Twenty-five years into a career that will likely not end until one of its members blasts off this mortal coil, Sonic Youth defies whatever characterizations you throw at them.
Often described as indie godfathers, the New York quartet was one of the most successful major label rock acts of the 1990s -- What other indie band can claim that their members maintain middle class comfort on record sales alone?
Rock cliches, in fact, may not be the proper basis on which to judge their longevity. Given their artistic viability, it's easier to consider the group in terms one would associate with jazz musicians, who we tend to think get better with age, while rockers usually deteriorate or grow stale. Still, there are some perks that only elder rockers can enjoy.