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here’s a review with some more variations on the freedom theme:
J. Mascis and The Fog : Feel So Free
The Undercover Review
The next chapter in the former Dinosaur Jr. front man’s post DJ outfit, The Fog.
It still fits with the sound that J has carried with him throughout his entire career. ‘Freedom’ kicks it off, heading straight into the desired topic with tinny guitars with a J’s light distortion signature. Straight away it feels like an anti-war album, perhaps not specific to what is about to go on, but a general plead for peace that is all the more relevant in these times.
The acoustic guitars are out early with ‘If That’s The Way It’s Gotta Be’ and in keeping with the theme; the lyrics describe J’s passion for freedom in intimate detail. "In my freedom/in my pain/will it leave me/all the same?" he sings. A surprisingly open attitude is taken in this acute portrayal of J’s innermost thoughts, when you consider J’s appearance in our offices showed him as an emphatically shy man. ‘Set Us Free’ comparatively (on the music side of things) is the complete opposite, with a guitar solo almost worthy of rock god status!
Things only get heavier as ‘Bobbin’ hits the power chords, providing a heavy bass to that smooth vocal that Mascis’ fans have come to know and love. The follow up and title track, ‘Free So Free’ slows it down again however, with another great guitar solo in power-ballad style.
‘Someone Said’ repeats the line "Someone said my freedom’s gone". If you haven’t noticed a lyrical pattern emerging yet, perhaps you should be looking for a different album. This album is strictly lyrical, despite the odd guitar solo for flavour.
The album continues through slight variations of the Mascis sound, closing with ‘Outside’ repeating "I’ve been waiting long, I’ve been waiting long, I’ve been outside". A great way to close a great indie rock album.
By Tim Cashmere
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oh, by the way, on this site they have this great transcription of a chat with J (2001) – it’s still a nice read.
Good link thanks
, although i have one question – almost worthy of rock god status – hmmmm. 
p.s the transcript of the webchat is cool, thanks for the link
What a classic line: "Anything Metallica is against, I am for."
Thanks a lot for the link!
This one’s great also:"madfortheracket asks: any guest guitarist on the Australian tour?
y_j_mascis: Not that I know of."I wonder who madfortheracket was
I was hoping Ron Asheton would show up in OZ to thrill all the Stooges fans out there… 
Hope J does the same kind of interview with Tim Cashmere this time, the online chat was hilarious, half the people in the chat didn’t know who he was
There used to be a online interview available thru that site as well, J looked so uncomfortable thru the whole thing.Just saw that the chat transcript link is dead now
before this great document disappears forever, I thought I put it here:
Transcript – J Mascis, 22nd February 2001cheap_s1ut asks: who inspired you to become so damn good at the guitar?
y_j_mascis: Ron Ashton, Greg Sage, Mick Taylor and Keith Richards.On 22nd February 2001, J Mascis joined an online audience from the Undercover Studios in Melbourne, Australia.
Transcript – J Mascis
y_undercover_ros: Hey there everyone! Today’s guest is J MASCIS!!!!
y_undercover_ros: J Mascis and the Fog are currently touring Australia
y_undercover_ros: They’re playing Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane. Go to http://www.undercover.com.au/tourguide.html for details
y_undercover_ros: keep those questions coming in
y_undercover_ros: my name is Ros and I’m from undercover.com.au – great to have you all here
y_undercover_ros: J Mascis and the Fog have a new album titled More Light
y_undercover_ros: J Mascis is here – welcome J!!!!
y_undercover_ros: keep sending in those questions through the chaty_j_mascis: Hello cyber geeks
y_undercover_ros: here’s the first question…
cheap_s1ut asks: is the backing band on your ozzie tour the members of dinosaur jr or are the others?
y_j_mascis: Yeah, the drummer George Berz was in Dinosaur Jr the last few years.
y_j_mascis: and playing bass is Mike Watt from the Minute Men and Firehose.lookatme2000au asks: I saw you at festival hall in bris, back in about 95. Just wanted to say I really liked your show and wanted to just say thankyou for doing that gig that night because it was a great night for me and my friends.
y_j_mascis: Okay, thanks.madfortheracket asks: Any more singles being released from More Light
y_j_mascis: Yes, I think in Europe they’ll release Wastin’ as a single.madfortheracket asks: Are you working on new material still or just concentrating on the tour?
y_j_mascis: Right now I’m concentrating on touring, but I have already started recording some new songs.madfortheracket asks: any guest guitarist on the Australian tour
y_j_mascis: Not that I know of.cam_of_the_stoneage asks: You played The Livid Festival a couple of years back with Dinosaur Jr. Are festivals fun for you?
y_j_mascis: Yeah sometimes it’s fun just to, like at that festival we got to meet Devo, just to meet some bands that you wouldn’t come across normally.madfortheracket asks: Are you going to release any live J Mascis & The Fog material
y_j_mascis: Yeah, we’ve been recording some of the shows, and I’m sure some of it will come out somewhere.cam_of_the_stoneage asks: Is it more fun to tour with your own project than Dino Jr?
y_j_mascis: Yes.cheap_s1ut asks: who inspired you to become so damn good at the guitar?
y_j_mascis: Ron Ashton, Greg Sage, Mick Taylor and Keith Richards.madfortheracket asks: what will the b side be of Waistin
y_j_mascis: Leaving on a Jet Plane and a new song, I can’t remember what I titled it.madmuzefan asks: who do you think is making great music at the moment?
y_j_mascis: Love as Laughter, Cat Power and Roky Eriksonmadfortheracket asks: are you playing with Ron Asheton in March and the following month of the tour
y_j_mascis: Yeah, I think we’ll play with them in Texas at South by South West.cam_of_the_stoneage asks: Why did you choose to be in Grace of my Heart?
y_j_mascis: Just ’cause the director asked me to.madfortheracket asks: Any chance of a best of albumn…dino and fog
y_j_mascis: I suppose there’s a chance.cam_of_the_stoneage asks: How long have you been playing guitar for?
y_j_mascis: 17 or 18 years.madfortheracket asks: What happened to the Wayne Kramer guest spot in Chicago
y_j_mascis: I’ve never heard of that.madmuzefan asks: had a chance to catch any Australian acts while you’re out here?
y_j_mascis: No.madfortheracket asks: what are your fav Australian bands
y_j_mascis: The Birthday Party, The Eastern Dark and God.cam_of_the_stoneage asks: What do you think of Napster?
y_j_mascis: Anything Metallica is against, I am for.cheap_s1ut asks: how’s Australia been treating you? do you get to relax here or is it just work work work?
y_j_mascis: Work, work, work.sdsilverstone asks: how did u get into the music industry?
y_j_mascis: I formed a band, started playing, put out a record and suddenly there you are.jredden12 asks: Hi J. Just wondering how the creative process has differed for the new album compared to Dino Jr ones. I was always under the impression that you were pretty much Dino Jr. Is it any different, or is it just a name change?
y_j_mascis: It’s different.madfortheracket asks: any guest spots for you with other bands
y_j_mascis: I might play on a beachwood sparks CD.cheap_s1ut asks: has the Internet interested you at all?
y_j_mascis: Yeah I like ebay and email.rohalli asks: are you making any other movies soundtracks soon
y_j_mascis: I have a song on Allison Anders new movie, it’s called Things Behind The Sun, hopefully it will come out this year.lookatme2000au asks: what is a movie that makes you remember your growing up years
y_j_mascis: Harold and Maudesdsilverstone asks: what do u think of pop singers ?
y_j_mascis: I love them all.madfortheracket asks: When does your new film come out, do you enjoy acting?
y_j_mascis: I don’t know when it’s coming out, and acting is fun, but I don’t think I’m that good at it.madfortheracket asks: saw your show in Minneapolis, we need more Canadian dates…any chance of that
y_j_mascis: Maybe one in Vancouver.jredden12 asks: Last time I saw you in Melbourne I had ringing in my ears for a couple of days. How do your ears cope with the volume after all these years?
y_j_mascis: I wear ear plugs.jredden12 asks: I am at the Corner in Melbourne on Friday nite. What is the set list going to be like? A lot off the Fog as well as some old stuff?
y_j_mascis: Most of the new album with some Dino songs and some covers.madmuzefan asks: r u out here on part of a world tour?
y_j_mascis: Yeah. We played in Japan and Europe and America.madfortheracket asks: will you wear the yellow shades if you play with Asheton
y_j_mascis: No, but Mike Watt wears them.y_undercover_ros: thanks J
y_j_mascis: all right, bye for now, thanks for dropping in on the chat.
y_undercover_ros: that was J Mascis from J Mascis and the Fog
y_undercover_ros: J is touring Australia with his band the Fog
y_undercover_ros: check out http://www.undercover.com.au/tourguide.html
y_undercover_ros: The transcript for this chat will be up very shortly – within the next few days – keep watching http://www.undercover.com.au/transcripts.html
y_undercover_ros: I’m Ros from undercover.com.au – come back on Monday for a chat with Vitamin C – 4.00pm (get in early to get your questions through) and Sheena Easton at 5.00pm
y_undercover_ros: See you all then! Bye
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