Pitchfork

Chances are you're still reeling from last month's announcement that underground overlords Sonic Youth will soon release a compilation via Starbucks. What an age we live in!

Any self-pinching on your part would have been painful, however, as this is no daydream/nightmare. Today comes news, via the official press release, that this puppy 1.) is indeed happening, 2.) is titled Hits Are for Squares, and 3.) will hit Starbucks shops like a quadruple mocha espresso americano frappawhatever in early 2008.

In addition to presumed input from Beck, Jeff Tweedy, Marc Jacobs, Portia de Rossi, and Michelle Williams (all of whom Thurston Moore mentioned when we chatted with him back in June), the limited edition Hits Are for Squares will also include choice Sonic Youth cuts selected by the likes of Eddie Vedder, Dave Eggers (whoa, those two are practically anagrams-- telling!), David Cross, and Chloe Sevigny. Peruse the liner notes and you will also find quotes from these curators regarding their selections.

Technically a joint effort between Starbucks Entertainment and Universal Special Markets, Hits will be available for squares at Starbucks locations in select cities-- NYC, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, and DC-- and online at the Starbucks label website, Hear Music.

What you won't find amid the biscotti and all those designer sweets at Starbucks is Sonic Youth playing Daydream Nation live in its scalding-coffee-hot entirety. For that, my friends, you must journey to the 2007 Pitchfork Music Festival (or one of several other locales). The Youth have a number of "regular" shows lined up as well, all recapped below.

Thurston Moore, meanwhile, hits squares with a solo album, Trees Outside the Academy, via his own Ecstatic Peace on September 18.

Java Youth:

07-03 Istres, France - La Palio
07-05 Turin, Italy - Spaziale ^
07-06 Ferrara, Italy - Piazza Castello ^
07-07 Rome, Italy - Romano di Ostia Antica ^
07-13 Chicago, IL - Union Park (Pitchfork Music Festival/ATP Don't Look Back) ^
07-19 Berkeley, CA - Berkeley Community Theater ^
07-20 Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre ^*
07-21 Santa Monica, CA - Urban Outfitters (KXLU show)
07-28 Brooklyn, NY - McCarren Park Pool ^#
08-15 Porto, Portugal - Paredes de Coura Festival
08-17 Saint-Malo, France - La Route du Rock Festival ^
08-18 Hasselt, Belgium - Pukkelpop Festival ^
08-19 Biddinghuizen, Netherlands - Lowlands
08-21 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC1 ^
08-22 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC1 ^
08-25 Prague, Czech Republic - Archa Theatre
08-26 Vienna, Austria - Openair at ARENA
08-27 Zagreb, Croatia - In Music Festival
08-29 Paris, France - La Vilette Jazz Festival
08-30 London, England - Roundhouse (ATP Don't Look Back) ^
08-31 London, England - Roundhouse (ATP Don't Look Back) ^
09-01 London, England - Roundhouse (ATP Don't Look Back) ^
09-02 Stradbally, Ireland - Electric Picnic
10-05 Austin, TX - Stubbs BBQ
10-06 Marfa, TX - Thunderbird Hotel
10-07 Dallas, TX - House of Blues

^ performing Daydream Nation
* with Redd Kross
# with the Slits