Dinosaur Jr. - There Near. LP [Pink Clear Vinyl]
Dinosaur Jr. have seemingly lived two seperate musical lives. From their punk and noise leaning early work to the more matured and slightly softer version after their reformation in 2005. Both era's of their ultra distinctive brand of alternative rock helped cement them as one of the great guitar bands of the underground world, leaving their mark and influencing the grunge and guitar driven rise that the 90's would usher in with groups like Nirvana and Built to Spill. With their 13th album and 6th since their reformation, J. Mascis and Co. look to return to the rowdy and clamorous chaos of their debut, sort of...
'There Near' possesses the spirit of their carefree, youthful days emitted but now presented with the musical nuance of true veterans that have literally done it all. While they never completely lose themselves in the anarchic, lo-fi and fuzzed out violence that albums like 'You're Living All Over Me' brought in spades, they marry that ethos with more melodic and clean songwriting. The result is an album that tends to ebb and flow, often leaning towards their more tender side. But one thing that hasn't changed at all is Mascis's almost unparalleled proficiency at his guitar and specifically his guitar solos. There's almost no one quiet like him when he lets loose and 'There Near' absolutely shines with Mascis still in the form of his life.
For fans of Fugazi, Sebadoh & Slint