When musicOMH.com met the laid-back-to-the-point-of-prostration, former mainman of Dinosaur Jr, J Mascis earlier this year, he was very cagey about whether he could see the Jr reforming, although he did admit that his former sparring partner from the classic '80s line-up, Lou Barlow, had "chilled out" in the intervening years. A few weeks later and the world gets the announcement that Mascis and Barlow will be back playing together in June, which just goes to show that even self-confessed guitar geeks can play the PR game when they want to...
Not that we're complaining, particularly when it leads to 1988's Freak Scene being re-released for the 21st Century, and further, backed with one of Mascis' favourite tracks - the recently remastered Bulbs Of Passion.
If you don't know Freak Scene then there is a genuine CD-shaped hole in your life and it needs filling as soon as possible. For those who need a description, this is where Dinosaur Jr's unique combination of jangling indie, underrated ear for a melody and ear-bleeding, hardcore punk and metal-influenced guitar soloing gelled together into a near-perfect call to arms for any self-respecting person at an alternative rock club. In the bridge towards the end, Mascis can be heard to mutter, "What a mess". Yes, but what a seminal, utterly legendary, gloriously head-shaking one.
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