The Wipers, C or D? (and several others, too)

I would characterize the wipers (at least their first few) as “sad” so much as doom and gloom. Which yes, is very 2020 right now

would _not_ characterize, I meant

Doom and desperation

DOOM TOWN

I was revisiting the first Sonic Youth EP the other day, and when the sung melody of "She Is Not Alone" came on, I was like, "Wait...where is that melody from?!" I eventually realized it's the opening notes of "Youth of America". Knowing that SY was a fan of the Wipers, first I thought they might have (subconsciously?) borrowed that melody; but the "Youth of America" album apparently came out in Nov 1981 (per Wikipedia), and SY had been playing "She Is Not Alone" live in 1981 (before November) before going into the studio (Dec '81, Jan '82) for the EP. So maybe it's just a coincidence?

Interesting observation. Though I must admit that i do not hear any resemblance of the two song tunes at all. Sonic Youth is much more drum and percussion oriented (those cowbells!) than guitar oriented as on later releases. Or let's say the guitar is played in a rather rhythmic way. They seem still to be searching for their own sound.

Best band ever

^. sucks all the vinyl reissues in last few years have been so expensive though.

so classic, for much more than the first three records that get all the attention