J Mascis & The Fog – Feel So Free [lp] City Slang
Christ sometimes you listen to an album and think, wa wa wa, what was that all about… say for example, ‘Rabbit Crawls Away From Me, I Wish I’d Fall’ (from J’s old band Dinosaur JR). However, having finished listening to this album I am kitting myself out to rescue the greying grunge icon from whatever the fuck it is that is holding the poor chap down. EVERY song on this album has some sort of reference to freedom, (and the title), not one or two songs, every single one. And it’s freaking me out… admittedly I don’t sleep much these days and occasionally find myself listening intently to the people who live in my radiator but, fucking hell. EVERY song? What’s up J? You poor lamb.

Anyway, musically this is another awesome guitar led, stone cold rocker from the most languid man in indie rock. He does actually reserve the full burning solo’s for just a few tracks (but they are there) and in ‘Say The Word’ for example, last for almost the entire song. There are some nice acoustic touches too like ‘If That’s How It’s Gotta Be’ but frankly it’s another Dinosaur JR album in all but name. A great thing to me, and to all who love overwrought Jazzmaster abusing American indie-rock, but it’s not exactly likely to win the man any new converts.

There’s not the same number of storming pop tunes that there were on the previous Fog album (there’s no collaborations with people like Bob Pollard, or Kevin Shields that were standouts on the last few DJ/JM releases). So lyrical content aside, it’s kind of more of the same… but it’s a great same!

Ian Unpeeled (the zine that covers the John Peel shows, info from shane@unpeeled.freeserve.co.uk)
J Mascis & The Fog, City Slang