A Thousand Leaves is an album
by Sonic Youth
. It was the group's first major album to be recorded in their private Manhattan
studio, dubbed Echo Canyon.
There are several French
references on A Thousand Leaves. On the CD label the phrase mille feuille is crossed out and a thousand leaves is written under it. The name of the first song, "Contre le Sexisme", means against sexism in French. "French Tickler" refers to a sex toy
of the same name. It was Thurston Moore who came up with the title, which is inspired by Walt Whitman
's Leaves of Grass
.
A Thousand Leaves peaked at #38 on the UK Album Chart in May 1998.
Technical staff
.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
. It was the group's first major album to be recorded in their private Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
studio, dubbed Echo Canyon.
There are several French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
references on A Thousand Leaves. On the CD label the phrase mille feuille is crossed out and a thousand leaves is written under it. The name of the first song, "Contre le Sexisme", means against sexism in French. "French Tickler" refers to a sex toy
French tickler
A French tickler is a latex condom that is designed with additional protrusions, for enhancing the sexual pleasure of the receiver.A typical French Tickler uses a number of bumps, crests and falls in the lining of the latex ostensibly to make sexual intercourse more enjoyable or pleasurable.It may...
of the same name. It was Thurston Moore who came up with the title, which is inspired by Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
's Leaves of Grass
Leaves of Grass
Leaves of Grass is a poetry collection by the American poet Walt Whitman . Though the first edition was published in 1855, Whitman spent his entire life writing Leaves of Grass, revising it in several editions until his death...
.
A Thousand Leaves peaked at #38 on the UK Album Chart in May 1998.
Track listing
Personnel
Band- Lee RanaldoLee RanaldoLee M. Ranaldo is an American singer, guitarist, writer, record producer, and visual artist, best known as a co-founder of the alternative rock band Sonic Youth...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals - Kim GordonKim GordonKim Althea Gordon is an American musician, vocalist, artist, record producer, video director and actress. She has sung and played bass and guitar in the alternative rock band Sonic Youth, and in Free Kitten with Julia Cafritz...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitar, vocals - Thurston MooreThurston MooreThurston Joseph Moore is an American musician best known as a singer, songwriter and guitarist of Sonic Youth. He has also participated in many solo and group collaborations outside of Sonic Youth, as well as running the Ecstatic Peace! record label...
– guitar, vocals - Steve ShelleySteve ShelleySteven Jay Shelley is an American drummer, best known as the drummer of alternative rock band Sonic Youth.-Biography:...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Technical staff
- Sonic YouthSonic YouthSonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
– producers - Greg Calbi – mastering
- Don FlemingDon FlemingDonald Denver "Don" Fleming was an American college and professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League for three seasons in the early 1960s. Fleming played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the...
– producer - Wharton TiersWharton TiersWharton Tiers is an American audio engineer, record producer, drummer and percussionist.- Biography :Diplomed from Villanova University , he moved to New York City in 1976 and was part of the No Wave scene.As an audio engineer and record producer, he has worked on projects such as Sonic Youth,...
– producer - Frank Olinsky
- Mark Borthwick – photography, lettering
- Marnie WeberMarnie WeberMarnie Weber is an American artist who lives and works in Los Angeles. Her work includes photography, sculpture, installations, film, video, and performances. She is also a musician.-Life and work:...
– artwork
Album charts
| Year | Album | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | A Thousand Leaves | French Albums Chart | 32 |
| Norwegian Albums Chart | 37 | ||
| UK Albums Chart | 38 | ||
| Sweden Albums Chart | 43 | ||
| German Albums Chart | 84 | ||
| US Billboard Top 200 | 85 |
Charting singles
| Year | Song | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Sunday | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
72 |
In pop culture
The single "Sunday" is featured in the films Bongwater and subUrbiaSubUrbia (film)
subUrbia is a 1996 comedy-drama film written by Eric Bogosian, based on his play of the same name, and directed by Richard Linklater. It follows the relationships between a few young adults as they spend their time standing on "the corner" outside a local convenience store.Bogosian based the story...
.