by Joseph Mastel
Sonic Youth revolutionized rock music, particularly the alternative, indie, and noise rock scenes. With their unorthodox and wacky tunings, unusual guitar playing, and highly original sound, they heavily shaped the music that came after them. Bands like Dinosaur Jr., My Bloody Valentine, Nirvana, Pavement, Ride, and Slowdive, among countless others, have all been influenced in some way by Sonic Youth. If you were to compile a list of the most influential and innovative rock bands of all time, Sonic Youth would definitely be included.
Although they have been disbanded for over a decade, many members have released music through other endeavors. Thurston Moore, for instance, has been quite busy as of late. His most recent release, Flow Critical Lucidity, is a brilliantly crafted album. Sure, it might not reach the groundbreaking status as classic Sonic Youth albums like Goo or Dirty, however, with the help of poet Radieux Radio, it still manages to be a worthwhile time showcasing Moore’s immaculate musicianship.
After several decades in the music industry, Moore still unsurprisingly finds new and fascinating ways to experiment musically. Abstract and ominous instrumentation rings out throughout the entirety of “New In Town”. Surreal experimentation like this is what made Sonic Youth so cool and exciting, so it is endearing to hear Moore continue to do that. “Rewilding” has captivating textures, giving it a hazy trance-like vibe, admirably making an earworm out of something so avant-garde and discordant sounding. Few artists can pull it off, but Moore does so with style. The instrumentation of the song is undeniably catchy. The guitar and bass' dizzying, loose, and rhythmic nature is enchantingly mysterious. Surreal electronics buzz in and out. Moore’s voice is eerie and unsettling. Another example is the creepily beautiful “We Get High.” Its rather difficult to establish an atmosphere that is both comforting and unnerving, but Moore does this with ease. These conflicting atmospheres and instrumentation never seem to really “clash” with one another, instead they somehow work as a unit.
One of the strongest parts of Flow Critical Lucidity is the world-building. Moore takes his time with these songs, slow burners that gradually build up to something incredible. Take the epic final track “The Diver” for example, a nearly eight minute long journey, both wonderful and expansive. It never feels drawn out, and each second is rightfully earned. The tranquil instrumentation, Moore’s calming and reflective voice, and the poetic lyrics submerge you into its world. Lyrics like “the blue mountains, they took your breath away” and “this page is where you survive/ underwater study of the deep” paint a clear, highly descriptive image. Alternatively, with “Sans Limites” (featuring Laetitia Sadier), it waits over three minutes before the vocals start. This restraint works wonders for this track. Those first three minutes feature gorgeously stunning instrumentation, especially the guitar, which has a certain dream-like warmth. As the breathtaking vocals start, the song proves to have a gentle tenderness to it. Flow Critical Lucidity is a phenomenal album from Thurston Moore, certainly proving that he still has plenty of creative fuel left in the tank.