Dinosaur Jr. - Sweep It Into Space

 

Dinosaur Jr. are back. This seems like a strange thing to say. Have they ever been away? There have been plenty of long gaps in their back catalogue and in terms of their status as a band since they started up in Amherst, Massachussetts, way back in 1984. But at the same time they seem to have been here in some strange way ever since then. Part of the Rock and Roll furniture.

I'd say only Teenage Fanclub of their basic generation, (and TF are actually quite a bit younger as a band), can say anything like the same thing. Both bands seem like essential touchstones and verities. Like rocks, streams and trees somehow. Teenage Fanclub  have a new album out in a week which I'm pretty much sure I'll like. But I'll let you know then, because in this post I'm going to tell you that I like Dinosaur Jr.'s new one, Sweep It Into Space.

It sounds like a Dinosaur Jr. record. From start to finish there are no real surprises but in this case, that's a good thing. There is nothing on here that you haven't heard on a Dinosaur Jr record before. Many, many times frankly. But that is not a criticism in this case as it might be for many bands. Dinosaur Jr. came upon a very fine sound relatively early in their career. There was some variety and development on their early albums but they came upon the sound they were heading to in round about 1993 I'd say with the release of Where You Been in 1993. And they've pretty much stayed there ever since.As they say, 'If it ain't broke...'

That's fine by me.Sweep It Into Space is a record that does all of the things that any Dinosaur Jr. would want a record to do. It's made up of consistently solid songs. J Mascis sounds his wonderful self and Lou and Murph seem entirely onboard. There are solos when you need solos, there are tunes that easily might have been on Where You Been. There is nothing that really surprises you except how good this is.

Where this stands in terms of the best records of 2021 is a difficult one. It's a very, very good Dinosur Jr. record so I guess that means pretty highly. Delayed for a while because of Covid but it's here now nd many people will like it with good reason. I like it too and commend it to you.