The time period “gold,” as employed throughout the context of “Sonic Youth hits are for squares gold,” features as an adjective. It modifies an implied noun, suggesting a typical of desirability, worth, or authenticity that’s being questioned or satirized. For instance, one may talk about “gold information” as symbols of mainstream industrial success, the very factor being rejected by the assertion.
Its significance lies in its ironic utilization. The time period highlights the band Sonic Youth’s counter-cultural stance, significantly their rejection of mainstream recognition and standard rock music constructions. Traditionally, the band gained recognition for its experimental sound and disrespect for industrial expectations, and this phrase encapsulates that rebellious angle. The perceived “worth” of economic achievement is intentionally undermined.