Dinosaur Jr. | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Dinosaur Jr. were largely responsible for returning lead guitar to indie rock and, along with their peers the Pixies, they injected late-80s alternative rock with monumental levels of pure guitar noise. As the groups career progressed, it turned into a vehicle for J Mascis songwriting and playing, which had the ultimate result of turning Dinosaurs albums into largely similar affairs. Over time, Mascis shed his hardcore punk roots and revealed himself to be a disciple of Neil Young, crafting simple songs that were delivered at a crushing volume and spiked with shards of feedback. Consequently, Dinosaur Jr.s 90s albums -- when the group was essentially a front for Mascis -- dont sound particularly revolutionary, even with their subtle sonic innovations, yet their original 80s records for SST were a different matter. On their early records, Dinosaur lurched forward, taking weird detours into free-form noise and melodic soloing before the songs are brought back into relief by Mascis laconic whine. Dinosaurs SST records laid the foundation for alternative rocks commercial breakthrough in the early 90s, and while the bands profile was raised substantially in the wake of Nirvanas success, they never really became much bigger than highly respected cult figures. Mascis (born Joseph D. Mascis; guitar, vocal) formed Dinosaur Jr. in Amherst, Massachusetts after his hardcore punk band Deep Wound broke up in 1983. Hooking up with fellow high-school student Lou Barlow (bass), Mascis initially played drums in Dinosaur, but shortly afterward, former All White Jury drummer Murph (born Emmett "Patrick" Murphy) joined the group and J moved to guitar. Over the next year the group developed a local following, and in 1985 the trio released its debut album, Dinosaur, on the Homestead label. The record and the groups crushingly loud concerts developed a cult following over the next year. By the end of 1986, a hippie rock group called Dinosaur -- featuring former members of Jefferson Airplane and Country Joe & the Fish -- sued the band, which changed its name to Dinosaur Jr. In 1987, Dinosaur Jr. signed to Black Flags indie label SST and released Youre Living All Over Me, which became an underground sensation, with groups like Sonic Youth championing Mascis wild, feedback-drenched guitar. Early in 1988 they released the seminal single "Freak Scene," a song that captured the feeling and tone of the emerging American post-punk underground. "Freak Scene" became a college radio hit, and it led the way for their acclaimed 1988 album, Bug. Although the bands popularity continued to grow, tensions were developing between Mascis and Barlow, who rarely talked to each other. In 1989, Mascis told Barlow that the group was breaking up; the following day, he "re-formed" Dinosaur Jr., this time without Barlow, who went on to form Sebadoh. Without Barlow, Dinosaur Jr. relied on a rotating array of guest bassists, including Don Fleming and the Screaming Trees Van Connor. In 1989, the group had an underground hit with its non-LP cover of the Cures "Just Like Heaven." The following year, they signed with Sire Records. After "Just Like Heaven," Mascis remained quiet for several years as he produced acts like Buffalo Tom and collaborated with friends like Sonic Youth and Flemings Velvet Monkeys. Green Mind, Dinosaurs 1991 major-label debut, was recorded almost entirely alone by Mascis, and its varied, eclectic sound was received poorly in many alternative rock circles. Before the Green Mind tour, former Snakepit member Mike Johnson became the groups full-time bassist. On the subsequent tour, Dinosaur Jr. were supported by Nirvana, whose success with Nevermind soon overshadowed Dinosaurs. Instead of capitalizing on the commercial breakthrough of alternative rock, Dinosaur released an EP, Whatevers Cool with Me, in early 1992 and disappeared to record their next album. Released early in 1993, Where You Been benefited greatly from the commercial breakthrough of alternative rock, and many of the articles surrounding the albums release hailed Mascis as an alternative godfather. It became the first Dinosaur album to chart, peaking at number 50, and it generated the modern rock hit "Start Choppin." That summer, the group played on the third Lollapalooza tour. Mascis recorded the bands next album without Murph, who unceremoniously left the band; he later joined the Lemonheads. Dinosaur Jr. released Without a Sound in 1994 to mixed reviews, but the album was a moderate hit, thanks to the MTV and modern rock hit "Feel the Pain." In the fall of 1995, Mascis launched his first solo acoustic tour, which was captured on his first official solo album, Martin & Me, released in the spring of 1996. After contributing several Brian Wilson-styled songs to Alison Anders 1996 film Grace of My Heart -- he also made an appearance in the movie -- Mascis completed Dinosaurs next album on his own, leaving Johnson to his solo career. Upon its spring 1997 release, Hand It Over was hailed as Mascis best album in years, although it failed to generate a significant hit. By the late 90s, Mascis decided to break up Dinosaur Jr. and launch a solo career, resulting in the release of More Light in 2000 (under the name of J Mascis + the Fog, a group that also featured former Minutemen bassist Mike Watt). The new groups ensuing tour was cut short in June of 2001, however, when its tour bus was involved in a serious accident in Sweden, resulting in Mascis cracking two vertebrae. In the wake of their breakup, a pair of postmortem Dinosaur Jr. collections saw the light of day in the early 21st century: 2000s live-in-the-studio BBC Sessions and 2001s Ear-Bleeding Country: The Best Of. In addition, the history of Dinosaur Jr.s original lineup was documented in Michael Azerrads excellent 2001 book of 80s alt-rock pioneers, Our Band Could Be Your Life. In 2005 the first three albums were reissued on Merge and Mascis announced that the original band would be reuniting for a short tour. A year later, Green Mind and Where You Been were reissued by Sire with bonus tracks, while Rhino released J Mascis Live at CBGBs, a recording of an acoustic gig from 1993. To coincide with the 2006 reissues, the reunited band began a worldwide tour and announced plans to work on material for a new album, which surfaced in 2007 in the form of Beyond. The reunion stuck, and the original lineup of Dinosaur Jr. eventually releasing Farm in 2009, followed by I Bet on Sky in 2012. The members of Dinosaur Jr. spent the next four years pursuing solo projects -- J Mascis released Tied to a Star in 2014, Lou Barlow released Brace the Wave in 2015 -- and the group then returned in the summer of 2016 with Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 18 Title: Dinosaur Released: 1985-07 Tracks: 14 Duration: 48:59 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Bulbs of Passion (04:14) 2 Forget the Swan (05:09) 3 Cats in a Bowl (03:35) 4 The Leper (04:02) 5 Does It Float (03:17) 6 Pointless (02:45) 7 Repulsion (03:02) 8 Gargoyle (02:10) 9 Severed Lips (04:01) 10 Mountain Man (03:28) 11 Quest (04:24) 12 Does It Float (live) (03:54) 13 Minor Threat (live) (01:35) 14 Gargoyle (live) (03:23) |
| Dinosaur : Allmusic album Review : Released before the group was forced to change its name to Dinosaur Jr. by an obscure psychedelic group, the bands debut, Dinosaur, is a noisy, impressive, but uneven array of pseudo-hardcore numbers, sonic experiments, and sprawling hard rock. Although the band doesnt land on any one distinctive style, its ambition of marrying Neil Young and Sonic Youth sounds intriguing, and it has enough outstanding moments to indicate that the group was capable of the stylistic breakthrough it achieved on Youre Living All Over Me. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 18 Title: You’re Living All Over Me Released: 1987-07 Tracks: 9 Duration: 35:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Little Fury Things (03:05) 2 Kracked (02:51) 3 Sludgefeast (05:15) 4 The Lung (03:51) 5 Raisans (03:48) 6 Tarpit (04:33) 7 In a Jar (03:26) 8 Lose (03:08) 9 Poledo (05:40) |
| You’re Living All Over Me : Allmusic album Review : A blitzkrieg fusion of hardcore punk, Sonic Youth-style noise freak-outs, heavy metal, and melodic hard rock in the vein of Neil Young, Youre Living All Over Me was a turning point in American underground rock & roll. With its thin, unbalanced mix, the album sounds positively menacing and edgy -- Lou Barlows bass barrels forward over Murphs clanking drums, with J Mascis guitar twisting pummeling riffs and careening, occasionally atonal solos. It established guitar heroics as a part of indie rock, bringing the noise of Sonic Youth into more conventional song structures. Also, Mascis laconic, self-absorbed whine was a distinct departure from the furious post-hardcore rants, or the mumbling Michael Stipe imitations, that dominated indie rock. While the songwriting is occasionally uneven, the best moments of Youre Living All Over Me -- "Little Fury Things," "Raisans," "In a Jar," and Barlows proto-Sebadoh "Poledo" -- retain their power, and its possible to hear the records influence throughout alternative rock. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 18 Title: Bug Released: 1988-10-31 Tracks: 9 Duration: 35:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Freak Scene (03:38) 2 No Bones (03:43) 3 They Always Come (04:30) 4 Yeah We Know (05:30) 5 Let It Ride (03:36) 6 Pond Song (02:53) 7 Budge (02:32) 8 The Post (03:38) 9 Don’t (05:41) |
| Bug : Allmusic album Review : Relatively cleaner-produced and more accessible than Youre Living All Over Me, Bug expanded on the strengths of its predecessor, and established Dinosaur Jr. as a major band in the American underground. Although the majority of the album is firmly situated in the sprawling, noisy metallic fusion of hard rock and avant noise, Bug also demonstrates that J Mascis has a talent for winding folk-rock, particularly on "The Post" and "Pond Song." Like its predecessor, the songs on Bug are quite uneven, but it does represent a major step forward for Mascis, particularly on the masterpiece of the record, "Freak Scene," a surprisingly catchy song encapsulating the appeal and pitfalls of indie rock within three minutes. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 18 Title: Fossils Released: 1991 Tracks: 8 Duration: 22:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Little Fury Things (03:06) 2 In a Jar (03:28) 3 Show Me the Way (03:49) 4 Freak Scene (03:35) 5 Keep the Glove (02:51) 6 Just Like Heaven (02:55) 7 Throw Down (00:49) 8 Chunks (02:10) |
| Fossils : Allmusic album Review : A brief, eight-song compilation of the groups SST singles, Fossils effectively sums up the power and vision of Dinosaur Jr.s early work. Not only does it contain the two masterpieces from Youre Living All Over Me and Bug -- "Little Fury Things" and "Freak Scene," respectively -- but it also gathers several excellent B-sides, including sardonic covers of Peter Framptons "Show Me the Way" and the Cures "Just Like Heaven," making it an excellent retrospective of Dinosaurs influential and erratic indie recordings. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 18 Title: Green Mind Released: 1991-02-18 Tracks: 10 Duration: 41:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Wagon (04:54) 2 Puke + Cry (04:27) 3 Blowing It (02:45) 4 I Live for That Look (01:56) 5 Flying Cloud (02:35) 6 How’d You Pin That One on Me (04:22) 7 Water (05:37) 8 Muck (04:16) 9 Thumb (05:38) 10 Green Mind (04:57) |
| Green Mind : Allmusic album Review : After temporarily suspending the band, J Mascis first snuck out "The Wagon" as a Sub Pop single, then a little while later released the groups first major-label album, Green Mind. More of a solo project than a group effort -- Lou Barlow was out and then some, Murph only drums on three tracks, a few guests pop up here and there -- its still a great album, recorded and performed with gusto. Such a judgment may seem strange given Mascis legendary image as the überslacker, but clearly the man knows how to balance how to convey himself with getting the job done. "The Wagon" itself kicks off the album, an even quicker and nuttier sequel to the peerless "Freak Scene" -- Don Fleming of Gumball fame adds some of the music and background vocals, but otherwise its Mascis and Murph cranking it and having a blast. When Mascis goes into one of his patented over-the-top solos, it all feels just right -- this is loud rock music for putting a smile on your face, not beating up people in a pit. The remainder of the album floats and rumbles along in its uniquely Dinosaur Jr. type of way, as apt to find poppy hooks, singalongs, and soft strumming as it is to blow out the Marshalls. Sublime moments include the contrast of sweet acoustic guitar and loud drums on "Blowing It," the fun thrash of "Howd You Pin That One on Me," and the Mellotron-as-flute-tinged stomp "Thumb." If nothing on the album is completely as freaked-out and over the top as "Dont" from Bug, its still a fine translation of Mascis art for the commercial big boys. The song titles alone sometime say it all -- "Puke + Cry," "I Live for That Look," "Muck." Mascis throughout sounds like his usual self, cracked drawl ever as it was and shall be. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 18 Title: Where You Been Released: 1993-02-09 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:05:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Out There (05:55) 2 Start Choppin (05:40) 3 What Else Is New (05:09) 4 On the Way (03:30) 5 Not the Same (06:01) 6 Get Me (05:51) 7 Drawerings (04:51) 8 Hide (04:18) 9 Goin Home (04:20) 10 I Ain’t Sayin (02:33) 11 Hide (John Peel session) (03:49) 12 Keeblin’ (03:40) 13 What Else Is New (live) (10:02) |
| Where You Been : Allmusic album Review : By the time Where You Been surfaced, Seattle had completely exploded, and given that Dinosaur Jr.s sound, attitude, and more were as proto-slacker as could be, the temptation must have been great to cash in. But J Mascis stuck to his guns, and theres little about Where You Been that would have seemed out of place on Green Mind or even some earlier records. Recorded with a full band throughout, Mike Johnson and Murph lay down does-the-job rhythm tracks while Mascis tackles almost everything else. Where You Been is occasionally moody and dark but otherwise is more rough fun. Opening track "Out There" is one of the most mournful things Mascis has recorded, with an especially yearning chorus, but his fiery solo still makes it classic Dinosaur Jr. "Start Choppin" immediately follows, its quick, catchy lead riff helping to make it as close to a radio hit as the band ever had -- and, of course, a big ol solo or two adding to the fun of it all. From there on in its a puréed blast of punk, classic rock, and more. It may be business as usual, but its good business just the same, whether its the gentle "Not the Same," on which Mascis does his best Neil Young impersonation, or the stuttering feedback snorts and rips on "Hide," on which he borrows a bit back from disciple Kevin Shields. Other highlights include "Get Me," a melancholic, steady cruncher with another trademark solo of the gods, and the unjustly ignored "What Else Is New," which sounds like a mid-70s rock ballad with louder volume and none of the crud, right down to the concluding string section. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 18 Title: Quest Released: 1993-07-25 Tracks: 10 Duration: 41:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Quest (05:48) 2 Hot Burrito #2 (03:21) 3 Turnip Farm (05:51) 4 Forget It (04:06) 5 Kracked (live) (03:29) 6 Keeblin (03:43) 7 Severed Lips (Mark Goodier session) (02:57) 8 Get Me (John Peel session) (04:18) 9 Thumb (Mark Goodier session) (03:06) 10 Quest (acoustic) (04:48) |
| Quest : Allmusic album Review : Only released in Japan, Quest very conveniently collects the various B-sides from the Where You Been singles in one handy package. Originally on Bug, "Quest" itself appears in two versions that bookend the disc, a live run-through thats a slow burning trudge like the earlier studio take and an acoustic version thats arguably the better of the two, emphasizing the songs burnt, hurt lyrics. As for the rest of the tracks, its an amusing dogs breakfast of selections, including radio session cuts, wholly new studio tracks, and a cover song. The said remake of the Flying Burrito Brothers "Hot Burrito #2" wont necessarily give Gram Parsons nightmares, but the triumphant rendition is something even the cosmic cowboy might not have imagined -- J Mascis trademark wail/drawl has rarely sounded so appropriate. The other new studio tracks include "Turnip Farm," with a good thick guitar crunch and a softly sung chorus, and "Keeblin," with a neat combination of acoustic and electric guitar behind Mascis voice. "Forget It" isnt as immediately memorable in comparison but does have a nice acoustic start before the usual electric mayhem unfolds. The radio session takes are British recordings, all but one of which are delivered in really nice solo acoustic versions that emphasize each of the songs elements of gentle downbeat vibes. Two are for DJ Mark Goodier, lovely versions of "Severed Lips" and "Thumb." The remaining number, for Goodiers more famous counterpart, John Peel, is a fine take on "Get Me" that adds some electric guitar lines to the proceedings here and there. The remaining track on the disc is an interesting nod to the past: "Kracked." Originally recorded for Youre Living All Over Me and here captured in an appropriately amped-up and thrashed-out live version, the songs shift between stripped-down riffing and full-on splurge still sounds darn cool. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 18 Title: Without a Sound Released: 1994-08-01 Tracks: 11 Duration: 46:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Feel the Pain (04:18) 2 I Don’t Think So (03:36) 3 Yeah Right (02:47) 4 Outta Hand (05:00) 5 Grab It (03:32) 6 Even You (03:23) 7 Mind Glow (04:03) 8 Get Out of This (05:23) 9 On the Brink (03:14) 10 Seemed Like the Thing to Do (05:49) 11 Over Your Shoulder (04:52) |
| Without a Sound : Allmusic album Review : J Mascis fired longtime drummer Murph before the recording of Without a Sound, which came as a surprise to Murph. Naturally, the change in personnel hasnt changed Dinosaur Jr.s sound much; the only difference between Without a Sound and Where You Been is a more pronounced country leaning (particularly on the albums high point, the rollicking "I Dont Think So") and shorter, more concise performances. What hasnt changed are the overpowering fuzz tones of Mascis guitar, which tend to hide his more expressive vocals; it also makes digging out the gems on this album a little more difficult than necessary. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 18 Title: Hand It Over Released: 1997-03-25 Tracks: 15 Duration: 56:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Don’t Think (03:21) 2 Never Bought It (03:42) 3 Nothin’s Goin’ On (03:13) 4 I’m Insane (03:52) 5 Can’t We Move This (03:41) 6 Alone (08:01) 7 Sure Not Over You (04:09) 8 Loaded (03:27) 9 Mick (04:39) 10 I Know Yer Insane (03:03) 11 Gettin Rough (02:12) 12 Gotta Know (04:47) 1 Take a Run at the Sun (03:32) 2 Don’t You Think It’s Time (02:28) 3 The Pickle Song (01:45) |
| Hand It Over : Allmusic album Review : Bouncing back from the staid Without a Sound, J Mascis turns in his most eclectic album since Green Mind with Dinosaur Jr.s Hand It Over. Dinosaurs bedrock sound hasnt changed -- its still a sprawling, electric mess of hard rock filtered through folk-rock song structures -- but Mascis plays with the arrangements, adding strings, trumpets, and on a handful of tracks, My Bloody Valentines slippery guitar orchestrations and vocals (Kevin Shields and Bilinda Butcher both sing on the album). These additions make the music sound fresh, but they would only be window dressing if Mascis songs werent as strong as they are. Again, his progressions are subtle, but songs like "I Dont Think," "Nothins Goin On," "Cant We Move This," and "Sure Not Over You" are fine additions to his catalog, and help make Hand It Over one of Dinosaur Jr.s most consistent and best records. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 18 Title: In Session Released: 1999-02-08 Tracks: 10 Duration: 36:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 In a Jar (03:31) 2 Leper (04:32) 3 Keep the Glove (02:20) 4 Budge (02:42) 5 Bulbs of Passion (04:11) 6 Raisins (03:14) 7 Keeblin (03:23) 8 No Bones (03:28) 9 Does It Float (04:41) 10 Get Me (04:23) |
| In Session : Allmusic album Review : More than any of its peers from late-80s indie rock, Dinosaur Jr. seemed to completely embody the lo-fi/slacker ethos. His amplifier cranked to 11, singer/guitarist J. Mascis directed the trio with unkempt guitar sludge that buried everything in sight, including his own cracked, sleepy tenor. In interviews, he sounded like he was perpetually on the verge of dozing off and his vocal style left a similar impression. The BBC Sessions collects ten live-in-studio recordings, the bulk of which date from the early years of the group. Although the music benefits from a less claustrophobic sound, the performances themselves rarely stray far from their studio counterparts. Early songs like "Bulbs of Passion" and "Does It Float" (from the 1985 debut Dinosaur) mix late-80s indie rock with bloodcurdling metal. The group hit its stride two years later, however, settling on the sound explored over the next several years: a combination of early, amelodic Sonic Youth; the forceful, driving rock of Hüsker Dü (both labelmates on SST); and Mascis bursts of Neil Young-style guitar leads. "Keep the Glove," "In a Jar," and "Raisins" are all fine selections from this period, which produced their underground triumph, Youre Living All Over Me (1987), and its acclaimed follow-up, Bug (1988). Mascis approach to writing and recording didnt so much evolve, however, as mellow with age. By the time of 1993s Where You Been, with Dinosaur Jr. essentially his solo vehicle, the clouds of distortion had thinned, and the guitar explorations expanded. "Get Me" and "Keeblin" (the only material on BBC that dates after 1992) are given acoustic-heavy readings that highlight Mascis underrated songwriting gifts but reveal his shortcomings as a performer. With very little differentiating individual Dinosaur Jr. albums, most listeners will be satisfied with a single studio collection. BBC Sessions should be reserved for the rare die-hard fan. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 18 Title: Ear Bleeding Country: The Best of Dinosaur Jr. Released: 2001-10-02 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:15:35 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Repulsion (03:03) 2 Little Fury Things (03:06) 3 In a Jar (03:28) 4 Freak Scene (03:38) 5 Budge (02:32) 6 Just Like Heaven (02:55) 7 The Wagon (04:54) 8 Thumb (05:38) 9 Whatever’s Cool With Me (04:34) 10 Not You Again (02:28) 11 Out There (05:54) 12 Start Choppin’ (05:37) 13 Get Me (05:51) 14 Feel the Pain (04:18) 15 I Don’t Think So (03:36) 16 Take a Run at the Sun (03:28) 17 Nothin’s Goin’ On (03:13) 18 I’m Insane (03:52) 19 Where’d You Go (03:21) |
| Ear Bleeding Country: The Best of Dinosaur Jr. : Allmusic album Review : The conventional wisdom on Dinosaur Jr. is focused almost entirely on their sonics, which admittedly were devastating and influential. Other bands had never relinquished the force of electric guitars -- Hüsker Dü were a galvanizing force, Sonic Youth reaffirmed that sheer noise had poetic power -- but Dinosaur, through their laconic frontman, J Mascis, restored not just the idea of a guitar hero, but showed that underground rock could soar with the eloquence of a guitar hero, reeling from lovely leads to sheets of noise to tranquil chords. In their early days, they relied more on sheer, overwhelming power, which tended to overshadow Mascis subtle songwriting -- something that came to the forefront when the group, shed of Lou Barlow, shifted to Sire early in the 90s, because that also brought cleaner, precise productions. Since Rhinos 2001 compilation Ear-Bleeding Country: The Best of Dinosaur Jr. concentrates the Sire recordings, it does wind up emphasizing his songwriting, yet since those songs were always graced with Dinosaurs sonic power and grace, it does provide an accurate summary of their career. And it provides a pretty tremendous listen in doing that. Some may argue that theres not enough Homestead or SST material here, and "Raisans" should have been here (along with Green Minds "Puke + Cry," and possibly their cover of "Show Me the Way"), but this generous 19-track collection never sags in its momentum, never has a dull spot, and pulls off a tricky move -- it makes Mascis seem consistent, which latter-day Dinosaur Jr. were not necessarily. However, as this collection proves, Mascis never lost his touch and could still write terrific songs, even as late as the groups final album. But what really stands out here is the consistency of the work -- "Little Fury Things" and "Freak Scene" may be the benchmarks of underground 80s rock, but alt-rock standards like the straight cover of the Cures "Just Like Heaven," "Whatevers Cool With Me," "Start Choppin," "Get Me," "Feel the Pain," and the astonishing "The Wagon" are their equal, as is nearly every other song on this collection. And while the inclusion of "Whered You Go," a cut by Mascis and his post-Dinosaur outfit, the Fog, is puzzling, "Take a Run at the Sun," a Beach Boys homage from the Grace of My Heart soundtrack that puts the High Llamas and R.E.M.s latter-day efforts to shame, certainly isnt, since it illustrates that Mascis genius is conscious. So, while there may be a couple of songs that maybe should have made the cut, what is here cements that Dinosaur Jr. are one of the great bands of their era, and its a terrific listen, one of the best records in their catalog. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 18 Title: Zombie Worm Released: 2006-02-22 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:04:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Little Fury Things (03:07) 2 Repulsion (03:04) 3 Freak Scene (03:37) 4 Just Like Heaven (02:53) 5 Forget the Swan (05:09) 6 Budge (02:34) 7 The Lung (03:53) 8 Bulbs of Passion (04:15) 9 Raisans (03:51) 10 No Bones (03:43) 11 Gargoyle (02:11) 12 In a Jar (03:28) 13 Yeah We Know (05:25) 14 Sludge Feast (05:18) 15 Forget the Swan (live) (07:34) 16 Freak Scene (live) (04:26) |
 | Album: 13 of 18 Title: Beyond Released: 2007-04-18 Tracks: 11 Duration: 49:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Almost Ready (03:08) 2 Crumble (04:04) 3 Pick Me Up (06:32) 4 Back to Your Heart (04:30) 5 This Is All I Came to Do (05:21) 6 Been There All the Time (03:40) 7 It’s Me (05:14) 8 We’re Not Alone (04:35) 9 I Got Lost (04:37) 10 Lightning Bulb (03:45) 11 What If I Knew (04:01) |
| Beyond : Allmusic album Review : More than most bands, Dinosaur Jr. left behind some unfinished business -- not just in one regard but two. First, there was the notoriously acrimonious dismissal of original bassist Lou Barlow after the groups third album, Bug, just before the band made the leap to the majors, but when the time came for guitarist/singer/songwriter J Mascis to retire the bands name, he slyly turned the words of his idol Neil Young upside down, choosing to fade away rather than burn out. After 1997s Hand It Over, Mascis ran out the clock, bringing his contract with Sire/Reprise to a close, doing some solo acoustic tours before forming the Fog and cutting a couple records with them without making any real impact outside of his devoted fans. And since he didnt break beyond his cult, Dinosaur Jr. seemed to belong solely to the history books -- the band that bridged the gap between the Replacements and Nirvana, the band that was seminal but not widely popular, a band that for whatever reason wasnt passed down to younger brothers and sisters the way their Boston compatriots the Pixies were. Perhaps it was because, unlike the Pixies, they summed up their times too well, since there was no other alt-rock musician that was as quintessentially slacker as J Mascis. With his laconic drawl and anthems of ambivalence, he was a figurehead for a generation who chose to stay on the sidelines, so sliding away from the spotlight was a logical path for Mascis: he never seemed to really want the fame, so it seemed that hed be happier on the fringe, which is where he wound up. All of this made the reunion of the classic J-Lou-Murph lineup in 2005 all the more surprising: there may have been unfinished business, but such a mess seemed inherent to their mystique. But the group got together to tour in support of reissues of their first three albums, and defying all logic, the reunion worked -- working so well that the band decided to record a full-length album, Beyond, releasing it in May 2007. The very existence of this new album is a surprise, but the real shock is that Beyond is a flat-out great record, a startling return to form for J Mascis as a guitarist and songwriter and Dinosaur Jr. as a band. Although this is from the lineup responsible for Youre Living All Over Me and Bug, two records so drenched in noise they still sound like aural assaults decades after their original release, Beyond sonically resembles latter-day Dinosaur albums; its not as harsh and its stylistically varied, ranging from full-throttle rockers to skipping country-rock and elegiac ballads. In a way, this sounds like the album that could have been released instead of Green Mind if Lou had stuck around, or if Dinosaur made the kind of grand major-label debut many expected them to deliver in the days before Nevermind. Musically, this suits that description -- Beyond is not a breakthrough or reinvention, its a consolidation of their strengths, which means it sounds very much like the band did at its peak -- but in terms of attitude, Mascis could never have made an album as assured as this in 1992, simply because he never was this confident. Naturally, this deliberate disengagement was a large part of Dinosaur Jr.s appeal: it not only made them sound distinct from their predecessors, but Mascis ambivalence about anything and everything made his guitar virtuosity and great songs seemed almost accidental, their very casualness proof of his genius. Beyond is very different in that for the first time, Mascis is assertive about his talent. He sounds engaged -- in music, in life (as he winkingly acknowledges on the chorus of the opening "Almost Ready," "Cmon life/Im almost ready") -- and it gives the album a powerful sense of purpose that the classic Dinosaur albums were lacking by their very design. But Beyond isnt great simply because its cohesive; its great because its as bold, vital, and monstrous as their best early work. As soon as the album crashes open with "Almost Ready," its clear that Dinosaur Jr. has tapped into the essence of their music, and their thundering roar sounds as vivid and thrilling as it was the first time around. After that visceral shock fades, it soon becomes apparent that Mascis writing is as forceful and surprisingly melodic as his guitar playing, and it soon becomes apparent that hes no longer burying his heart or humor beneath his bands walls of sounds; theyre proudly out on display. This fact is brought into sharp relief by Lou Barlows songs, two tunes that are typically turned inward, yet theyre enlivened by being delivered by this remarkable band, which gives Lous songs a backbone they never quite had in Sebadoh. Plus, the very presence of Barlows songs helps emphasize that Beyond is a full-fledged reunion, the sound of a group making amends and reconnecting with their strengths. Lou left the band because J didnt let his songs on Dinosaurs records, but now that theyre back together, its a fully collaborative effort, and the band is stronger for it, as this unexpectedly glorious reunion proves. Beyond isnt merely a worthy album from a reunited band, its simply a great record by any standard. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 18 Title: Farm Released: 2009-06-19 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:15:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Pieces (04:31) 2 I Want You to Know (04:30) 3 Ocean in the Way (04:20) 4 Plans (06:41) 5 Your Weather (03:06) 6 Over It (03:47) 7 Friends (04:32) 8 Said the People (07:41) 9 There’s No Here (03:39) 10 See You (05:47) 11 I Don’t Wanna Go There (08:43) 12 Imagination Blind (03:21) 13 I Dont Wanna Go There (03:52) 14 Tarpit (04:21) 15 Whenever You’re Ready (02:55) 16 Houses (03:40) |
| Farm : Allmusic album Review : If Farm lacks the element of surprise of Dinosaur Jr.s 2007 comeback, Beyond, thats just about the only thing it lacks: in every other respect it is its equal, a muscular, melodic monster that stands among the best albums the band has made. Again, what impresses is a combination of vigor and consistency, consistency not only in regards to the songs on Farm, but how it picks up on the thread running throughout the bands career, feeling as if it could have arrived in the early 90s, minus some subtle distinctions in production and attitude. As on Beyond, Dinosaur Jr.s assuredness is striking; Mascis may drawl that he "did it wrong" on the pre-chorus of "Theres No Here," but once again his tongue is firmly in cheek, and any traces self-mythologizing slackerdom are steamrollered by the bands roar. As good as the songwriting is -- and its as strong as it was on Beyond, as Mascis alternates between molten rock & roll ("Pieces"), fuzzy pop gems ("Over It" and "I Want to Know"), and churning slow burns ("Ocean in the Way"), while Lou Barlow throws in two strong numbers -- the real rush of Farm comes from the bands interplay, how the group locks together and rides the wave, sometimes taking upwards of seven or eight minutes to get where theyre going. Although there have been imitators and disciples, this is a sound thats utterly unique to Dinosaur Jr., and whats different about them in their reunion is that the group not only realizes their individuality, they revel in it, getting lost in the noise, and its hard not to get swept up with it, too. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 18 Title: Bug: Live at the 9:30 Club, Washington, DC, June 2011 Released: 2012 Tracks: 9 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Freak Scene (?) 2 No Bones (?) 3 They Always Come (?) 4 Yeah We Know (?) 5 Let It Ride (?) 6 Pond Song (?) 7 Budge (?) 8 The Post (?) 9 Dont (?) |
 | Album: 16 of 18 Title: I Bet on Sky Released: 2012-09-14 Tracks: 10 Duration: 47:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Don’t Pretend You Didn’t Know (05:31) 2 Watch the Corners (05:00) 3 Almost Fare (04:52) 4 Stick a Toe In (05:22) 5 Rude (02:50) 6 I Know It Oh So Well (04:42) 7 Pierce the Morning Rain (02:45) 8 What Was That (05:27) 9 Recognition (03:51) 10 See It on Your Side (06:39) |
| I Bet on Sky : Allmusic album Review : Now that Dinosaur Jr. is an actual working band and not a one-off reunion, they can settle into the business of being a band: touring regularly and cutting records where they subtly push at the boundaries of what defines the bands sound, as they do on 2012s I Bet On Sky. By some measures, the quietest record of their new millennium reunion, I Bet On Sky rarely roars with abandon -- oddly, its Lou Barlow who brings the noise with the appropriately named "Rude" and "Recognition," but J Mascis does kick in the glorious breakneck rocker "Pierce the Morning Rain" -- with the band indulging in different textures and tempos, opening up their music in a way the concentrated Farm didnt quite manage. This shift is evident from the start, when "Dont Pretend You Didnt Know" glides by on the back of an eerie analog synth line before surging into a chorus graced with piano, signaling that this is the Dinosaur Jr. with the most sonic color since Green Mind. Pianos pop back up on "Stick a Toe In," the band almost works out a heated groove on "I Know It Oh So Well" then lies back on "Almost Fare," finding space for the exploded pop of "What Was That," crunching power chords of "Watch the Corners," and closing off the proceedings with the mini-epic "Set It On Your Side." As always with Dinosaur Jr., underneath all that sound lie some sturdy bones, songs constructed with expert, unassuming craftsmanship and a sly wit, but its the variety and adventure that makes I Bet On Sky something more than another excellent Dinosaur record. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 18 Title: Chocomel Daze Released: 2012-11-16 Tracks: 11 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Severed Lips (?) 2 In a Jar (?) 3 The Lung (?) 4 Tarpit (?) 5 Does It Float (?) 6 Repulsion (?) 7 Lose (?) 8 Gargoyle (?) 9 Raisans (?) 10 Mountain Man (?) 11 SludgeFeast (?) |
 | Album: 18 of 18 Title: Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not Released: 2016-08-05 Tracks: 11 Duration: 46:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Going Down (04:02) 2 Tiny (03:12) 3 Be a Part (04:37) 4 I Told Everyone (03:40) 5 Love Is… (03:40) 6 Good to Know (03:27) 7 I Walk for Miles (05:34) 8 Lost All Day (05:06) 9 Knocked Around (04:46) 10 Mirror (04:17) 11 Left/Right (03:51) |
| Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not : Allmusic album Review : Arriving four years after 2012s I Bet on Sky -- the longest stretch of time between albums since Dinosaur Jr. became an active band again in 2007 -- Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not doesnt offer any surface surprises, at least not along the lines of the roaring reunion of 2007s Beyond, or the keyboard colorings of I Bet on Sky. Thats not to say Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not doesnt surprise, because it does -- namely, it shocks by sounding as vital as Dinosaur Jr. ever has. Deciding to not to build upon the expansive textures of I Bet on Sky, the trio nevertheless sounds vividly oversaturated throughout Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not. Certainly, J Mascis generates these brilliant colors through his guitar, with his riffs buzzing against each other and providing dense contrast to his piercing, lyrical solos, but the vigor of Lou Barlow and Murph is equally bracing. Beneath the fuzz, there are dexterous rhythms -- often, theres considerable air to the roar, making the music almost groove -- which gives Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not a visceral thrill, and if thats all it delivers itd be enough, but the tunes are among the strongest sets of songs Mascis and Barlow have ever written. As always, Barlow gets two numbers, but the heavy jangle of "Love Is…" and the stuttering, bone-tired closer "Left/Right" complement Mascis, who alternates between hooky-heavy pop, weary urban country, and creeping sludge. While none of these may be new, the execution of it all, from composition to performance, means that Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not feels fresh, which is quite an achievement for a band approaching the tenth anniversary of its reunion. | ||