Review of Thurston "Trees Outside The Academy" CD
THURSTON--TREES OUTSIDE THE ACADEMY
Sonic Youth's guitarist/songwriter Thurston Moore delivers his first solo work since 1995. Leaning heavily on the "folky" side of his songwriting, Trees Outside The Academy delivers acoustic strumming and picking, tender violin, piano, and a number of short but blazing electric solos (some supplied by J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr).
The songs tend to stick to the 3-4 minute mark and emphasize the "hooky" nature of Moore's craft, similar in many ways to his band's recent, excellent releases. "Friend" sounds almost like a radio-ready hit, with a great melody and very subtle electric stylings. "Wonderful Witches+Language Meanies" rocks nicely and Mascis supplies beautiful lead lines. Moore does not abandon his more experimental leanings altogether, with "American Coffin" relying on an electric feedback buzz and reverbed piano, and "Free Noise Among Friends" containing a white noise passage.
But overall, this is Moore at his most playful and melodic. Emphasizing this point, the album ends with a tape of a 13-year old Moore recording sounds (such as the spray from a Lysol can) and intoning "What am I going to do next for your ears to taste?" A wonderful ending to an excellent album.
thurston moore, Sonic Youth, rock, cd, reviiew, broad ripple, indy cds

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