Flow Critical Lucidity
Flow Critical Lucidity is the 16th solo studio album by American musician Thurston Moore. It was released on September 20, 2024 via Moore's independent label The Daydream Library Series and was self-produced with Eva Marie Moore. Five attached singles preceded the album, which was Moore's first following the publication of his book Sonic Life: A Memoir. It was subject to critical acclaim upon release and peaked on the UK Independent Albums Chart at no. 12.
| Flow Critical Lucidity | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 20, 2024 | |||
| Studio | Total Refreshment Centre, London | |||
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| Length | 38:47 | |||
| Label | The Daydream Library Series | |||
| Producer |
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| Thurston Moore chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Flow Critical Lucidity | ||||
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Flow Critical Lucidity is the 16th solo studio album by American musician Thurston Moore. It was released on September 20, 2024 via Moore's independent label The Daydream Library Series and was self-produced with Eva Marie Moore.
Five attached singles preceded the album, which was Moore's first following the publication of his book Sonic Life: A Memoir. It was subject to critical acclaim upon release and peaked on the UK Independent Albums Chart at no. 12.
Background and singles
[edit]On February 17, 2023, Moore released a single entitled "Hypnogram" alongside the announcement of a new album.[5] The following month, Moore released another song, "Isadora", on Bandcamp with an accompanying music video starring Sky Ferreira, directed by Radieux Radio.[6] Radio is an alias for Thurston Moore's wife Eva Marie Moore[7] who has often written lyrics for him as early as The Best Day (2014).[8] Although the song was marketed as a track from the forthcoming album,[9] it was ultimately left off the standard track listing.[10]
In October, Moore's book Sonic Life: A Memoir was published.[11] He would later cancel the book tour due to atrial fibrillation, a health issue that he said he suffered from for years,[12] and Moore would ultimately not release more music from Flow Critical Lucidity until the following year on Earth Day (April 22) with the single "Rewilding".[13] On June 20, 2024, the title, artwork, and release date were revealed with the single "Sans Limites", which features Stereolab's Lætitia Sadier on backing vocals.[10] Moore released two more singles prior to the album: "New in Town" on July 25 (coinciding with his 66th birthday)[14] and "The Diver" on August 23.[15]
Release and artwork
[edit]Flow Critical Lucidity was released on September 20, 2024 by Moore's record label The Daydream Library Series.[16] It peaked on the UK Independent and Scottish album charts at no. 12 and no. 46, respectively.[17] Limited editions included a flexi disc containing "Isadora (Bedazzled Mix)".[14]
The artwork is derived from the 1988 painting Samurai Walkman by Jamie Nares,[7] which is featured on the back cover of the album.[18]
Critical reception
[edit]| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 83/100[19] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Christgau's Consumer Guide |  [20] |
| Clash | 7/10[2] |
| Classic Rock | 8/10[1] |
| Mojo | [4] |
| PopMatters | 8/10[16] |
| Record Collector | [21] |
| Spectrum Culture | 79%[22] |
| Uncut | 8/10[23] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Flow Critical Lucidity received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 83 out of 100 from seven critic scores.[19]
Jon Buckland of The Quietus wrote "The whole record feels hauled from a dream space where you’re laid on your back letting the sky sink down to you."[7] Reviewing for AllMusic, Fred Thomas said that while "Moore doesn't do much to change his established sound ... the substantial contributions from both [Radieux] Radio and his band allow for the entire crew to go deeper and linger longer in both moments of no wave clatter and the heavy, transcendent bliss that Moore has made his calling card."[3] Christopher J. Lee of PopMatters believed that although it "may not supersede Thurston Moore’s past career peaks", the album demonstrates "the unbounded possibilities of transformation available to [him]".[16]
Both Uncut Magazine and Will Pinfold of Spectrum Culture said that Flow Critical Lucidity ranks highly in Moore's solo discography.[23][22] Grayson Haver Currin of Mojo went further, considering it to be his best album since Sonic Youth's The Eternal (2009) and saying "this is the closest he's been to tapping back into the feeling in a long time. ... Moore sounds interested in his future again".[4]
Year-end lists
[edit]| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| AllMusic | Favorite Alternative & Indie Albums | N/A[a] | [24] |
| Les Inrocks | Best of 2024 | 55 | [25] |
| The Quietus | Albums of the Year 2024 | 96 | [26] |
| Rough Trade UK | Albums of the Year 2024 | 33 | [27] |
Track listing
[edit]All lyrics are written by Radieux Radio (Eva Marie Moore),[7] except "Shadow" (Thurston Moore); all music is composed by Thurston Moore.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "New in Town" | 3:18 |
| 2. | "Sans Limites" (feat. Lætitia Sadier) | 5:06 |
| 3. | "Shadow" | 5:01 |
| 4. | "Hypnogram" | 7:17 |
| 5. | "We Get High" | 6:12 |
| 6. | "Rewilding" | 4:00 |
| 7. | "The Diver" | 7:53 |
| Total length: | 38:47 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 8. | "Isadora" | 3:13 |
| 9. | "Wet Certificate" (outtake) | 7:09 |
| 10. | "Hypnogram" (live in Geneva) | 7:59 |
| Total length: | 57:08 | |
Personnel
[edit]Credits are adapted from the CD liner notes.[18]
- Thurston Moore – guitars, vocals
- Deb Googe – bass
- James Sedwards – guitars, organ, piano, glockenspiel
- Jem Doulton – percussion
- Jon Leidecker – electronics
- Lætitia Sadier – backing vocals on "Sans Limites"
Technical and design
- Thurston Moore, Eva Marie Moore – production
- Kristian Craig Robinson – recording at Total Refreshment Centre
- Margo Broom – mixing at Hermitage Works Studios
- Christian Killer Corless – design
- Jamie Nares – artwork (Samurai Walkman)
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[17] | 46 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[17] | 12 |
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b True, Everett (December 2024). "Albums: Thurston Moore – Flow Critical Lucidity". Classic Rock. p. 72. ISSN 1464-7834.
- ^ a b Taylor, Phil (September 22, 2025). "Thurston Moore – Flow Critical Lucidity". Clash. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c Thomas, Fred. "Flow Critical Lucidity – Thurston Moore | AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c Currin, Grayson Haver (November 2024). "Future days". Mojo. No. 372. Petersborough, UK: H Bauer. p. 86. ISSN 1351-0193.
- ^ Jones, Abby (February 17, 2023). "Thurston Moore Confirms New Album, Shares 'Hypnogram': Stream". Consequence. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (March 3, 2023). "Thurston Moore Shares Sky Ferreira-Featuring Video for New Song 'Isadora'". Our Culture Mag. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Buckland, Jon (September 23, 2024). "Thurston Moore: Flow Critical Lucidity". The Quietus. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ Berman, Stuart (October 20, 2024). "The Best Day: Thurston Moore". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ Kenneally, Cerys (March 3, 2023). "Thurston Moore releases new single 'Isadora' with video starring Sky Ferreira". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ^ a b Vito, Jo (June 20, 2024). "Thurston Moore Announces New Album Flow Critical Lucidity, Releases Single with Stereolab's Lætitia Sadier: Stream". Consequence. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ^ Grow, Kory (May 4, 2023). "Thurston Moore to Tell Sonic Youth Story in 'Sonic Life' Memoir". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ Antrim, Taylor (October 23, 2023). "Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth on His New Memoir, Sonic Life, and What He Wants to Write Next". Vogue. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ Redfern, Mark (April 22, 2024). "Thurston Moore Shares New Song 'Rewilding'". Under the Radar. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ^ a b Chelosky, Danielle (July 25, 2024). "Thurston Moore – 'New In Town'". Stereogum. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ^ Brodsky, Rachel (August 23, 2024). "Thurston Moore – 'The Diver'". Stereogum. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ^ a b c Lee, Christopher J. (November 11, 2024). "Thurston Moore Finds Levity on 'Flow Critical Lucidity'". PopMatters. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Thurston Moore | Artist | Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Moore, Thurston (2024). Flow Critical Lucidity (CD liner notes). The Daydream Library Series.
- ^ a b "Flow Critical Lucidity by Thurston Moore". Metacritic. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ "Thurston Moore: Consumer Guide Reviews". Christgau's Consumer Guide. November 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2025 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Moores, JR (October 5, 2024). "Thurston Moore – Flow Critical Lucidity". Record Collector. No. 563 (November 2024). London: Diamond Publishing Ltd. p. 101. ISSN 0261-250X.
- ^ a b Pinfold, Will (October 2, 2024). "Thurston Moore: Flow Critical Lucidity". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ^ a b "New Albums: Thurston Moore – Flow Critical Lucidity". Uncut. October 2024. p. 37. ISSN 1368-0722.
- ^ a b "The AllMusic 2024 Year in Review: Favorite Alternative & Indie Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
- ^ "Découvrez nos 100 meilleurs albums de 2024 (partie 1/4)". Les Inrocks (in French). December 5, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ "The Quietus Albums of the Year 2024 (In Association with Norman Records)". The Quietus. December 2, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ "Albums of the Year 2024 | Rough Trade UK". Rough Trade. November 19, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Flow Critical Lucidity at Discogs (list of releases)
