Thirty-five years in the music business is a long time. For some, that classifies you as "casino circuit rock", and for others, years of formulaic writing in attempt to re-create earlier success.
What is wonderful about Thurston Moore is that despite being overshadowed by the juggernaut that is Sonic Youth, and ruining the Gen-X idea of "true love" by cheating on (and divorcing from) Kim Gordon, he continuously generates great records. Really great records.
The Best Day, his follow up to 2011's gently excellent Demolished Thoughts, is further evidence of his mastery over the craft of melodic grunge. With a band consisting of Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, James Edwards of Nought on guitar, and My Bloody Valentine's Deb George on bass, there is an element of nostalgic distortion that flows from punk, pop, grunge, and everything in between. The eleven minute meditative "Forevermore" could sound at home on Daydream Nation, whereas the peaceful 12-string acoustic "Vocabularies" contains lyrics like "father, husband, won't take her down" reminding you this not just a legend, but a man with a soul, pain and wealth of inspiration that should take us well into the next decade.
Rating: ★★★★
