Apparently, Thurston wrote this song after visiting the SST Records Superstore on the Sunset Strip. SST was SY's former record label (and the Lemonheads' and Husker Du's) but the band and the label split acrimoniously when the Youth left for Geffen Records. SST used to be staunchly "indie" and resolutely against anything which smacked of corporate sellout or major label-ism, yet ended up opening a Virgin-type megastore in L.A. by the mid-90s and turning into a parody of "major label" terrors, without the big sales. To Sonic Youth, who were able to maintain their indepedence despite being on a major label, this must have been delicious poetic justice.
Apparently, Thurston wrote this song after visiting the SST Records Superstore on the Sunset Strip. SST was SY's former record label (and the Lemonheads' and Husker Du's) but the band and the label split acrimoniously when the Youth left for Geffen Records. SST used to be staunchly "indie" and resolutely against anything which smacked of corporate sellout or major label-ism, yet ended up opening a Virgin-type megastore in L.A. by the mid-90s and turning into a parody of "major label" terrors, without the big sales. To Sonic Youth, who were able to maintain their indepedence despite being on a major label, this must have been delicious poetic justice.