from bcc.co.uk music section march 28 2005

[wakeupnow]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/classicpop/r … sues.shtml

note: after the article users can add their thoughts. i included these…

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The messy post-punk glory that is Dinosaur Jr. is back to shake us up with a fistful of reissues – Dinosaur, You’re Living All Over Me and Bug – after nearly 20 years of relative obscurity. Even if this warped threesome, spawned from the same strange planet as Sonic Youth, didn’t capture the mainstream imagination during the glitz-sodden 1980s, they left an indelible mark on a bevy of bands that appeared in their mighty wake.

They beat Seattle to it with their early brand of grunge. God forbid, but had there been no Dinosaur Jr, we would surely have had no Nirvana: Cobain’s sweet, dirty vocals often sound like a direct homage to Dinosaur Jr. You don’t need to listen hard for comparisons with the Pixies either, particularly with Lou Barlow’s thundersome bass (maybe it’s a Massachusetts thing) and the blistering guitar solos from J Mascis that never fail to excite.

Dinosaur nears American post-punk perfection, with Mascis shouting from the pit of his soul, as only he can, and a blatant, spectacular nod to the prog-rock axe heroes of the 1970s. "Bulbs Of Passion" is a highlight of this dark, multi-faceted album; it’s a damaged, beautiful jewel of a song, exposing a scarred sensitivity that haunts and clings.

Also on offer on Dinosaur is a woolly, distorted live version of "Does It Float", crackling with ferocious urgency. The iffy sound complements the imperfect appeal of Dinosaur Jr: it’s like overhearing a disturbing secret. If you like hearing a man shriek as if being swallowed by the jaws of hell itself, this is for you.

You’re Living All Over Me displays a glossier Dinosaur Jr, but with the same vibrant mix of aggression, joy and pain smeared over their unique sound. "Sludgefeast" is a fascinating journey into scuzz at its most melodic. Meanwhile, the unearthly "Poledo" will spook you out for sure. This compelling track keeps its distance, like a weird apparition that you can’t help staring at.

In the final album, Bug, the possibly subliminal influence that Dinosaur Jr. had on early, blossoming Britpop is obvious: while "Budge" and "Yeah We Know" have more than a smidgen of The Charlatans about them, the Stone Roses ought to write a thank you letter to Bug-era Dinosaur. Floppy fringes, form an orderly queue.

Frighteningly ahead of their time, they confused a lot of people and furrowed many a brow at first. Hopefully, we’re ready for them now. Snub them at your peril, these gents have a hell of a lot to answer for.

Reviewer: Zoe Street

Like This? Try These:
Nirvana, ‘Nirvana’
50 Foot Wave, ‘Golden Ocean’
The Breeders, ‘Title TK’

Read other people’s comments then Tell us what you think:

Yeah, I take it these had to be ordered from the US (that’s what I did), or will they be available in UK stores? Also, they’re are playing the Forum in June – just announced an extra date.
RiotXIX

But unlike (much of what became called) grunge, Dinosaur didn’t evolve from the 70s tradition of Sabbath and Zeppelin, but from Frampton (see cover of "Show me the way"), and perhaps more than the Pixies even, blended the sweet melodies (if not harmonies) of Peter Paul and Mary with the Strum’n’Drang of Husker Du. And then they covered Just Like Heaven, ostensibly to pick up Goth-pop chicks, but listening back, their was little irony in the choice. This is pop music.
Kevin Runions Toronto Can/Perth Aust.

You’re Living All Over Me is raw emotion with a backdrop of thundering bass, chainsaw feedback and wailing lead guitar. This is the seminal pre nirvana hard rock / alt country / grunge recording. Listen to ‘The Lung’ and hear J Mascis guitar and voice wail their way into your head. Initially this may seem like hardcore but ‘You’re Living All Over Me ‘ grows with repeated listening. This re-lease is the crucial buy of 2005. Nirvana fans gasp in admiration!
Dr Debaser – Dublin

The tune links dont work!!! pure classic tho, this band made me pick up the guitar … like nothing else u’l hear! miss it at ur puril
Anth, newcastle

Whining Neil Young vocals, whining Neil Young guitar and whining Neil Young drums all adds up to 3 albums of whining Neil Young type stuff. Even worse than the real thing, if you’ll pardon the expression.
Richard, Herts.

probably the most crucial re-releases of the last ten years..got the albums,singles etc etc on vinyl so i think its time to update these classics..history lessons in altenative music..all you young uns go buy today
Rod,Doncaster

People think Nirvana were the start of grunge, but really they were the end of 80’s noise. Dinosaur Jr, Big Black, Sonic Youth, Pixies, Breeders – they’re all genius.
Big Gurl London

BUG is an underrated classic. Now if only Ash would own up and admit who’s riffs they’ve been ripping off over the years!
BDB, Maastricht

It is true that Mascis’ vocal style has many things in common to that of Young’s this is obvioulsy a complement rather than a complaint as both express emotion in both o powerful and delicate way. Words aren’t particularly needed to convey the emotion of the song. On a note other than vocals, I would like to echo the opinions of others when I add Dinosaur Jr. to the list of dangerously under rated bands that have been lost under bands which have styles borrowed from their influences. It is nice to see some of these bands getting at least some credit now for the vacum they experienced during their hey days.
Matt Huddersfield

pop genius wrapped up in a fuzzy mess…saw them at trent poly ’88 or ’89 not sure…still amazed at just how good this band were…u can keep nirvana-this is the real deal: can’t stress just how essential these guys are..read Rod,doncaster above
malkmus,northampton

i loved these albums at the time, particularly youre living all over me for "in a jar" and "little fury things", but they were eclipsed by the latter albums with the guy from the addams family on bass; "where you been" is still astonishing. get "ear bleeding country" for an overview of everything…
nick, herts

classics. in the beginning there was dinosaur jr.
stefan, stuttgart

changed my whole taste and attitude to music forever. How J Mascis is not considered with the greats is beyond me
D, Dublin

Went into Fopp to buy the new Goldfrapp. In the NOW PLAYING pile was Goldfrapp, I changed my mind noting it was sweet but that I’m not really that sweet and on the way out noticed ‘ear bleeding country’…thinking it would be returned within the hour I was pleasantly surprised, no ridiculously surprised to find myself loving this all over. Remembering an album I had bought ages ago but shelved in the I WILL NEVER LISTEN TO THIS AGAIN pile…I dug out a band called Eleventh Dream Day. The title of the LP ‘Prairie School Freakout’ and by way of reappraisal, came to my senses. There’s more than a passing resemblance to Dinosaur Jr in that both bands aren’t afraid to bring back the jams – together in Electric guitar sodden dreams indeed. I need obsessions in order to get out of bed…Dinosaur Jr should get me through for a bit.
Chris , London

revisited living all over me in past month after setting up my itunes. so, so good. i saw dinosaur many times in the eighties — almost too loud. and mascis always seemed like he didn’t give a sh*t. saw a show in chicago in 87 or 88 where he refused to sing because he didn’t like the audio on the mike. but that record is just a pioneering, groundbreaking classic.
PAUL, LOS ANGELES

in about 1994 thurston moore of sy said this – "back when dinosaur ruled the earth ..now it’s all oasis" thurston is the godfather of alt-rock and he even bows down to the almighty dino.
tom usa

Amazing live! J Mascis uitar plaing is awesome. Great Pixies style band
Paul Birmingham

Your’e living all over me-internal damage abound ,guitars like slaughterhouse knives , the rythm section coherent but loose and all with Mascis’laconic whine n’ murmer vocalising turning it all on its head.LFT,lung,raisans,poledo,kracked and in a jar
rate, uk

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