J. Mascis + The Fog
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THE REVIEW

This time J Mascis doesn't appear in his usual incarnation, but no matter, Dinosaur Jr. has always been just him, even coming to play all the instruments by himself on "Green Mind." Mascis is also the one who made the virtuosic guitar solo listenable again, banned by punk. This time, on this album recorded in 9 months "off and on," Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine also appears, who was present for 7 weeks "producing, playing some guitar, percussion and singing." This is what the otherwise sparse liner notes say. And so, there are two of the most influential guitarists of the last 15 years present, two knights of the distortion apocalypse, who have tried everything that could be extracted from an electric guitar, experimenting even if through different paths. For the rest, it's a typical Dinosaur record, Mascis always manages to produce great albums, seemingly effortlessly with the occasional slower song, here "Ground Me to You," and I'm sure this is where Shields can be heard playing the riff in the background, Mascis' sleepy and complaining voice, which always seems to be recorded just after getting out of bed. Also typical is the fading of the songs, abruptly cut, lowering the volume in the mix when J doesn't find a worthy closure. Closed like this even midway through a solo. A great album like all those of Dinosaur, even if it lacks the hit single like on "Where You Been." A timeless record. Like all those of Dinosaur.