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To complete our collection, here are some more reviews of Free so Free, which I haven’t seen here before …I think
A nice review: http://www.nowontour.com
Quote:Yes, I’ve had to verbally brawl. Even sometimes having to defend myself in the occasional late-night beer-bar bloody tussle; I still stand firm to my tenet that Nirvana is given false credit for ‘Changing the Face of Music;’ for ‘Killing Metal;’ or for whatever the fuck else many 18-28 year olds – and quite a few forgetful-minded (think Rolling Stone) critics think – that Kurt, Krist, and Dave did for the face of music circa 1991.In reality, by the time that Nirvana rolled around to signing to a major (Geffen) in the early Nineties, the task of opening up the world’s ears to a new sound had already been set in motion at college radio at least five years prior. Before 1991’s Nevermind, and yes, even pre-Bleach, the change was guided by Warner Brothers related signees – Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane’s Addiction, The Pixies, and Dinosaur Jr.
Always an innovator as well as a tremendous musician, leaning unrelentingly left-of-center, J Mascis founded Dinosaur (Jr) circa-1985. Actually that is quite an understatement. J not only established the group, but was also the primary songwriter, drummer, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the band. Dinosaur Jr, a mostly-threesome who, while achieving huge success at college radio and in indie and industry circles, never fully achieved mainstream rock success.
J has always garnered respect from within the independent rock community, frequently enjoying guest-spot invitations from the indie rock elite including Sonic Youth, fIREHOSE, Tad, Mark Lanegan, Mike Watt, Gumball, and even G.G. Allin. While tearing up the neck or kit on nearly every song he’s ever been a part of (Mascis has mastered the blazingly fast, always tastefully sloppy guitar and drum leads), J has always held the ability to write the perfect moderately-funky, always toe-tap worthy, crunchy, catchy guitar rhythm.
Mascis disbanded Dinosaur Jr sometime in the mid-Nineties (it seems few know exactly the date – including the band members) but has continued to force his aural explosion on the Universe. On Free So Free, his third solo release and second for Ultimatum Music, Mascis returns as solidly as ever. Always the rock-and-roll bundle of furious tonal energy (and rarely the balladeer), J is still on top of his game – whether it is his choppy, glass-in-the-throat vocal stylings, his wickedly spastic yet super-solid drumming, or his headless-chicken approach to lead guitar.
With no offense implied, just about every Dinosaur Jr and J Mascis song sounds similar. Diversity is not J’s strong suit. The best part is, it’s never a problem. Never before, not today. All there is to say about this record is – it’s J Mascis. If you like anything that J has put out in the past, the Dinosaur stuff, the other solo efforts, his guest work…. It’s all there and it’s all still here. The blistering guitars, the great tone, the classic rolling fill/beat-the-hell-out-of-’em drum work, the screechy vocals – they’re all are still present – from the heart stopping bluesy-ness of the title track; the ‘Damn, I need to run a marathon this morning’ inspirations like "Tell the Truth" and the intro track "Freedom;" to the almost ballad, "If That’s How It’s Gotta Be" …a wanna-be slow-dance that just can’t escape J’s electric treatment. It’s a wonder where it all comes from, truthfully. Mascis is completely full of this stuff, prolifically.
We’ll keep buying it as long as you keep making it, J. Period.
Adrenaline/Caffeine Junky Tip #142: Save up and buy this album. It works like a thousand cups of strong espresso or any extreme sport. This will get you out of bed in the morning faster that any addiction. Mental or physical. Legal or not.
5 of 6 points & quite funny: http://www.babysue.com
Quote:J Mascis & The Fog – Free So Free (CD, Artemis / Ultimatum Music, Pop/rock)
As difficult as it is for us to admit, many years ago hearing J Mascis sing made us cringe. But after a couple of years something strange happened. Instead of being turned off by the man’s vocals…we suddenly became very, very turned ON. The reason for the change in our reaction is irrelevant…but from that point forward our interest in this man’s amazing music has never waned. Mr. Mascis’ output has been amazingly consistent. Whereas most artists have artistic highs and lows in their career…"J" has followed a clean and direct path…putting out one exceptional release after another (either alone or with his previous band Dinosaur Jr). Not surprisingly, Free So Free is right up there with his best efforts. The guitars sound stellar as always…and his instantly identifiable voice sounds remarkable. An interesting side note… Mascis’ latest pastime is skydiving….and apparently many of the tunes on this album were written in mid-air (!). Guitar rock rarely gets better than this. Exceptional tracks on this album include "Freedom," "Set Us Free," "Free So Free," "Someone Said," and "Outside." Recommended. (Rating: 5+++)A very friendly track by track review:http://www.epinions.com
Quote:Review of Free So Free – J. Mascis & The Fog
Review Summary About the AuthorThank God that Gen-X stuff is over.
Nov 13 ’02Author’s Product Rating
Pros
J’s most mature and interesting work to date. Puts good back into the world.Cons
Doesn’t come with free cd player.The Bottom Line
This cd is wildly creative and it is just Good Music. If you don’t like it you might be a mean person.Full Review
Now that I am an official old person, I sit by the campfire telling the youngins about the days when you could see a brilliant bands like Dinosaur Jr. , the Pixies or any of the K-tel "Sounds of the Nineties" bands for five bucks with a crowd of about a hundred. Then the bad things happened involving bratty 27 year old marketeers, Courtney Love, Douglas Copeland and finally beer companies and Tommy Lee. I woke up sober, creakier and dragged down by all the things I would imagine and fear as a stoned college kid… the job, the kids, the divorce, the brain surgery–your typical things that just didn’t seem as fun as burning a fat one and going to the bookstore.Then J came back. It started with the excellent and highly recommended "More Light" from a few years ago, and now brings me full circle with "Free So Free". The music is every bit as exciting and innovative as it was ten or fourteen years ago. I just saw him for thirteen bucks with a crowd of about one hundred, just like the "good old days" that never existed but are nice to talk about as if they did.
J Mascis is on his game with this cd. Some songs rock like BIG ROCK SONGS. Others get funky and groovy. One does a neat trick that is even neater in concert. His guitar playing has never sounded better. His drumming has never been crazier or more freaked out, totally wrong in all the right ways. I think he is my favorite drummer and guitar player which means nothing to him or you folks reading this. I fancy myself an expert in these things, so you can take my word for it.
Ironically, the album has four songs about freedom, coming at the time when we are about to lose most of ours. GO RED WHITE AND BLUE!
The first song is "Freedom", meaning when you put the cd in the player it will most likely be the one you hear. It has a disco beat that is completely unexpected but works. The guitar work is short and riffy. There is a weirdo tempo change that makes me love him and give the teens a chance to "mosh". You can change the words in the chorus if you sing along to "Frida" and feel tied in to the new movie about her if you wish.
"If thats How its Gotta be" is a pretty song that features the trick that is so cool live. J is pretty open here, the lyrics are poignant:
"and i ran away from livin,
thought i wanted it that way
every step i should be givin
but i’m stuck feelin this pain
if thats how its gotta be……"
It is a soft acoustic song that he sings very well."Set us Free" has great drums and the chorus is like a mantra. It will bring you peace.
"Bobbin" is a bouncy song that isn’t afraid to Rock. The drums are fun as hell, like chasing midgets through a field.
"Free so Free" is wonderful. It has a laid back grooooove. J sings about conflicted love. His voice is multitracked for a unique and soulful sound. The guitar work is varied, one moment he is playing an amazing solo, the next doing a lovely acoustic thing, then back to a solo that exposes the heart of god that is hiding in all things. The feeling he plays with on this song is inspiring.
"Everybody Lets Me Down" is the best song he has ever done. Everything that is great about his work comes together and gels in this song. It starts with a goofy wurlitzer (not the Prozac Nation author) and J singing in falsetto. The drums kick in, the song speeds up and the lyrics codify some of my most mixed up life philosophy.
"… any time it seemed okay
had to wreck it, couldn’t wait
i know there’s something better
oh no…
(chorus)
everybody lets me down
all this time i’m never found
everybody lets me down
i go outside and look around
i never quite set on the ground"
The guitar solo is perfect and shouldn’t be sullied by description. It is a great song to drive very fast down an open road to."Say the Word" is four minutes of the best guitar and drums he has recorded. J said in an interview that having his own studio freed his songwriting in that he didn’t have to worry if his drummer was capable of playing what he was writing, and this song shows that freedom. His drumming matches the wild spirit of the guitar work perfectly and provides one the most creative jams I have heard anyone do.
The rest of the songs are great. "Someone said" is a soft song that is prophetic. "Outside" has J singing slightly different and it is one of his best vocals. "Tell the Truth" is another great rock song with effed up tempo going on.
To sum it up, this may be the best music J Mascis has made. He has grown as a songwriter and musician. It is good to see that the nieve belief I had in some of these musicians when I was younger wasn’t wasted, that J and others have proven to be formidable creative forces over the long term.
Now go buy it. If you live in the northern areas, don’t forget to wear a hat, you don’t need to catch a cold.
Thank you.
Recommended
YesGreat Music to Play While: Cleaning the House
Free so Free/ show review (2 guys wrote down their opinions of the record and the show they saw’): http://www.norwalk-city.k12.oh.us
Quote:Dinosaur Keeps On Rockin’by Alex French and Adam Harshberger
This month, we have switched to a new and improved way of review CDs. It features two reviews from two different perspectives. As the guinea pig for our new review, we chose J. Mascis + the Fog’s new album Free So Free.
Alex’s Take:
On Tuesday, October 10, J. Mascis + the Fog released their second studio album, Free So Free. Filled with “The Godfather of Indie-Rockâ€
those reviews are just too sweet !
... why can’t all reviews/reviewers be like this ? un-jaded … un-cynical … un-sneering and all that negative stuff that so many reviewers feel compelled to write … or … i don’t know … i mean if you really feel strongly in a negative way about something you shouldn’t force it and say you like it or anything … but i get the feeling that for a lot of writers/reviewers it makes them far cooler not to commit themselves to liking something …
anyhow … i’m rambling now … my point was … thanks fc !
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