Chelsea Light Moving, Thurston Moore's New Group

Now that Sonic Youth is on hold, maybe for good, we have a lack. Happily Thurston Moore has put together a new group, Chelsea Light Moving, and their first album (self-titled) (Matador) has plenty of torque to make up for what is no longer here.

To be specific, the album hits hard with the garagy psychedelia that made Sonic Youth so appealing to those inclined. The retuned, very distinctive guitar sound of Thurston and the Sonics is there very much as are his laconic dada lyrics and vocals.

The band is loosely together in all ways you might expect and they rock in the avant garage fashion.

So what's missing? Well, you know...

But never mind that. It is first class Thurston groupdom, heavy, squirrelly, innovative and thrashingly good. Don't hesitate!

Thurston Moore's Demolished Thoughts: Beyond Sonic Youth, Beside Sonic Youth

It's the Monday after the passage of Hurricane Irene from my area and I am glad to get back to work. A shout-out of sympathy for any who did not fare as well as we did.

Today, Demolished Thoughts (Matador), the latest album from Sonic Youth leader, singer, guitarist and songwriter Thurston Moore.

Anyone who follows his career knows that the solo albums are not exactly the same full-band onslaughts as the Sonic's works. And that is true of Demolished Thoughts as well. It centers on Thurston's trademark guitar tuning and interesting chordal sequences, here on 6- or 12-string acoustic. There are good songs, somewhat in a cosmic contemplativeness mode. His voice is front and center communicating the essence of the lyrics and melody.

And there are some nicely put together cello/string parts and some nice touches with a harp now and then. I suppose you could say it's psychedelic light. But seriously in IS that in Thurston's very inimitable way.

If you like what he does in the Sonic's bag, once you get used to this, you'll like this one also.

It is music with a lot of depth, nice little touches, subtlety. So it's a winner then.