There must be an aspect within avid purveyors of noise rock to at some point do the utter opposite. Birthday Party singer Nick Cave went on to sing lullabies and even did a whole album of ballads (ballads about murder, sure, but ballads nonetheless). Steve Albini, the driving spirit behind Big Black, produced singer and harpist (harpist?!) Joanna Newsom, who is the antonym of Rapeman, another of Albini’s projects.
More recently J Mascis, founder of feedback gods Dinosaur Jr., dialed his softer side with the acoustic Several Shades of Why. Now add to the mix Thurston Moore, lead singer/guitarist of No Wave legends Sonic Youth, who has taken the amp down from 11 to 2 with his solo effort Demolished Thoughts.
The album boasts a steady set of tunes and an inspired choice for producer (Beck), but after listening through the nine songs, one wonders what Sonic Youth bandmate Kim Gordon (who is also Moore’s wife) could have brought to the table. They don’t call her his better half for nothing.
Demolished Thoughts is a beautiful sounding collection, the harps, gentle guitars and violins create a smart stew for Moore’s playful lyrics – but it becomes rote in quick fashion. Guitar jams play better for longer with full electronic force, but acoustically a five-minute song is an eternity. More than half the songs on Demolished surpass the five-minute mark, though it feels much longer.
The album starts out well enough, as “Benediction”‘s perky guitars and subtle strings set a proper mood. Even in his new, gentler state, Moore keeps his quirk with lyrics “With benediction in her eyes/ Our dearest gods are not surprised/ You better hold your lover down/ And tie her to the ground.”
But it never gets better than the opener. “Circulation” livens the pace with sterner strumming, but sounds like a demo waiting for the full Sonic Youth treatment. “In Silver Raid With a Paper Key” is a durable four-minute song checking in at six. The album ending “Orchard Street” and “Space” linger like final party guests – yes I’m happy you came, but you should go now.
I’ll give Moore credit, like a good actor he can go against type and play another role. Yet while it’s refreshing to see Sylvester Stallone play the meek, quiet type, we’d rather see him causing havoc as Rambo.
Acoustic Moore is fine for a spell, but guitar slaying is where he stars.
