Dinosaur Jr - Sweep It Into Space

The Guardian 0

(Jagjaguwar)
Melding blissful memories with dynamite rock, the US trio’s 12th album sees them wisely sticking to their signature script

Improbably, J Mascis has almost as many acting credits (11) as Dinosaur Jr have albums (12). Maybe “Long Haired Man” or “J Mascis” aren’t so much of a stretch, but repeat bookings suggest that Mascis knows how to act; dependable scene-filler rather than blockbuster hero, although seeing how his friend Kurt Cobain handled superstardom, he’ll be happy enough with that. In Dinosaur Jr, Mascis has played the same part for more than half his life, singing songs trapped between hope and heartbreak, consoled only by the elegant violence of his guitar.

He’s good at it. Along with unshowy bassist Lou Barlow and panel-beating drummer Murph, the trio pair sweetly wistful melodies with music that often sounds like approaching war. Yes, some people will say they rarely change, that there isn’t enough variety across this or any Dinosaur album. Only Take It Back’s funky mellotron truly surprises. Elsewhere I Ain’t, To Be Waiting and I Ran Away stick fruitfully to the script. Yet that’s what good work is. Showing up, hitting your marks, doing what you do best. Some people are staring at the bricks, not noticing the palace they built.