Albums to watch

By The Fire

Thurston Moore

By The Fire

Sixth solo album from the Sonic Youth frontman features Steve Shelley, Deb Googe, Jem Doulton, James Sedwards and Negativland's Jon Leidecker.

ADM rating[?]

7.6

Label
Daydream Library
UK Release date
25/09/2020
US Release date
25/09/2020
  1. 10.0 |   Record Collector

    Moore’s band, it should be noted, sound increasingly powerful, growing ever groovier and more confident with each release. Their guitars may have unusual tunings, but the players are certainly in-tune with one another, mentally and musically speaking. In summary, cacophonies ahoy!
    Read Review

  2. 9.0 |   The Quietus

    Make no mistake; this is an album that stands shoulder to shoulder with the very best of his alma mater
    Read Review

  3. 9.0 |   All Music

    By the Fire isn't a drastic shift, but as Moore goes deeper into the sounds he's been exploring for decades, he uncovers new magic
    Read Review

  4. 8.0 |   musicOMH

    A thriller from the first second to the last
    Read Review

  5. 8.0 |   Uncut

    His music is now more about the deep, nuanced dig into established territory than striking out to plant a flag someplace new, plus exploring different contexts for his signature sound through continued collaboration. Print edition only

  6. 8.0 |   Mojo

    The results isn't just his best album post-Sonic Youth, but some of the best music he's ever released. Print edition only

  7. 8.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    Thurston Moore provides an exquisitely balanced mix of beauty and abrasion with By The Fire
    Read Review

  8. 8.0 |   NME

    On his seventh solo album the alt rock mainstay offers the sound of enlightenment to a world in turmoil with help from My Bloody Valentine’s Deb Googe and Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley
    Read Review

  9. 8.0 |   Vinyl Chapters

    An album to switch off to and lose yourself in
    Read Review

  10. 7.8 |   Pitchfork

    Refining the sound of last year’s sprawling Spirit Counsel into more focused riffs and songs, By the Fire suggests a renewed dialogue between Moore’s experimental instincts and his desire to rock
    Read Review

  11. 7.3 |   Beats Per Minute

    His continuous work positions him as the Bob Dylan of the alternative rock era, and By The Fire sums up every aspect of his artistry
    Read Review

  12. 7.0 |   Loud And Quiet

    An imposing record – three tracks alone take up some forty minutes – but there are endless rewards in its divine discord
    Read Review

  13. 5.5 |   Spectrum Culture

    At this point in his career Thurston has leveraged droning instrumentals in lieu of actual songwriting
    Read Review

  14. 5.0 |   Exclaim

    What may make Moore' seventh solo LP most appealing to long-time fans comes from the level of comfort and familiarity present here, as much of the material sounds like Sonic Youth, even if the quality isn't there
    Read Review


blog comments powered by Disqus

Watch it

Roll over video for more options

Hear it

Latest Reviews

More reviews