Psychic Hearts

Psychic Hearts
Studio album by Thurston Moore
Released May 10, 1995
Recorded 1994-1995 at New York City
Genre Alternative rock
Length 65:37
Label Geffen
Producer Thurston Moore
Thurston Moore chronology

Psychic Hearts
(1995)		 Trees Outside the Academy
(2007)

Psychic Hearts is a solo album by Sonic Youth member Thurston Moore. The album was released in 1995 through Geffen Records. The album has been remastered "for goodness" and reissued in 2006. The 2 record vinyl version of the reissue contains bonus tracks on the fourth album side where on the original vinyl release the fourth side had a drawing by cover artist Rita Ackermann etched directly into the vinyl.

The album makes reference to female rock stars Yoko Ono and Patti Smith. Many Patti Smith references and tributes have been made by Sonic Youth.

Retrospective reviews

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Rolling Stone [1]
AllMusic [2]
NME (7/10)[3]
Pitchfork Media (7.6/10)[4]
Robert Christgau [5]

When Psychic Hearts was re-released the next decade it was praised by critic Brandon Stosuy of Pitchfork Media:[6]

Released after Experimental Jet Set Trash and No Star and joined by Steve Shelley on drums and Tim Foljahn on second guitar, Moore's femme-themed solo debut, Psychic Hearts, is a collection of often-beautiful sunset guitar rock. Of his vocal turns, my favorite is the caffeinated, teen-angst/dysfunction of the propulsive title track. Moore's vocals are also particularly swoon-worthy on the whispery "Pretty Bad" and breathy "Ono Soul". Most of Psychic Hearts, however, works because of the simple repetitions of instrumentals like lilting opener "Blues From Beyond the Grave" and the gently paranoid "(I Got a) Catholic Block" patterning that surfaces between Moore's voice in "Feathers". The centerpiece is the 20-minute instrumental exeunt, "Elegy for All the Dead Rock *s". The track's distinct movements mingle fluidly, swerving into a sideways cascade before bursting and blooming until notes sharpen and a final tidal wave arcs and releases. The noise implosions of its final third are anti-climactic, but after some gentle plucks and slides, Moore grabs his pick and glides into that dark night as gorgeously as he began, only this time with more triumphal drums.

Track listing

All songs written by Thurston Moore.

Original 1995 release

  1. "Queen Bee and Her Pals" – 2:57
  2. "Ono Soul" – 3:28
  3. "Psychic Hearts" – 3:59
  4. "Pretty Bad" – 3:58
  5. "Patti Smith Math Scratch" – 2:43
  6. "Blues from Beyond the Grave" – 4:35
  7. "See-Through Playmate" – 2:18
  8. "Hang Out" – 4:10
  9. "Feathers" – 2:20
  10. "Tranquilizer" – 2:06
  11. "Staring Statues" – 2:34
  12. "Cindy (Rotten Tanx)" – 3:46
  13. "Cherry's Blues" – 2:05
  14. "Female Cop" – 5:24
  15. "Elegy for All the Dead Rock Stars" – 19:49
2006 Reissue bonus vinyl tracks
  1. "Teenage Buddhist Daydream"
  2. "Just Tell Her That I Really Like Her"
  3. "The Church Should Be For Outcasts, Not a Church That Casts People Out"
  4. "Thoodblirsty Thesbians"
  5. "Superchrist"

Personnel

Additional musicians
Technical personnel

References

  1. ↑ Kemp, Mark (February 2, 1998). "Review: Thurston Moore, Psychic Hearts". Jann Wenner. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  2. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review: Psychic Hearts". Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  3. ↑ Goldsmith, Mike. "Review: Thurston Moore - Psychic Hearts (Geffen/All formats)". NME (IPC Media) (May 20, 1995): 45.
  4. ↑ Stosuy, Brandon (April 5, 2006). "Review: Thurston Moore - Sonic Youth / The Whitey Album / Psychic Hearts (Neutral; 1995)". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  5. ↑ link
  6. ↑ "Thurston Moore: Sonic Youth / The Whitey Album / Psychic Hearts | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 2006-04-05. Retrieved 2012-03-06.