Yes. Yes. Y-E-S. Dinosaur Jr. is back with Beyond – Fat Possum on May 1st. I was initially scared… very scared. I mean, getting the gang back together after a long, ugly break-up has the potential for a disasterbacle. First, you hear all their gear gets looted. Then you hear that Nike is putting out a horrible purple Dinosaur Jr high top. These seemed like signs to me. Purple hightops, people caring about the band, losing gear, 30 foot wall of flame. All signs of the 2pacolypse. I mean, wasn’t this the same band that no one every really liked? Then, we talked to Lou, and he was in love the record and more importantly, the process. What can we say, it was infectious.

Dinosaur Jr. was an interesting bag for me. My friend Goose (named after Gossage) was huge into the band, and gave me some discs (I fell in love with Bug and You’re Living All Over Me), but it was years after they had already created their best material. In Halifax, you more or less waited for the Wedge to come on to see that kick ass video, Feel the Pain, but in your heart you knew it wasn’t their best work. I mean, Lou had been kicked out of the band for years and J was pretty well running a one man press.

Well, I finally got to hear the record and was not let down in the slightest. Lou and J are back. The record is like comfort food. Huge guitars, and J still decides he needs to rip off 45 second solos. Oh – and lots of sweet, sweet noise. This record could have been dropped into their catalog seamlessly, but it’s not like the songs sound dated at all. After a few listens, I’m pleasantly surprised. We’re Not Alone is a slice of mastery.

Full review will come after I have time to soak it all in, but any fan should be excited