Psychic Hearts

Amazon.com
With its profound influence on such bands as Nirvana and Blur, Sonic Youth has probably done more to spread the gospel of guitar distortion to the general public than any other evangelists. Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo, former apprentices of "guitar-symphony" composer Glenn Branca and founding guitarists of Sonic Youth, have constantly fiddled with their tunings and amp settings to create chords and textures unlike any others in pop music. On "Psychic Hearts," Moore continues to explore that interaction between noise and pop. Recorded with Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley and Half Japanese guitarist Tim Foljahn, "Psychic Hearts" ranges from tightly constructed narrative of the riff-driven title track to a 20-minute instrumental called, "Elegy for all the Dead Rock Stars." If the former song recalls Lou Reed's portrait of an alienated suburban girl in "Rock&Roll," the latter recalls Reed's hypnotic guitar drones on "White Light/White Heat." Moore salutes Yoko Ono as "the queen of noise" on "Ono Soul" and exclaims, "She's crazy, so am I," on "Patti Smith Math Scratch."

Moore is not much of a singer, though he tries to compensate for that by cloaking his vocals in effects and burying them in the mix. He is an exceptional guitarist, however, capable of making the most overworked instrument of his generation sound surprising again. And as he matures as a songwriter, he's making the settings for those inventions more and more interesting. He's still not as melodic a composer or as focused a lyricist as protégé Kurt Cobain or peer Bob Mould, but his guitar work is still pushing the envelope. --Geoffrey Himes

Psychic Hearts,Thurston Moore,Geffen Records,Alternative Pop/Rock,Avant-Garde,Experimental,Experimental Rock,Indie Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Psychic Hearts

Average customer rating:

Moore is spot on with Psychic Hearts
If Sonic Youth had no other members
Pretty decent

Psychic Hearts
Thurston Moore
Manufacturer: Geffen Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Sonic Youth
The Whitey Album
Rather Ripped
The Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities
SYR 3: Invito Al Cielo

ASIN: B000EMGA1M
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Tracks:

Queen Bee And Her Pals
Ono Soul - Album Version
Psychic Hearts - Album Version
Pretty Bad - Album Version
Patti Smith Math Scratch
Blues From Beyond The Grave
See-Through Playmate
Hang Out
Feathers
Tranquilizer
Staring Status
Cindy (Rotten Tanx)
Cherry's Blues
Female Cop
Elegy For All The Dead Rock Stars

Customer Reviews:

Moore is spot on with Psychic Hearts.......2006-12-04

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.

If Sonic Youth had no other members.......2006-10-30

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

Pretty decent.......2006-03-20

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...

Average customer rating:

Thurston never ceases to amaze.
classic
Brains of the outfit
yeah
lovely stuff from our hero

Psychic Hearts
Thurston Moore
Manufacturer: Geffen Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

EVOL
Bad Moon Rising
Sonic Youth - Corporate Ghost: Videos, 1990-2002
The Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities
Experimental Jet Set, Trash & No Star

ASIN: B000003TBK
Release Date: 1995-05-09

Tracks:

Queen Bee And Her Pals
Ono Soul
Psychic Hearts
Pretty Bad
Patti Smith Math Scratch
Blues From Beyond The Grave
See-Through Play/Mate
Hang Out
Feathers
Tranquilizer
Staring Statues
Cindy (Rotten Tanx)
Cherry's Blues
Female Cop
Elegy For All The Dead Rock Stars

Amazon.com

With its profound influence on such bands as Nirvana and Blur, Sonic Youth has probably done more to spread the gospel of guitar distortion to the general public than any other evangelists. Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo, former apprentices of "guitar-symphony" composer Glenn Branca and founding guitarists of Sonic Youth, have constantly fiddled with their tunings and amp settings to create chords and textures unlike any others in pop music. On "Psychic Hearts," Moore continues to explore that interaction between noise and pop. Recorded with Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley and Half Japanese guitarist Tim Foljahn, "Psychic Hearts" ranges from tightly constructed narrative of the riff-driven title track to a 20-minute instrumental called, "Elegy for all the Dead Rock Stars." If the former song recalls Lou Reed's portrait of an alienated suburban girl in "Rock&Roll," the latter recalls Reed's hypnotic guitar drones on "White Light/White Heat." Moore salutes Yoko Ono as "the queen of noise" on "Ono Soul" and exclaims, "She's crazy, so am I," on "Patti Smith Math Scratch."

Customer Reviews:

Thurston never ceases to amaze........2007-06-18

I've been a fan of sonic youth for about 15 years now, and I never even knew that Thurston Moore put out any solo material. I found this used and jumped up and down as I bought it (not really, but just imagine). My love for this may be biased due to my love of SY to begin with, but maybe not. Plus, Steve Shelley plays drums on it too, so there's that. Definitely stands alone from SY's work, but you can really tell who it is as well.

classic .......2004-08-06

this album came out when i was still in high school and man did it just save me. first that same year sonic youth released washing machine witch was another amazing album they had done, but this just grab me from the first song "queen bee and her pals" i couln't stop playing it. and til this day i will play it, and memories of my high school will come back. thurston an amazing artist and great poet. if u ever get the chance to find this cd get it and play believe me it rocks. also if u ever find it on record get it. the record i have is clear green vinyl. and the other lp is black but turn it over and it has skecthes on it.

Brains of the outfit.......2002-08-18

It's obvious who the real artistic force behind Sonic Youth is - Thurston Moore. This is primo Thurston at his best, with the exception of the rather blown out "Elegy for all the dead rock stars", dribbling along for 20 minutes. Good chunky guitar predominates the whole CD, all trademark Moore sound. Buy it!

yeah.......2001-09-18

the best sy cd sy never made. mostly very gloomy music in the EJSTNS vein. "feathers" is most likely a love song bout kim g. and thats cool.

lovely stuff from our hero.......2000-02-06

Away from SY, thurston has done some super avant garde weir stuff & also some fine pop stuff in this. It starts off w/ a phone call from Melbourne's Midget Stooges asking if he got their demo tape, they did end up being on a split 7" on his Ecstatic Peace label, also later in the album, Yoshimi calls up [from Free Kitten, Boredoms & OOIOO]. These are very good stick in yr head for days songs, particularly the ones on the 1st half of the album, some of the others are slow & lazy, maybe because they're more personal stuff, the title track & Queen Bee have some of his best lyrics ever [see his raps on 1991: the Year Punk Broke which are very amusing]. The last track, Elegy for all the Dead Rock Stars is a 20 minute instrumental strumfest which would be the perfect b-side for the Diamond Sea from the same year. Credit must be given to Steve Shelley & Tim Foljahn for helping him craft this gem.