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Flow Critical Lucidity

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Flow Critical Lucidity
Studio album by
Thurston Moore
ReleasedSeptember 20, 2024[1]
StudioTotal Refreshment Centre, London
Genre
Length38:47
LabelThe Daydream Library Series
Producer
  • Thurston Moore
  • Eva Marie Moore
Thurston Moore chronology
Screen Time
(2021) 		Flow Critical Lucidity
(2024)
Singles from Flow Critical Lucidity
  1. "Hypnogram"
    Released: February 17, 2023[6]
  2. "Rewilding"
    Released: April 22, 2024[7]
  3. "San Limites"
    Released: June 20, 2024[8]
  4. "New in Town"
    Released: July 25, 2024[9]
  5. "The Diver"
    Released: August 23, 2024[10]

Flow Critical Lucidity is the ninth studio album by American musician Thurston Moore. It was released on September 20, 2024[1] and was produced by Thurston and Eva Marie Moore.

Five singles were taken from the album, 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.[11]

Background and singles

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In February 2023, Moore released a single entitled "Hypnogram" alongside the announcement of a new album.[6] The following month, Moore released another song, "Isadora", on Bandcamp with an accompanying music video starring Sky Ferreira, directed by Radieux Radio.[12] Radio is an alias for Thurston Moore's wife Eva Marie Moore[13] who has often written lyrics for him as early as The Best Day (2014).[14] Although the song was marketed as a track from the forthcoming album,[15] it was ultimately left off the standard track listing.[8]

In October, Moore's book Sonic Life: A Memoir was published.[16] He would have to cancel the book tour due to atrial fibrillation, a health issue that he said he suffered from "for a number of years",[17] and Moore would ultimately not release more music from Flow Critical Lucidity until Earth Day of the following year with the single "Rewilding".[7] On June 20, 2024, the title, artwork, and release date were revealed with the single "Sans Limites", a song featuring Lætitia Sadier of Stereolab on backing vocals.[8] He would release two more singles prior to the album, "New in Town" and "The Diver", the former of which coincided with his 66th birthday.[9][10]

Release

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Flow Critical Lucidity peaked on the UK Independent and Scottish album charts at no. 12 and 46, respectively.[11] Limited editions included a flexi disc containing "Isadora (Bedazzled Mix)".[9]

The artwork is derived from the 1988 painting Samurai Walkman by Jamie Nares.[13] which is featured on the back cover of the album.[18]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic83/100[19]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Christgau's Consumer Guide(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)[20]
Clash7/10[3]
Classic Rock8/10[2]
Mojo[5]
PopMatters8/10[1]
Uncut8/10[21]

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."[13] 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."[4] 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]".[1]

Grayson Haver Currin of Mojo considered it to be Moore's best album since Sonic Youth's The Eternal (2009), 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".[5] Uncut Magazine said the album "stands among his best solo works."[21]

Accolades

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Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
Les Inrocks Best of 2024 55 [22]
The Quietus Albums of the Year 2024 96 [23]
Rough Trade UK Albums of the Year 2024 33 [24]

Track listing

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All lyrics are written by Radieux Radio (Eva Marie Moore),[13] except where noted; all music is composed by Thurston Moore.

Flow Critical Lucidity track listing
No.TitleLyricsLength
1."New in Town" 3:18
2."Sans Limites" (feat. Lætitia Sadier) 5:06
3."Shadow"Thurston Moore5:01
4."Hypnogram" 7:17
5."We Get High" 6:12
6."Rewilding" 4:00
7."The Diver" 7:53
Total length:38:47
Bandcamp special digital edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
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]

Technical and design

  • Thurston Moore, Eva Marie Moore – production
  • Kristian Craig Robinson – recording
  • Margo Broom – mixing
  • Christian Killer Corless – design
  • Jamie Nares – artwork (Samurai Walkman)

Charts

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Chart (2024) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[11] 46
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[11] 12

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Lee, Christopher J. (November 11, 2024). "Thurston Moore Finds Levity on 'Flow Critical Lucidity'". PopMatters. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  2. ^ a b True, Everett (December 2024). "Albums: Thurston Moore – Flow Critical Lucidity". Classic Rock. p. 72. ISSN 1464-7834.
  3. ^ a b Taylor, Phil (September 22, 2025). "Thurston Moore – Flow Critical Lucidity". Clash. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Thomas, Fred. "Flow Critical Lucidity – Thurston Moore | AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Currin, Grayson Haver (November 2024). "Future days". Mojo. No. 372. Petersborough, UK: H Bauer. p. 86. ISSN 1351-0193.
  6. ^ a b Jones, Abby (February 17, 2025). "Thurston Moore Confirms New Album, Shares 'Hypnogram': Stream". Consequence. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Redfern, Mark (April 22, 2024). "Thurston Moore Shares New Song 'Rewilding'". Under the Radar. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c 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.
  9. ^ a b c Chelosky, Danielle (July 25, 2024). "Thurston Moore – 'New In Town'". Stereogum. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Brodsky, Rachel (August 23, 2024). "Thurston Moore – 'The Diver'". Stereogum. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d "Thurston Moore | Artist | Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  12. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (March 3, 2023). "Thurston Moore Shares Sky Ferreira-Featuring Video for New Song 'Isadora'". Our Culture Mag. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  13. ^ a b c d Buckland, Jon (September 23, 2024). "Thurston Moore: Flow Critical Lucidity". The Quietus. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  14. ^ Berman, Stuart (October 20, 2024). "The Best Day: Thurston Moore". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ Grow, Kory (May 4, 2023). "Thurston Moore to Tell Sonic Youth Story in 'Sonic Life' Memoir". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ a b Moore, Thurston (2024). Flow Critical Lucidity (CD liner notes). The Daydream Library Series.
  19. ^ a b "Flow Critical Lucidity by Thurston Moore". Metacritic. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  20. ^ "Thurston Moore: Consumer Guide Reviews". Christgau's Consumer Guide. November 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2025 – via robertchristgau.com.
  21. ^ a b "New Albums: Thurston Moore – Flow Critical Lucidity". Uncut. October 2024. p. 37. ISSN 1368-0722.
  22. ^ "Découvrez nos 100 meilleurs albums de 2024 (partie 1/4)". Les Inrocks (in French). December 5, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  23. ^ "The Quietus Albums of the Year 2024 (In Association with Norman Records)". The Quietus. December 2, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  24. ^ "Albums of the Year 2024 | Rough Trade UK". Rough Trade. November 19, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
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