Premier Rock Forum

YLAOM (I hate that this is the only album where Mascis used these type of unconventional songstructures; already on Bug, it was circular verse/chorus stuff for the most part), Bug (my favourite *sound* on a Dino record), Farm (I loved this one even if it's too long but we played it a bit too much at work when it came out so I've never really revisited it), Hand it over (very underrated record, first half/side in particular was a major improvement over the previous three major label albums)

YLAOM and Bug are two of my favorite records by anyone. For the rest I could pick anything between Dinosaur and Whatever's Cool With Me. I went with Fossils and Green Mind.

You're Living... More noise, still some leftover metal/hardcore influence, and the best songwriting.

Bug, as a weaker, more "indie rock" version of same.

The s/t debut b/c it's messy, raw, and soulful, all while setting the template. Some weird post-punk moments here, too.

Fourth place is a tough one. I'm tempted to go w/Green Mind for the greatness that is "The Wagon," but a lot of that album is awfully boring. I suppose I'll give it to Fossils, even though it's a cash-grab grab-bag of album tracks, B sides, and covers. But it has a certain ramshackle charm, and both "Just Like Heaven" and "Keep the Glove" are classics. And "Chunks," the obscure hardcore remake, rocks hard.

I've only heard Beyond, Farm, and a song here and there from the reunion stuff and while loud, it does sound like all the sharp edges have been smoothed away. Admirable, but not exciting. And the deep-'90s material did nothing for me, sleepy-sounding w/too many classic-rock and generic alternative (ugh) rock moves. Some nice guitar solos, though.

You're Living All Over Me and Bug were formative records for me. There was something in Dinosaur jr's disorganized howl that kicked my ass squarely where it needed kicking. After the split, Lou Barlow's music held a lot more of my interest than anything J Mascis could come up with (except The Wagon, which was brilliant). The reunion triggered a new spark of creativity in J and the classic tunes began pouring out of him again. Almost Ready actually brought a lump to my throat the first time I heard it. Farm is probably my favorite of their newer LPs but I love them all. It's fun to listen to J's post-reunion songs and try and figure out which are about a woman and which are about Lou. They definitely still deliver live.

This in-studio performance from around 2012 has a little of everything including a romp through one of their songs from the pre-Dino hardcore band Deep Wound.

YLAOM is one of my favorite albums. I listen to it at least once a month. Bug I listened to because I wanted more YLAOM, but it wasn’t as good. Fossils is somewhere in that territory. I couldn’t get my hands on another Dino album for years, so the rest just didn’t get the same rotation. Got back into the band some years back, picked up Dinosaur and Farm. I really enjoy Dinosaur as an interesting album, something different and good. Farm is good. Not the most inventive album, but is nice to listen to on a long drive. A little long for a typical evening spin. The other stuff I don’t know as well since I don’t have a physical copy.

Before any of that, I dubbed a cassette of the three D jr. songs from my VHS copy of 1991: the year punk broke. However lame, that vhs helped me hear a lot of stuff I couldn’t find on disc.

I think the album with Feel the Pain on it, and You're Living all over me, Bug... Where You Been. I've listened to a lot of these albums and there's some good stuff on each album for the most part.

On another note I was shocked to find out J Mascis album "The Witch" earned him 12 grand in royalties... Mind-blown. He gave the exact number on a YT video, unless he's bluffing...

Saw this band on 9-30-2022 at The Vic in Chicago. Most of my attention went to the drummer, Murph. He has arms like Popeye and he is the best thing about this band.

I voted for Bug

I saw them in 2019 and they closed with a 15-minute jam of "Forget the Swans." It was not crap and the last real show I saw before COVID.

My current #1 is "Farm".

The tone on "Bug" and YLAOM just sounds too harsh to old man me these days.

Farm is like some sort of a thick comfy slacker burnout blanket.

wowow wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 12:41 pm Saw this band on 9-30-2022 at The Vic in Chicago. Most of my attention went to the drummer, Murph. He has arms like Popeye and he is the best thing about this band.

I voted for Bug

Doesn't J. play the sticks on most of the records?