“Beyond”
Dinosaur Jr.
Fat Possum Records
(Out Of 5)
Dinosaur Jr.’s “Beyond,” the band’s first album since 1988’s “Bug” recorded by the original lineup (J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Patrick “Murph” Murphy), is not just a great reunion album ““ it’s also one of Dinosaur Jr.’s best records, fitting into the band’s discography as a logical successor to “Bug.”
While Mascis continued to record albums under the Dinosaur Jr. name after 1988, they followed a simple formula: killer first single, lackluster album. “Beyond,” however, bucks this trend by presenting a cohesive set of songs that, while lacking a single on the level of “Freak Scene,” represent some of Dinosaur Jr.’s best work and make the fact that this group hasn’t made an album together in 19 years all the more staggering.
Opening with “Almost Ready,” Mascis wastes no time reminding us that indie rock’s resident guitar hero has returned, and he’s ready to shred. From his solo in “Almost Ready,” which lasts nearly the entirety of the song, to his use of slide guitar during the chorus of “Pick Me Up,” Mascis does nothing but melt face as he annihilates the fretboard on his axe.
Particularly noteworthy is that bassist and sometime-Sebadoh member Lou Barlow seems more at home here than he has at any time since 1987’s “You’re Living All Over Me.”
Barlow’s confessional style of songwriting seems to have rubbed off on the notoriously reticent Mascis. On “Been There All The Time,” Mascis asks, “Can I fix it and still care?” The question posed is an appropriate one ““ at its peak, Dinosaur Jr. seemed to get all of its creative drive and energy out of its members’ bad blood and infighting.
“Beyond” answers this with a resounding yes. Sure, it isn’t a perfect record. Yet “Beyond” is so strong as an album that it can be forgiven for not having a killer single. In fact, it’s so good that it can even be forgiven for annihilating your eardrums.
Which it will.
E-mail Humphrey at mhumphrey@media.ucla.edu.