# In 1992, grunge was everywhere, but Neil Young believed a band outside that scene epitomised “modern rock”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1992-grunge-was-everywhere-but-neil-young-believed-a-band-outside-that-scene-epitomised-modern-rock/
- Published: 2026-11-10T13:52:59+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T21:51:41+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/band-1992-neil-young-called-the-sound-of-modern-rock/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Neil Young praised Sonic Youth as the sound of modern rock.
- He singled out their 1986 song “Expressway to Your Skull”.
- Their experimental style helped shape later rock, including grunge.

## Summary

Neil Young said in 1992 that Sonic Youth were making “modern rock”, praising their inventive sound and calling their 1986 song “Expressway to Your Skull” a classic. His view stood out at a time when grunge, led by Nirvana, was dominating attention, and highlights the influence of a New York band beyond Seattle’s scene.

Sonic Youth had spent a decade blending punk’s rawness with an experimental, art-minded approach, including unconventional guitar tunings. Young admired the band’s melodies and live performances; the article also points to their influence on later rock, noting that Geffen Records used Sonic Youth’s album Goo as a benchmark when judging Nirvana’s success.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.