Formed in a downtown disaster unit way back in 1980, Sonic Youth’s early career was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City. They were part of the first wave of American noise rock groups, and carried out their interpretation of the hardcore punk ethos throughout the evolving American underground. The band focused more on the DIY ethic of the genre rather than its specific sound, and as a result, were pivotal in the rise of the alternative rock movement.

Sonic Youth have expressed a wide variety of influences, ranging from the influential protopunk musician Patti Smith to composer John Cage. The band has been praised for having "redefined what rock guitar could do", using a wide variety of unorthodox guitar tunings, and preparing guitars with objects like drumsticks and screwdrivers to alter the instruments' timbre.

Their most recent record The Eternal was released in June 2009 to rave reviews, and proves that the edgy Sonic Youth sound is just as relevant on today’s music scene as it was almost 30 years ago.