Trees Outside the Academy
by Thurston Moore

Album details

US: 18 September 2007 on Ecstatic Peace
UK: 17 September 2007 on Ecstatic Peace

The Sonic Youth frontman’s first song-oriented solo release in over a decade features his bandmate Steve Shelly on drums and Fleeting Skies’ Samara Lubelski on violin, with additional contributions from Charalambides’ Christina Carter and Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis.

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The critical consensus

The almost-entirely acoustic Trees Outside The Academy does have some elements in common with recent Sonic Youth albums–or at least their more mellow moments–so that SY fans should find something to enjoy here. Amazon likes the acoustic setting, noting that it gives "his lyrical verve the latitude it deserves." Uncut adds, "Paradoxically, Trees Outside The Academy proves that Moore only truly rocks when he ditches the amplification." "Moore’s ringing guitar lends itself as well to modern-sounding acoustic music as it does to Sonic Youth’s plugged-in experimental rock," concludes All Music Guide. Pitchfork says that over the course of the album, "you begin to understand how much this guy can do with relatively little– especially after growing accustomed to hearing him work for so long with so much more." Drowned In Sound states that "Moore has never sounded so openly emancipated from the confines" of Sonic Youth, with Trees signifying "the sound of Moore in a moment of escapism, figuring out where he is going."

The Wire calls Trees "a relaxed, organic record that charms without really trying," while Gigwise hears "a unique mix of upbeat yet hypnotically psychedelic songs" that result in "a rough diamond of a grunge album." Dusted finds the disc more straightforward than Sonic Youth albums, and while noting that Trees isn’t a "pivotal" release, the publication is impressed by the album’s "surprising beauty." Prefix finds the album "somehow both new and familiar," while Delusions of Adequacy calls Trees "a solidly engaging and enjoyable album," even if it "isn’t quite as breathtaking as it could/should be." Under The Radar has a slight complaint: "Unfortunately, the sound of the record trumps the actual songs, which blur together from a lack of distinction." And Stylus is among the album’s biggest critics, labeling the album "flat" as a result of Moore "trying too hard to mimic his band’s tried-and-true telepathy with only karaoke-level results."

Those listening for Sonic Youth demos might be surprised to hear how much more there is to Moore’s songwriting when it’s comparatively unadorned.

- Zach Baron, Pitchfork

Review roundup

Tracklisting and media

1. Frozen Gtr
   
2. The Shape Is In A Trance
   
3. Honest James
4. Silver>Blue
5. Fri/End
   
6. American Coffin
7. Wonderful Witches + Language Meanies
   
8. Off Work
9. Never Day
   
10. Free Noise Among Friends
11. Trees Outside the Academy
12. Thurston @13

Also on the web

• Official Sonic Youth Site
• Ecstatic Peace