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12.28.23 guess what bm is still making tunes10.26.23 living in maine...
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Dinosaur Jr. Ranked

Personal ranking of one of my favorite bands. If you haven't heard them, stop what you're doing and go jam 1 right now.
1Dinosaur Jr.
You're Living All Over Me

How Dinosaur Jr isn't mentioned as much as Nirvana, R.E.M., or Green Day is beyond me. Maybe they didn't consistently amaze the way they this record is, but this record alone was a milestone for alternative record. I've always thought of this as R.E.M. drenched in fuzz and noisy distortion, which is quite interesting to say the least. Up until this point, alternative rock didn't really have a "guitar hero" the way heavy metal or hard rock did, but that was before J Mascis picked up a guitar. At first he was a drummer, who actually proved influential in heavy metal later on, but he had always been a fan of jangly indie rock, as well as the Cure, Black Flag, and tons of speed metal bands. Their debut mixed these all together, but it didn't really sound like it jelled yet. Soon though, the trio would release You're Living All Over Me, which I would rightfully consider one of the most important indie rock albums ever. It doesn't have a specific sound one could identify as indie, but the attitude, performances, and production are what really make it that way. The presentation is fearless, the production is perfectly sub-par, the musicianship is perfectly sloppy, and the overall sound is completely unpolished; it sounds like a rock n' roll band performing a bunch of songs. Simply put, one of the best indie, alternative, and just plain rock albums ever. 5/5
2Dinosaur Jr.
Bug

You're Living All Over Me is one of those rock records that simply doesn't come around very often. Everything about it was fantastic, with J's slacker vocals, fuzzy guitar parts, Murph's impeccable drumming, and Lou's fantastic bass-playing, and on top of all this, the truly original fusion of everything they were into. The record has Sabbath, R.E.M., the Cure, the Who, Led Zeppelin, Black Flag, and all sorts of other classic artists that made for a truly amazing record. Soon would come Dinosaur's third record Bug, which sees the band laying off the fuzz a bit, but at the same time delving into noise orgies on occasion. Whenever someone asks me what Dino sound like, I usually say R.E.M. with a shitload of Fuzz on top, and Bug is a very good example of this sound, but with more emphasis on the jangly side. Songs such as "Freak Scene", "They Always Come", "Pond Song", and "the Post" fit this description perfectly, but the biggest exception to this sound is the noise orgy titled "Don't". While the others mix this Led Zeppelin-esque fuzziness with jangly indie rock, "Don't" is pure noise with Lou screaming "Why, why don't you like me?" repeatedly. Overall, one of Dino's strongest efforts, and a near 5. 4.8/5
3Dinosaur Jr.
I Bet on Sky

I would say that Beyond was really good because it just sounded like classic Dino with a bit of a modern feel to it, which proved to be quite enjoyable. Next came Farm which many praised for various reasons, and I basically see it as the band settling into place and evolving a little bit more into more dynamic territory and whatnot. I Bet on Sky though is where Dino Jr. combine the fuzziness of YLAOM, the melancholy of Hand It Over, and the eclecticism of their debut. The result is quite possibly Dinosaur's best reunion effort so far, which is saying quite a bit. J still sounds inspired in his vocals and guitar playing, the rhythm section is still as strong as ever, and the new sounds are quite pleasant whether it be acoustic elements, background drones, or even strings. Yeah, Dinosaur have once again proven to be one of the best indie bands around, gracing us with yet another excellent, even superb record. 4.6/5
4Dinosaur Jr.
Beyond

Damn J really brings the riffs this time. In all seriousness though, their best album since Bug. Never sounding dated or tired (in a bad way), Dinosaur Jr's comeback is better than one would really expect. But then again, now that the original lineup is back, everything sounds so natural. Songs such as "It's Me", "This is All I Came to Do", "We're Not Alone", and "Almost Ready" rival the likes of You're Living All Over Me. Overall, this feels like a very fresh, creative, and just plain amazing comeback for the indie pioneers. Basically a better produced YLAOM, but in the best way possible. 4.4/5
5Dinosaur Jr.
Farm

The fact that Dinosaur Jr have put out three superb albums in a row is quite amazing. I seriously think this is the most consistent they've ever been, because let's face it, the late 80s-early 90s were a bit difficult for these fuzzy giants (hehe kinda like the cover). You're Living All Over Me was of course their masterpiece, but once they toned down the fuzz and feedback, and got rid of Murph and Lou, that's when they sort of lost their edge. Some of those albums were good, but they never reached the heights of YLAOM or Bug. But, once they reformed as the original band with all three members, they've successfully put out three albums that battle against their early efforts. First we had the somewhat similar Beyond, the more accessible Farm, and then the more expansive I Bet on Sky. As for Farm, I would call this one a grower, since I didn't really think much of it at first, mainly due to the more controlled and less noisy overall sound. But, I soon realized Beyond was to YLAOM as Farm is to Bug. The result is a more toned down effort, but still excellent nonetheless. 4.2/5
6Dinosaur Jr.
Where You Been

Dinosaur Jr. being on a major label was rather sketchy in the first place. While they never released an outright bad record, it seemed as if a more polished sound for the fuzzy-alt rockers could've been damaging. While they never released any masterpieces that fight against the great Your're Living All Over Me, Where You Been is the closest they ever came to topping it in these years. By basically making a noisier version of Green Mind, they basically crafted a more polished hybrid of Bug. The guitars are jangly, yet noisy, the songwriting is damn near impeccable, the sound as a band feels wholesome and welcoming. Occasionally Green Mind felt as if it was being dominated by J, but Where You Been is where Dino feels like a band once again, despite J's large presence. Some tracks may feel like filler, but it doesn't take away from the fact that this is the best major label era Dino record. Overall, a damn near perfect balance of the classic Dino sound as well as the Bug/Green Mind sound. 4.2/5
7Dinosaur Jr.
Dinosaur

If you bring up the roots of indie rock, I would rightfully call it a sin to leave Dinosaur Jr. out of the conversation. Being one of SST and Homestead's finest bands, they've released plenty of near masterpieces that will satisfy any fan of fuzzy rock music, but their debut seems to be neglected for no reason. After the dissolving of Deep Wound, J Mascis would switch from drums to guitar/vocals, as well as recruit Lou Barlow on bass and Murph on drums. After playing for a little while, they would write enough material for a full length LP, and release a self-titled debut while they were still just named Dinosaur. This debut is a lo-fi, diverse, and occasionally bizarre release that certainly shows most of the elements Dino would later fuse together into one sound, but here they are displayed one by one. Certain songs will be loud and heavy, some folk tunes, and an occasionally indescribable sound. J still keeps his signature drawling vocal approach, but he seems to sometimes break into something big and loud that he doesn't do anymore unfortunately (Bulbs of Passion is a good example). Never once will this LP feel bland or typical, in fact it's probably Dino's most diverse record, but it was basically because the band didn't know how to handle their influences yet. But still, an essential listen for anyone interested in Dinosaur's discography. 4.1/5
8Dinosaur Jr.
Green Mind

It really is a shame that J was such a dick back in his day, since this band really had so much potential to make plenty of amazing records. While they've made plenty though, J's control-freak attitude eventually led to the absence of Lou Barlow, who was a fantastic musician in the band. He sort of brought a classic hardcore/punk vibe to the group with his hard, distorted bass playing and occasional vocals, but that doesn't mean Green Mind is a bad record. Dino's major label debut is a slightly more polished take on the Bug sound, but with the absence of Lou, there is a more straightforward feel to the style, as opposed to that one odd track Lou always wrote/sang. Green Mind generally shows more of a jangly, poppy side to Dinosaur almost, which isn't bad, but the perfect balance of fuzzy R.E.M.-esque songwriting feels a bit absent. Overall though, Green Mind is an effort worthy of the Dinosaur Jr. name that shouldn't be overlooked. 3.9/5
9Dinosaur Jr.
Hand It Over

Dinosaur Jr. was basically synonymous with J Mascis at this point, whether he wants to admit it or not. The other guys either left or got kicked out, due to J's apparent control issues, which left the band in a rather strange state. Sure, all of the records he released were never below passable, with some even being excellent, but the lack of a band really made them lose their sloppy flair. But, Hand It Over is a surprising improvement over the lazy Without a Sound. J was in a rather dark place at the time of Without a Sound due to the death of his father, and it really showed as his voice sounded even more strained than usual, his songwriting was very below par, and the performances felt rather uninspired. But, Hand It Over sees a sad J moving forward, with some of their best songs in quite a while. The album largely features the noisiness of their past, while still retaining an accessible element in the vein of Without a Sound. The guitar almost feels shoegaze-y at times even, which is an element they would explore partly in their reunion. J's voice is still full of melancholy as usual, but he sounds much more comfortable than he did on their past effort. So overall, a rock solid album from Dino, despite it's sometimes forgettable songwriting. The other con is that the production used doesn't really portray the mood correctly, but it's still a solid Dino album that's sadly overlooked. 3.7/5
10Dinosaur Jr.
Without a Sound

If I'm being honest, if I was around back in the 90s, I would've thought Dino was going for glory once again. Sure, a major label came into the equation, and personal problems plagued the band, but Where You Been will always be the best major label Dino effort, but it was the absence of a band that hurt them. This is where Dinosaur truly became synonymous with J Mascis, quite unfortunately for a matter of fact, since this is easily their worst record. Without a Sound is a generally safe, lazy, and somewhat poorly performed take on the newer Dinosaur sound that J had invented. This album could be described as all the throwaway tracks that might've made it to Where You Been or Green Mind, but even then, they're poorly performed for the most part. Sure, Dino always had a sloppy charm to them, but Without a Sound seems to have J's vocals at an all time low, with his vocals sounding lazy in the bad way. Maybe the death of his father plagued this release understandably, but this will always be the album that feels like a contractual obligation more than a legitimate effort. Overall, a poor record by Dino standards, but still has enough goods to earn a pass. 3/5
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