Demolished Thoughts

Thurston Moore | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 24, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Matador Records
• ASIN: B004RRVHCW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,131 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Benediction

2. Illuminine

3. Circulation

4. Blood Never Lies

5. Orchard Street

6. In Silver Rain With A Paper Key

7. Mina Loy

8. Space

9. January

Editorial Reviews

Demolished Thoughts, t he third solo album from Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore was produced by Beck and features Mary Lattimore on harp, Samara Lubielski on violin, and Beck on various instruments. Demolished Thoughts is an equally beautiful and brooding work. While there are more than a few tonal similarities to some of your older favorite Moore compositions, the execution this time is nothing short of staggering.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars No noise necessary May 26, 2011

By Tore Skogseth

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

When Thurston Moore makes a new solo album, it's only natural that it gets compared to his work in Sonic Youth. And when the album is quiet and subdued, it is even more natural to compare it to Murray Street and Sonic Nurse, which in my opinion are the two most laid back SY albums. This comparison becomes even more obvious to me when one of the tracks is named Orchard Street and has an opening riff that is a variation of the main riff from I Love You Golden Blue from Sonic Nurse; yet the main melody has more in common with Dirty Boots than any of the newer material.

Listening to Demolished Thoughts, it is very clear to me that while Thurston Moore can turn the volume down and be quiet and intimate, his artistic expression is so clear and focused that he doesn't stray very far from what he does in Sonic Youth. The main difference to me is that on this album, all the musical intricacies that sometimes drown and get lost in the sheer volume and noise are clear and to the forefront, and that makes this album a purely pleasurable listen. The tight space his music occupies sometimes feels roomy, yet as is the case in aforementioned Orchard Street, it builds and builds to the point where it doesn't seem like nothing else can fit - yet he and Beck finds room for one more musical thought in there.

For those who are attracted to Sonic Youth for the noise, this might very well not be an album worth purchasing. The same goes for those who like folk, as the instrumentation on this album can be deceptive - it is most certainly nothing like the new Fleet Foxes album. This is Thurston Moore - and we have heard some of these tendencies before, both on Trees Outside the Academy and on songs like Disconnection Notice and Stones with Sonic Youth. It is quiet and contemplative, but is is also at times very unsettling. While not perfect, it is close enough to warrant five stars. It is hard to pick favorites from this album, so preview every song - but don't expect to know the album after only one or two listens. This grows and grows on you, as any good album should.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brooding beauty May 28, 2011

By Frank Smith

Format:Audio CD

I offer this assessment of the new album by Thurston Moore not as a Sonic Youth fan, but as an admirer of Moore's last outstanding solo record Trees Outside the Academy. Trees...had a similar approach to the music, but I find Demolished Thoughts to be a more fleshed out and fully realized set of songs. The fact that Thurston Moore collaborates with Beck Hansen -- who is the producer, an arranger, and plays synths, bass and sings -- does give this set a kind of aura of Sea Change. But at the same time Moore's tunes are entirely his own, and each unique. Hansen's production work ensures that the accompanying instrumentation is complimentary to the songs. Moore is a very good guitar player and his dusky, rich vocals, are totally wrapped up with a big hug and a kiss by fellow musicians Samara Lubelki (violin), Mary Lallimore (harp), Bram Inscore (bass) and Joey Waronker (percussion). Most of these songs are slow burners, with the openers Benediction and Illumine setting the pace. But Circulation rocks a wee bit and Orchard Street stretches out a long while with instrumental flights of fancy. That track is a marvel. Recording engineers Dean Nelson, Cole Marsden, Greif Neil, Cassidy Turbin at The Library and Justin Pizzoferralo at Flowers and Cream studio, working alongside producer Beck, have done an exceptional job making Demolished Thoughts sound so gorgeous. While there aren't blasts of noise-scapes like you'd hear from a Sonic Youth record, surprises abound. The whistling part early on in Mina Loy is one example -- proving that Andrew Bird isn't the only tunesmith on the block unafraid to whistle while he works - and in the same song Moore repeats the line "Without shame" with devastatingly beautiful impact. The fact of the matter is very few artists are brave enough to make albums like this anymore. Thurston Moore is willing as he ages to create mature music, working decidedly outside the box. And in the lovely suite of songs that is Demolished Thoughts he goes for simple beauty to grand effect. Bravo!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Leave Your Expectations at the Door! May 26, 2011

By Stephen Ciaffa

Format:Vinyl

This album is a wonderful example of an artist maturing gracefully. Yeah, Thurston can still throw down the noise with the best of them, but that's not the idea here is it? It's tempting to compare it to Beck's Sea Change, since he produced it, but it has a completely different vibe. It's not as lush and layered as that album, and it is less self indulgent, meaning no weepy lyrical content. This album is a stunner from beginning to end. Ever since I heard Winners Blues on Sonic Youth's Experimental Jet Set album, I always thought he had an album like this in him. All I can say is, if you leave your expectations at the door, you will not be disappointed!