In 2012, Moore started a new band Chelsea Light Moving, with their first track, "Burroughs", released as a free download. Chelsea Light Moving's eponymous debut was released on 5 March 2013.
Moore was ranked 34th in Rolling Stone's 2004 edition of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." In May 2012, Spin published a staff-selected top 100 ranking Moore and his Sonic Youth bandmate Lee Ranaldo together on number 1.
Moore was born in Coral Gables, Florida and was raised in Bethel, Connecticut. Although he enrolled at Western Connecticut State University, he opted to move to New York City instead. There he learned to play guitar from Glenn Branca and soon co-founded Sonic Youth, serving as the band's guitarist and lead vocalist.
In 1985, he married Sonic Youth bassist, guitarist and vocalist Kim Gordon, with whom he has a daughter, Coco Hayley Gordon Moore. Thurston is known for playing Fender Jazzmaster guitars along with a host of other Fender models like the Mustang and Jaguar. Thurston is also very well known for being very harsh on his guitars.
In addition to his work with Sonic Youth, Moore has also released albums as a solo artist, one under the moniker David Adelmen, including 1995's "Psychic Hearts". He has collaborated with scores of artists, including My Cat is an Alien, DJ Spooky, Nels Cline, William Hooker, Christian Marclay, Loren Mazzacane Connors, R.E.M. and Cock E.S.P. In the mid-90's Moore formed a side band, The Dim Stars, with punk legend Richard Hell of Richard Hell and the Voidoids. In 2004, Moore performed in and produced an album for the all-star noise band To Live and Shave in L.A., the lineup of which also features Andrew W.K..
In 2004 Rolling Stone ranked him and Lee Ranaldo, of Sonic Youth, the 33rd and 34th best guitarists of all time. Their playing style is very innovative and they both use a large variety of extended techniques, like for instance their 3rd Bridge screwdriver technique.
Outside of his work as musical performer Moore runs the independent record label Ecstatic Peace and reviews new music in Arthur Magazine. In May 2005, he released the book Mix Tape: The Art of Cassette Culture.
Solo albums
Psychic Hearts (1995, Geffen Records)
Root (1998, Lo Recordings)
Trees Outside the Academy (2007, Ecstatic Peace)
Demolished Thoughts (2011, Matador Records)
Circulation
Thurston Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Refracted cries
The needle hits black lacquer
Speakers forgive lies
I'm not running away
The circulation makes her crazy
She's not here to stay
The perfect lights are backwards
Refracted cries
The needle hits white lacquer
Speakers forgive lies
I'm not running away
The circulation makes her crazy
She's not here to stay
She just came by to shoot you baby
Thurston Moore's song Circulation features intriguing and mysterious lyrics that depict a situation where someone feels like they are not running away, but rather trapped in a strange and confusing circumstance. The opening lines about "perfect lights being backwards" and "refracted cries" paint a vivid picture of someone in a daze or under the influence, perhaps seeing things in a distorted way. The needle hitting "black lacquer" and later "white lacquer" could represent a record player or drug use, adding to the disorienting atmosphere of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
The perfect lights are backwards
The lights are not placed in the right direction or order.
Refracted cries
Emotional tears that are hidden or reflected.
The needle hits black lacquer
The record is played and the needle touches the black vinyl surface.
Speakers forgive lies
The artists amplify the music and make it sound better than it actually is.
I'm not running away
The artist is not trying to escape from something or someone.
The circulation makes her crazy
The singer is referring to the circulation of blood that makes someone feel exhilarated or anxious.
She's not here to stay
The person is not planning to stay permanently or for an extended amount of time.
She just came by to shoot you baby
The person came to criticize or judge the artist harshly.
The perfect lights are backwards
The lights are not placed in the right direction or order.
Refracted cries
Emotional tears that are hidden or reflected.
The needle hits white lacquer
The record is played and the needle touches the white vinyl surface.
Speakers forgive lies
The artists amplify the music and make it sound better than it actually is.
I'm not running away
The singer is not trying to escape from something or someone.
The circulation makes her crazy
The singer is referring to the circulation of blood that makes someone feel exhilarated or anxious.
She's not here to stay
The person is not planning to stay permanently or for an extended amount of time.
She just came by to shoot you baby
The person came to criticize or judge the artist harshly.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: THURSTON JOSEPH MOORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sonicleaves
It's March 2018 and this still completely blows me away... just beautiful, haunting, sonic overload. I can really relate to the way the girl is dancing in the very beginning. I have been there many times, reminds me of being young and free. <3
Mah Teles
Perfeito!!!! GREAT SONG! SY é foda !!!!!! Saudações do Brasil!
Ariel Acosta
All you can always expect from Thurston Moore is quality, nothing else.
datingrobots
Demais! Lindo vídeo!
ggn6
Thurston, you're the man! Fantastic song and great video!!
Pony
Love it
davesdream
Esperaba mas de el en este Albun. Definitivamente cuando se unen los cuatro no hay nada comparable a Sonic Youth.... :)
Teodora Chaves Almeida
yesterday night, i was alone at home. put 'demolished thoughts' to play very loud and let myself dance naked impulsively emotionally to the core these beautiful chaotic calm songs - one of the best feelings of my life.
nowave1139
Amazing album! I hope he plays in Baltimore or D.C.
Ben van Westhuizen
Confirmed. Thurston Moore IS the man. This is beautiful :D