By John Frechette
Campus News
“Cause when I need a friend it’s still you,” is a line from “Freak Scene,” one of the most well-known songs by Indie rockstars Dinosaur Jr. No other band has had a single line which more accurately encapsulates the band dynamic than this. The history of the Amherst, Mass.-based band has been marked by conflict for most of its history, and is one of the defining factors for the trio.
The two main characters of the story are without a doubt frontman J Mascis and bassist Lou Barlow. The two first started played together in Massachusetts Hardcore Punk band Deep Wound. With Mascis on drums and Barlow on guitar, the band appeared on several highly sought after compilation EPs and Dinosaur Jr. still covers Deep Wound’s “Training Ground” to this day.
Originally under the name Mogo, Mascis moved to guitar and Barlow to bass to perform Mascis-written songs which he described as “ear-bleeding country.” The duo added drummer Murph to the mix and then set forth to record their self-titled debut Dinosaur. From the opener “Forget the Swan,” it’s clear that whatever this blend of folky vocal melodies, wailing guitar solos, and punky riffs is, the trio had mastered it.
Shortly after Dinosaur, the band started to record “You’re Living All Over Me,” which was later released in 1987. Mascis wrote the majority of songs for this album, though the two Barlow-penned tracks “Lose” and “Poledo” showcase his lo-fi sound which he would be known for after leaving Dinosaur Jr. “In a Jar” and “Rasians” are some standout tracks, though the bands’ cover of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” was recorded in these sessions, despite not making the final record. It was at this time that the Dinosaurs became aware of the Massachusetts trio Dinosaur, prompting them to add Jr. to their name. As a result, early copies of You’re Living All Over Me simply read “Dinosaur.”
Throughout the recording of You’re Living All Over Me, Barlow became increasingly frustrated with his lack of input in Dinosaur Jr.’s writing process. This tension within the band were present throughout the recording of their third album, despite only Mascis’ tracks appearing on Bug. “Freak Scene” is undoubtedly the most popular song from this original trio of albums, but standouts from this project include “Let it Ride” and “Budge.” The climax of the album, and in fact, the entire Mascis-Barlow feud comes with the closing track “Don’t.” The song was written by Mascis but features Barlow screaming the songs only lyric, “why don’t you like me?” The song’s subject was screaming the boisterous lyric back at its author, so much Barlow even started coughing up blood after recording. A fitting end to the band.
Barlow started recording his lo-fi projects under the name Sebadoh shortly after leaving Dinosaur Jr. His first album as Sebadoh was titled The Freed Man, alluding to the fact that he was no longer being creatively smothered by Mascis. Sebadoh never achieved the commercial success which Dinosaur Jr. achieved, though Bubble and Scrape and Harmacy are essentials, which have earned a place in any vinyl collection.
While Barlow wallowed in commercial obscurity, Dinosaur Jr. achieved success, which they had not seen in the Barlow years. “Green Mind” was the first album, which came after Barlow’s departure. The title track “Green Mind” along with “Puke+Cry” are some standouts from the 1991 disc. Dinosaur Jr. then released “Where You Been?” and “Without a Sound” to the greatest commercial success the band had ever experienced. Standouts from “Where You Been?” include “On the Way” and “Drawerings” while “Over Your Shoulder” is a personal favorite from Without a Sound. Dinosaur Jr.’s closest brush with mainstream success came from “Feel the Pain” off “Without a Sound.” Puzzlingly, “Over Your Shouder” outcharted the pop titan Arianna Grande in early 2019 in Japan as a result of its inclusion in a Japanese television show.
The final Dinosaur Jr. album before the original lineup’s reunion was released in 1997 as “Hand It Over” before Mascis went on to record two solo albums as part of J Mascis and the Fog. The feud had long been dead between the two musicians, the two of them performing side-by-side on the bill for Lollapalooza 1993. Several times throughout the nineties, Mascis was spotted attending Sebadoh shows. The first Dinosaur Jr. reunion was speculated for April 2004, as both Sebadoh and J Mascis would be opening a show for Sonic Youth in Northampton, Massachusetts. Rather than a Dinosaur Jr. reunion, fans at this show were treated to a surprise Deep Wound reunion instead.
Despite no Dinosaur Jr. reunion occurring in 2004, the band reunited for a tour the following year. In the time since, the band has released four studio albums, “I Walk For Miles” off “Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not” being my personal highlight from the reunion.
The band has recently completed their next studio record, but there is not currently any information about this album besides fan videos of a song dubbed “Garden” from the bands socially-distanced shows this fall. Regardless, it is clear that the band has always, and will always revolve around the dynamic between Mascis and Barlow.
John Frechette is a musician earning a master’s in social work at SUNY Albany.
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