Dinosaur Jr Albums Ranked
Dinosaur Jr. is an American rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1984, originally simply called Dinosaur until legal issues forced a change in name. The band was founded by J Mascis (guitar, vocals, primary songwriter), Lou Barlow (bass, vocals), and Murph (drums). After three albums on independent labels, the band earned a reputation as one of the formative influences on American alternative rock. Creative tension led to Mascis firing Barlow, who later formed Sebadoh and Folk Implosion. His replacement, Mike Johnson, came aboard for three major-label albums. Murph eventually quit, with Mascis taking over drum duties on the band’s albums before the group disbanded in 1997. The original lineup reformed in 2005, releasing five albums thereafter. Mascis’s drawling vocals and distinct guitar sound, hearkening back to 1960s and 1970s classic rock and characterized by extensive use of feedback and distortion, were highly influential in the alternative rock movement of the 1990s. Here are all of Dinosaur Jr’s albums ranked.
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10. Dinosaur, 1985
“Another one of the big titans of American 80’s “college rock”. Dinosaur Jr arrives on the scene! Like many of their contemporaries in the States they were very interested in much more hardcore sounds than say the British. And were at the same time pretty interested in how to weave melody into them. So I’d say Dinosaur Jr fits pretty comfortably into the category of Post-Hardcore.”
9. Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not, 2016
“Sometimes when you are focused so much on listening to new albums and broadening your musical taste you can forget about your favorite artists. And you look at your favorite artist names and some of the acts don’t ring so true to me, such as the case of this band. But whenever I put them on it immediately becomes clear why they are a favorite of mine. And in this new album, they manage to deliver just, the very same of the old formula that works so well. That being lazy rock, guitar distortion, and some of the most wonderful melodies the indie scene has heard. A lot of standout guitar licks, and bittersweet hooks, things the band knows how to do so well.”
8. Without A Sound, 1994
“This album contains some of the most emotional music ever written. The pleading voice of J, to non listeners, sounds gritty and off tune. However, if you are a fan of Dinosaur Jr, you are used to it and know that it’s not meant to be the perfect voice or anything, it is sung so as to fit the songs. The songwriting and production also work together perfectly.”
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7. I Bet On Sky, 2012
“A slight let-down after the stupendous Farm album, this is still worthy and though it sounds a little meandering in parts the melodies are strong. J is the star of the show as usual with his other-worldly lead breaks, but Lou Barlow mixes it up a bit with “Rude” and the too-short “Recognition”. This is a band that I’ll always be happy to watch and hear even if they’re not at the top of their game.”
6. Farm, 2009
“Not only is this by far one of the best albums I have heard all year, it stands as one of their finest efforts. The original line-up play with such ease and comfort, one has to question “did they ever go away?” With 2007’s _Beyond_, J. Mascis and the boys displayed they had a lot more great music to give and _Farm_ only continues that sentiment with massive heated guitar’s and classic slacker vocals. “
5. Beyond, 2007
“This album is full to the brim with modern classics and should be more widely recognized. Special mention must be made about those glorious guitar solos!”
4. Green Mind, 1991
“It’s easy to overlook the albums Dinosaur Jr. released throughout the 90’s — part of the band went their separate ways, the remaining member(s) signed to a major label, and _most_ Dino Jr. purists place the SST records in the pantheon of their catalog. _Green Mind_ was my introduction and it’s hard for me to deny the fact that it continues to be my favorite. On their previous outings they may have been noisier and more ear-splitting, which is what most fans loved about about them, but coming into the 90’s J. found a whole new outlook with melody and precision.”
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3. Where You Been, 1993
“Where You Been maintains that indie, slacker heartbreak that the band are famous for. The album opens with the song “Out There,” which fits that description perfectly. I would actually argue “Out There” is among their greatest songs. There’s some great musicianship on the track and J Mascis has a particularly great guitar solo towards the half way point of the song.”
2. Bug, 1988
“One of my favorite albums of all the genres Dinosaur Jr. mashed together on this release, Bug is noisy yet melodic and abrasive yet delicate. It’s incredibly consistent in quality, with the exception of joke closer and acquired taste ‘Don’t’, and above all, incredibly fun.”
1. You’re Living All Over Me, 1987
“Dinosaur Jr are ridiculously good, one of very few bands where self indulgence is not only acceptable – but is encouraged and absolutely brilliant, well – I wouldn’t call it self indulgent as such, because they have the talent and ability to make it go somewhere. The art of songwriting isn’t lost with Dinosaur Jr, but I’ve found that a lot of the time guitar based albums can fall flat on their faces, even if they’re technically proficient, hell, even if they’re technically superb – it doesn’t really matter a whole lot if the songwriting isn’t there, with You’re Living All Over Me you have 9 brilliantly crafted songs, and it feels so effortless and lazy. It just feels so ridiculously natural and not overwrought at all, despite how big its sound is.”