Thursday Throwback is a weekly colour scheme inspired by an iconic album cover of yesteryear. This week’s throwback is the 1988 album “Daydream Nation” by Sonic Youth. The colours are as follows:
| Colours | HEX | RGB | HSB | CMYK | LAB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colour 1 | #D4C7D9 | 212, 199, 217 | 283, 8, 85 | 2, 8, 0, 14 | 81, 7, -7 |
| Colour 2 | #6F7353 | 111, 115, 83 | 68, 28, 45 | 3, 0, 27, 54 | 47, -7, 17 |
| Colour 3 | #A8A06F | 168, 160, 111 | 52, 34, 66 | 0, 4, 33, 34 | 65, -4, 26 |
| Colour 4 | #403E22 | 64, 62, 34 | 56, 47, 25 | 0, 3, 46, 74 | 25, -4, 17 |
| Colour 5 | #262315 | 38, 35, 21 | 49, 45, 15 | 0, 7, 44, 85 | 13, -1, 9 |
“Daydream Nation” is the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band Sonic Youth, released on October 18, 1988. It is widely considered one of the band’s greatest works and a landmark album in alternative rock.
The album was recorded between July and August 1988 at Greene Street Recording studio in New York City. Sonic Youth spent several months developing Thurston Moore’s initial ideas into full-length songs, resulting in extended jams, some lasting over 30 minutes. The band worked with producer Nick Sansano, who was more experienced with hip-hop artists. This unconventional choice led to a unique blend of rock and hip-hop production techniques. The recording process was efficient due to the band’s extensive preparation. However, time pressure near the end of the sessions led to some rushed final mixes. The album cost $30,000 to produce, which Moore referred to as their “first non-econo record”.
Initially, “Daydream Nation” did not chart in the United States but reached No. 99 on the British albums chart. However, it received widespread critical acclaim and has since been recognized as one of the greatest and most influential alternative rock albums of all time. The single “Teen Age Riot” reached No. 20 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart. The album’s success earned Sonic Youth a major label deal with Geffen Records. In 2005, the Library of Congress selected “Daydream Nation” for preservation in the National Recording Registry, acknowledging its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.
The album cover features the 1983 Gerhard Richter painting “Kerze” (“Candle”). The back cover uses a similar Richter painting from 1982. These iconic images have become closely associated with the album’s enduring legacy. The vinyl version and CD inner tray contain four symbols representing each band member, in a nod to (or possibly a parody of) Led Zeppelin’s fourth album. These symbols include infinity (∞) for Lee Ranaldo, female (♀) for Kim Gordon, uppercase omega (Ω) for Thurston Moore, and a drawing of a demonic-angelic baby holding drumsticks for Steve Shelley.
In conclusion, “Daydream Nation” stands as a pivotal album in alternative rock history, known for its innovative sound, critical acclaim, and iconic artwork.Did you like this week’s colour scheme? Do you fancy using it for your next release cover? Then visit the shop or contact the founder!