Graham Reid | | 1 min read
Any band which refined and defined their sound and attitude over three decades ago is bound to have hit a burn-out/overly familiar factor some many years ago.
Surely?
But . . .
Although Elsewhere has just written a retrospective piece about this musical idea (as much as a band) helmed by J. Mascis, we have to concede this new one sounds as thrillingly noisy, focused and as concisely realised as anything in that vast back-catalogue.
And from the start -- the stuttering guitar rock of the openers Goin Down and Tiny which nod as much towards AC/DC fans as it does post-grunge rock'n'roll noise -- this one fairly flies out of the cabinets.
Yes, there is the frisson of the familiar alongside the firepower.
But here Mascis and longtime pal-cum-adversary Lou Barlow rack up a bruisingly addictive 45 minutes of raucous pop'n'roll.
These people understand verse-chours/verse-chorus + distortion + volume as much as they do their longtime take on a wired-up version of country-rock (Be A Part) and jangle-pop hot-wired into the overloaded grid (I Told Everyone).
There are breathing spaces amongst the widescreen sonics (Love Is and Left/Right are Barlow's REM-like folk-rock given a nudge into Dino.Cinerama) . . . but the real action happens when this is wound up and wired.
Dinosaur Jr have been a longtime Elsewhere rowdy but melodic pleasure, and this one vindicates that loyalty.
Highly recommended . . . if you have a decent threshold for pop-rock noise at great volume.
Start with posted track, it's Merseybeat pop with Mascis' skew.
Lovin' this one loud.
And most often louderer.
Dinosaur Jr is our New Favourite Band.
Again.
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