10 Forgotten 60s Rock Bands Worth Rediscovering
6. The Sonics
Punk long before the term 'punk' existed, Tacoma, Washington natives The Sonics, who released their debut album, Here Are The Sonics, in 1965, were ahead of the game in several respects. Using basic technology and simple chord progressions, the band borrowed from rockabilly, soul and R&B to construct a shambling, dirty and, above all, hard-hitting sound.
Listen to the buzzing, menacing The Witch for a good taste of their unique style. To modern ears, The Sonics' music still sounds extraordinary. To their peers, their work must have been startling. This is a band who had far more than attitude and teeth-rattling attack in their locker, however.
The composition, playing and arrangements on The Sonics' three-minute marvels and equally accomplished. Little wonder then, that talents such as Kurt Cobain and The White Stripes have repeatedly name-checked this under-appreciated band as particular favourites. For fun, contrast The Sonics' version of Do You Love Me with that of The Beatles, which was released just two years earlier.