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Article published Jun 14, 2007
Dinosaur Jr. regroups after long layoff
by Stacy Nick

Evolution is overrated.

Nothing proves that better than "Beyond," Dinosaur Jr.’s latest, and many fans call its best, offering – post a little 16-year hiatus.

After a nasty split in 1989 in which frontman/guitarist J. Mascis kicked Barlow out of the group, the original members of the alt-rock trio did a smattering of shows together in 2005 to support the reissue of its first three albums.

From there a tour was born and then, last year, they met up at frontman J. Mascis’ home studio to see if they could, in fact, truly pick up where they left off.

The recording process wasn’t exactly inspired, admitted bassist Lou Barlow in a recent phone interview while the tour was stopped in Minneapolis.

"I just started writing new songs and J got his manager to call me and (Dinosaur Jr. drummer) Murph, and we convened at his home and started a new record," he said. "It was like any other Dinosaur Jr. record – sort of protracted and some nit picking about the songs.

"But totally different in that it was recorded at J’s house so the process was actually extremely relaxed."

The word "mature" is often overused in music but here it fits. Released May 1, "Beyond" has Dinosaur Jr.’s classic texture with a cohesiveness that makes you wonder, "what took them so long?"

Not bad considering Barlow was quoted mere months before they started recording as calling the idea of a new Dinosaur Jr. album “ridiculous.â€