Customer Reviews

Psychic Hearts (Reis)

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This underrated album stands with the best of the Sonic Youth albums - Daydream Nation, Sisters, Murray Street... As one reviewer points out, this is an uninterrupted stream of Thurston songs, no Kim Gordon, etc. This is not a bad thing - I can get my Kim Gordon fix from the many Sonic Youth albums available.

I have this release on 2 LP's and it sounds as good now as ever. The SY of the 1990's is all about a tight melody wrapped -- in any number of layers -- around well known SY noise. If you are bought into these types of songs, then this album is a winner.

On Psychic Hearts, Moore is able exercise this formula in many different ways. Nearly every cut has a memorable melody with different noises wrapped around it. From minimal "Cherry's Blues" to the rough and tumble cuts, "Ono Soul" and the title track, this album has it all.

Also, Steve Shelley's work on this release is stellar. His work really propels the songs in the same way you expect from the SY releases.

And what can you say about "Elegy for All the Dead Rock Stars"? The final cut is a 19 minute track that embodies the full extent of a simple melody being drawn out to a logical conclusion. Unless you are someone who is into music from the likes of Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O., Glenn Branca or even Steve Reich this cut will grate. For those of us into this genre, it's mesmerizing.

overall pretty awesome sounding stuff...but having 15 straight thurston tracks makes me realize how much i miss Kim Gordon ranting about chick stuff or Lee Ranaldo droning on poetically with an off-kilter beat...if there is more thurston solo stuff out there i wish he would release it cuz i really cant get enough of sonic youth in any shape or form...

Fortunately for us, Thurston Moore IS in the groundbreaking Sonic Youth. Unfortunately, he chose to release this boring solo album.