DINOSAUR JR. – There Near (color) LP

Opis

“There Near” is the sixth studio album DINOSAUR JR. have recorded since their celebrated reunion 20 years ago. While the five years since Sweep It Into Space have brought several live releases and archival collections, nothing compares to a brand-new album packed with fresh Dinosaur Jr. songs. On There Near, every dial is turned all the way up.

The album was written and recorded during a series of short, intensive sessions over the course of a year at Bisquiteen Studios in Amherst. It was recorded almost entirely by the band’s core trio—drummer Murph, bassist and vocalist Lou Barlow, and guitarist/vocalist J Mascis—with only a handful of piano and organ contributions from Ken Mauri.

The result is an album of tremendous power from start to finish. Mascis’ guitar sound is even rawer and more primal than usual, thanks in part to a recently acquired 1970s Mesa Boogie MK I amplifier.

“I bought the same amp Chris Dixon had when we recorded our first album,” Mascis explains. “Chris recorded us at his house with that exact amp. It has a really interesting sound I hadn’t been able to achieve for a long time. That’s the tone I wanted to get back to on this record. The Rolling Stones started using Mesa Boogies in the ’70s after hearing Santana, then The Clash followed. Later models became much more metal-oriented, but the MK I sounds like a hot-rodded Fender. You always hear about Rick Rubin telling bands to go back and listen to their first album and recapture that sound. I guess I just gave myself that advice.”

Asked about the often elusive meaning of his lyrics, Mascis says:

“When I write a song, I often don’t really know what it’s about myself. I suppose the meaning reveals itself over time. I just use the words that feel right. A lot of it is influenced by whatever esoteric stuff I’m reading at the time. I try not to overthink it. It annoys me that Spotify now displays all the lyrics. Where’s the fun in that?”

With There Near, DINOSAUR JR. add another chapter to a catalogue that has long since achieved classic status. The new songs, driven by massive riffs and unmistakable energy, promise to be just as powerful live as the band’s timeless favourites. Until the band returns to the stage, There Near will be the perfect companion. The closer, the better.