Kool Thing

"Kool Thing"
Single by Sonic Youth
from the album Goo
B-side
  • "That's All I Know (Right Now)"
  • "Dirty Boots"
ReleasedJune 1990 (1990-06)
RecordedMarch–April 1990
StudioSorcerer Sound Recording Studios and Greene Street Recording, New York City
Genre
Length4:06
LabelDGC
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Sonic Youth singles chronology
"Touch Me I'm Sick"
(1988)
"Kool Thing"
(1990)
"Dirty Boots"
(1991)
Alternate cover
UK cassette and US 12" cover
Music video
"Kool Thing" on YouTube

"Kool Thing" is a song by American rock band Sonic Youth, released in June 1990 in the United States (as a promotional single) and September 1990 in Europe, as the first single from their sixth studio album Goo. The song was inspired by an interview bassist/singer Kim Gordon conducted with LL Cool J for Spin.[3][4] Although he is never mentioned by name, the song's lyrics contain several references to LL Cool J. Gordon's lyrics make reference to several of the rapper's works, including the single "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and the album Walking with a Panther. She also repeats the line "I don't think so", which appears in LL Cool J's "Going Back to Cali". Chuck D also contributed spoken vocals to the song.

  1. ^ Pearis, Bill (July 2, 2020). "Sonic Youth have 'Goo' masks & t-shirts for LP's 30th anniversary (vintage posters, too)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  2. ^ Leas, Ryan (August 1, 2018). "30 Essential Grunge Songs". Stereogum. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  3. ^ Blanco, John (March 20, 1991). "STAYING KOOL SONIC YOUTH SURVIVES A MAJOR LABEL". Phoenix New Times. Archived from the original on February 16, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
  4. ^ Gordon, Kim (September 1989). "Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy". Spin. Vol. 5, no. 6. p. 50. Retrieved November 30, 2017.