Weirdness Flows: The Songs of Dinosaur Jr (91-100)
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100 Two Things
Single (2016)
Starts off perhaps just a tad sluggishly, although the dreamy vocal is bolstered by some lovingly lazy high-register solo work. It kicks into gear around halfway through with the appearance of a driving riff that’s then slowed down before the song is taken home on the back of a cascade of taut drum fills and wailing guitar.
99 Now The Fall
7” single (2012)
A limited-edition single released as part of the pre-order for I Bet On Sky, there’s a slight sense that ‘Now The Fall’ is comprised of two or three different song ideas thrown together. As a result, it perhaps doesn’t quite hang together as a coherent whole, but that hardly matters when it’s this chock-full of uplifting melodies, distinctive riffs, effortless soloing and taut passages of staccato chords.
98 This Is All I Came To Do
Beyond (2007)
Bristles with energy and enthusiasm, and the little guitar fill with the string-bend that punctuates the verse is a delight. I’m not, in general, a big fan of ‘just repeat the title for the chorus’ songs, but the song’s unbridled exuberance bulldozes aside any such objections.
97 Recognition
I Bet On Sky (2012)
Lou Barlow has a real knack for writing songs that are simultaneously dark and foreboding but still joyfully uplifting. This crams more chords into one song than you’d get across five Ramones albums, but while this gives it an intense, frenetic energy, it never lacks focus.
96 Walking To You
Sweep It Into Space (2021)
Sturdy, no-nonsense rocker from Sweep It Into Space: the heavy chug of the verse contrasts nicely with the simple but uplifting chorus (‘I know why…’).
95 Ricochet
B-side to Now The Fall (2012)
Quality b-side that’s arguably a touch better than the single’s lead song. The fuzzy, elastic bass line and portentous atmosphere mark it as a Lou Barlow composition even before he begins to sing. Typically for a Barlow song, it’s taut and controlled, featuring a melody that’s simultaneously melancholy yet rousing - a contrast captured in the lines ‘it’s been too long / I need to be where it’s warm / I don’t care if it causes harm.’ J’s solos on Barlow’s songs are, as mentioned previously, often respectfully restrained; this is generally true in this case, where the solo mostly stays close to the main melody, although there is a brief moment (2:27) where it threatens to break out into something a little more abandoned.
94 Yeah We Know
Bug (1988)
This may be the first song from Bug to appear on this list, but it is by no means a bad one: it has a pleasing bed of squalling wah-wah and stamps along pugnaciously whilst still having interesting rhythmic variations. What lets it down just slightly is the vocal melody, which is a little weak - slightly reminiscent of Ride, whose often glorious guitar racket was often marred by insipid singing.
93 Friends
Farm (2009)
Simple but effective foot-to-the-floor rocker with a crunchy riff, catchy, cascading guitar hook and occasional twangy country-blues flourishes. Not, perhaps, the most thoughtful lyric (‘in my defence / I feel intense / it all makes no sense’) but it has sufficient energy and joie de vivre - plus a joyful chorus - to easily get away with it.
92 Never Bought It
Hand It Over (1997)
Another Hand It Over track that features instrumentation beyond the standard guitar / bass / drums - this time a wistful flute (I think) that meanders along amiably and provides an effective counterpoint to an agreeably world-weary vocal. There’s a scorching, compact solo towards the end too.
91 We're Not Alone
Beyond (2007)
A delicate and melancholy country-ish track underpinned by a carefully busy arpeggio that morphs (after a striking shift in tempo) into a stridently intricate solo.
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