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Dec 18, 2014 Web Exclusive By Scott Dransfield

Since the dissolution of Sonic Youth, the world’s foremost purveyors of organized noise and guitar feedback, Thurston Moore has been busy with side projects, none of which sounded particularly like his primary band. His last album, produced with Beck, was mainly acoustic. This year’s The Best Day, then, was inevitably labeled a “return to form” for Moore, as he’s plugging in the guitars and once again working with Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley. While it blessedly lives up to that label for the most part, The Best Day lacks much of the energy and exciting flavor of Moore’s best work.

Not all of the songs here suffer from such a fate. The lead single and title track kicks total ass. The instrumental rocker “Grace Lake” is similar, with the full band (including My Bloody Valentine bassist Debbie Googe) quickly plowing through seven electric minutes. These tracks show that Moore thrives best when accompanied by talented and like-minded musicians. Unfortunately, that means the slower, more solo-skewed songs tend to drag. “Forevermore,” at 11 minutes, is an absolute slog and the album’s most skippable track.

The Best Day is a little backloaded, and after the dour first 25 minutes, things pick up. Ultimately, the album will make its mark as a step in the right direction for Thurston Moore, and if he can lay off the long minor-key dirges, he’ll have access to the crown he once proudly wore. (www.matadorrecords.com/thurston_moore)

Author rating: 6/10