I whooped with joy when I heard Dinosaur Jr’s front man had plans to release his first ever solo album. The celebration continued when I heard it was going to be acoustic – nothing I love more than a man and his guitar.
J Mascis has been heading the line-up of the New England alt-rock band since 1984 – that’s a whopping 27 years, pop fans. So is he beginning to sound a bit tired?
‘Several Shades of Why’ was ten tracks of exactly what I expected, and a little bit more thrown in for good measure.
The title track begins with promise, and some of that expert guitar playing we know and expect from the man. It gradually gains momentum, until you realise you’re completely caught up in it. Then out pops a violin. A few songs later, what I make to be a flute (woodwind experts, feel free to correct me) springs up on ‘Make It Right’. Unexpected, but the use of something other than guitar makes this album even more special.
J Mascis’s unmistakable vocal gently soaks through the speakers as you hear the narrative of a destructive, unhealthy relationship. He lays out it the experience out without apology – the hurt, the questioning – and it’s all done in J’s own relaxed, just-smoked-something-funny voice.
Even without his Neil Young-esque tones, this record is intrinsically linked to Dinosaur Jr – it’s essentially a pared-down version of the trio.
The album’s weakest track for me was ‘Is It Done’. It’s a paradox of a song. Lyrically it’s repetitive, slow, and I didn’t appreciate it. But just as I was about to hit skip, something stopped me and I listened for another three seconds. Just long enough soak in some glorious strings.
I don’t want to say the tracks are all very similar, but there’s no mistaking who is the mastermind behind ‘Several Shades of Why’.
From the gentle urgency of opening track ‘Listen to Me’ to the ballad-like ‘Too Deep’ or the beautifully harmonised vocals of ‘Not Enough’, this isn’t a groundbreaking album but it is easy to listen to. It’s something you can pop on in the car or the while you’re pottering around the house and not feel the need to stop everything to concentrate. But every so often a glimpse of an acoustic guitar or a raspy, heartfelt lyric will make your ears prick up.
Is this a massive departure to Dinosaur Jr’s last album, 2009’s ‘Farm’? No. If you never liked Dinosaur Jr is this going to be the album to capture you? No.
Is it a must-have for Dinosaur Jr fans? Most definitely, yes.
You’ll fall in love with J all over again.
Stand out tracks: ‘Several Shades of Why’, ‘Very Nervous’ and ‘Love, Make it Right’.
Released March 14 on Sub Pop
Echo Rating (((???•)))
Posted by Sara
