Sonic Youth was an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founding members Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals), Kim Gordon (bass guitar, vocals, guitar) and Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of the band, while Steve Shelley (drums) followed a series of short-term drummers in 1985, and rounded out the core line-up. In their early career Sonic Youth were associated with the no wave art and music scene in New York City. Part of the first wave of American noise rock groups, the band carried out their interpretation of the hardcore punk ethos throughout the evolving
American underground that focused more on the DIY ethic of the genre rather than its specific sound.

Goo is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock band Sonic Youth. It was originally released on June 26, 1990 and was Sonic Youth's debut release on a major record label, after the band signed to Geffen Records following the release of Daydream Nation (1988). It was recorded over a short period in early 1990 at Sorcerer Sound Recording Studios and Greene St. Recording with Daydream Nation producer Nick Sansano and additional producer Ron Saint Germain. The album's sound diverged considerably from their earlier material and is often considered “their most accessible album”, with elements of experimental rock, garage punk, alternative rock and hard rock. Lead single “Kool Thing”
charted in the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland. Upon its release, Goo was a moderate commercial/mar­keting success, peaking at No. 96 on the Billboard 200 in the United States and charting in the Netherlands, New Zealand and the UK. Critical reception to the album was positive. To support its release, Sonic Youth toured Europe and North America twice in 1990.