"The Eternal" is the fifteenth and final studio album by American alternative rock band Sonic Youth, released on June 9, 2009 by Matador Records. Despite having left Geffen Records, which had been Sonic Youth's label for 18 years, the band still owed them another record on their contract. They decided to release "The Eternal" through Matador Records, a fellow indie label they had previously dealt with in the 1980s.
Mark Ibold, former Pavement bassist, joined Sonic Youth as a full-time member for "The Eternal". With Surprisingly clean production values as compared to previous works, the album showcased the band’s growing command over noise barrages with diligent riffs, making sure that every feedback-soaked moment is as melodious as it is dissonant.
"The Eternal" was met with positive reviews from many music critics, who praised its aggressive sound as well as its balance between Sonic Youth's early experimentalism and later pop-oriented sound. Despite these commendations, the album was unable to secure a position in the mainstream pop charts. Key tracks include "Sacred Trickster," "Antenna," and "No Way."
