Album of the Week: Dinosaur Jr.’S Give a Glimpse Of

Album Of The Week: Dinosaur Jr.’s Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not How exactly can a band that started out in the ’80s be considered a breath of fresh air now? Well you’ll have to start listening to what Amherst, Massachusetts, sludgy alternative rock trio Dinosaur Jr. have been putting out since the original trio of guitarist J Mascis, bassist Lou Barlow and drummer Murph got back together in 2005. Since then the band has released four stellar albums including their most recent, Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not, that was released on August 5. It still has that trademark shred from the band’s beginnings in the ’80s and the polish from the band’s releases in the ’90s. What makes it different than the other post-reunion albums is that the song structures are a bit more abstract. Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not is intriguing with how everything is set up. A few of the tracks in the beginning are loud, abrasive and upbeat. Then it gets changed up with a few songs that are sludge ballads alternating with other diverse material. It makes Dinosaur Jr.’s new album very unique, but don’t worry — there are still plenty of stunning solos courtesy of Mascis. The trio isn’t afraid to take chances on themselves musically and for a band with a dedicated and cult-like fan base, that takes some guts. Dinosaur Jr. have always been one of the most consistent acts out there today. If someone likes music that’s heavy, energetic and emphatic, then chances are they’re a fan of the trio from Amherst. There’s a no-nonsense approach to the band’s music that has to be admired. The songs stand out by themselves and there are no frills; that’s what makes this band so great. Let’s examine more of the greatness with the top tracks off of my Album Of The Week, shall we? “Goin Down” is a ripper and a wonderful introduction to what Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not is all about. The riffs that Mascis unleashes in this track are close to godliness. With a lead-up that’s a bit psychedelic, “Good To Know” is another track that’s adorned with riffs and Mascis’ twang. Barlow always gets a tad personal with the music he writes and “Love Is…” is exactly that. The acoustic-based track is influenced by his recent marriage along with being a bit of a nod to his early work with Sebadoh. Dinosaur Jr. already rolled through New England in July by playing The Met in Pawtucket on July 14 and the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion in Boston on July 19 with Jane’s Addiction and Living Colour. The good news is that they will be coming back to the area when they play at College Street Music Hall in New Haven, Connecticut, on September 7. As if that show won’t be awesome enough, they’ll be sharing the stage with Cleveland punks Cloud Nothings. It should be a rad time, but until then grab a copy of Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not. Your ears will be filled with electric sludge but everything will come clear. Stream “Goin Down” from Dinosaur Jr.’s Bandcamp: dinosaurjr.bandcamp.com/track/goin- down; Dinosaur Jr.’s Website: dinosaurjr.com.

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