Psychic Hearts in Bloomington, MN

It was inevitable that
Thurston Moore
's first solo offering would sound a bit like
Sonic Youth
, considering how integral his guitar playing and singing are to the band's sound. What is surprising about
Psychic Hearts
is how
Moore
twists his standard lexicon of detatched vocals, dissonant guitar lines, and deliberately obscure musical/lyrical references into something resembling
pop
music, which is something
has rarely been able to achieve. Fourteen of the album's 15 tracks are built around concise, angular guitar hooks complemented by
's unashamed, nearly melodic vocals.
"Elegy for All the Dead Rock Stars"
is a 20-minute instrumental, which is measured and evenly paced, surging toward a gentle conclusion.
displays a softer, more reflective side of a musician known for his passion for disguising his emotions and ideas in noise. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine