Reviews

Dinosaur Jr. – There Near

Dinosaur Jr.’s 13th album—and first for five years—is another solid entry in one of indie rock’s most consistent discographies.

Dinosaur Jr. will never eclipse their 1987 masterwork You’re Living All Over Me, but their impressive consistency since then is just as impressive in its own way. Over eight No Ripcord reviews, the band—and J’s solo records—have never received a score lower than a 7. Very few legacy acts can boast a record like that.

And what’s more, Dinosaur Jr. have frequently thrilled us since their 2007 comeback with Beyond, with even the relatively weak offerings boasting a handful of vintage Dinosaur tracks. And when we consider the band’s twenty-year second act—or third, if you regard their post-Lou Barlow ’90s output as a true second phase—There Near sits somewhere in the mid-range. It’s no Beyond, or even Sweep It Into Space, in terms of overall strength, but it has enough guitar heroics and hooks to make it another worthwhile addition to the band’s sprawling discography.

The most striking change is J Mascis’ guitar sound, which sounds raucous, sludgy, and ultimately closer in tone to the group’s early heyday. The explanation is simple: Mascis recently switched over to a vintage ’70s Mesa Boogie amp, similar to the one he used on their 1985 debut, Dinosaur. While this is welcome, Murph’s boxy snare drum sounds like it was recorded on a primitive four-track in 1985, an unfortunate production choice that detracts from his otherwise stellar performances. Barlow is typically dependable on bass, although his two solid songwriting contributions, “Blowin’ Up” and “No One’s Ready,” feel disappointing compared to his Sweep It Into Space standout “Garden.”

Almost every song combines the furious energy of a tight garage performance with virtuosic guitar work, but for me, the absolute highlights are the choppy opener “Several Got Away” and the slower “Walk Me Back,” which has my favourite solo on the record—and throws in a very decent outro for good measure.

There Near is another respectable entry in Dinosaur Jr.’s catalogue. Nearly 40 years on from You’re Living All Over Me, their enviable run continues.