Hardcore/punk school of band with pop sensibilities and a solid Crazyhorse influence is a good deal. Dinosaur Jr was one of the first to do this and also the most influential on the 90s alt/grunge rock movement. The band released their three classics that a classic band was expected to in the 80s and after 88's Bug, the original line-up disbanded. John Mascis carried on for four more albums during the era when the sound they helped pioneer was at its commercial peak. 2007's Beyond is the first album by Dinosaur Jr since 1997 and the first with the classic lineup that was last seen together on Bug.

I gave a shit because of this. Witch was this one-off project that Mascis formed and played drums on. They released a self-titled album in 2006 and it was a brilliant slab of stoner and doom friendly 70s rock n roll. So I automatically started paying attention to what was going on in Mascis camp and when this one came out, I immediately jumped in and got hold of it.

Beyond sees an expected and hoped return to the dirtier lo-fi sound and production of the 80s. Mascis and Co are in full form here. Mid-paced punk influenced raw guitar riffs, fuzzy chords at times arpeggiated, wild drumming that fills in all the spaces that the more basic rhythm the guitars play and especially the always thoughtfully put together progressions, structure and arrangements. The melodies both from the guitars and the soft, moody, nasal voice (Mascis handles a majority of this) are really catchy. The wild-sloppy guitar leads ala Neil Young are intact and all over the place too. This goes well with the garage sound but some of those bends ought to have been taken care of. Ouch, there's more of those bad ones on this song This Is All I Came To Do that's currently playing too.

The album has some great songs, a lot of good songs and absolutely no weak moments as long as you're fine with the sound of this. Been There All The Time, Almost Ready, Pick Me Up and It's Me are my picks. Songs like We're Not Alone, Back to Your Heart and What If I Knew show off more of their pop leanings and  I Got Lost is done with a distinct country/folk element to it. Recommended.



Year of Release: 2007
Label: Fat Possum Records