Beyond, the band's first record as the selfsame trio since 1988's Bug, benefits enormously-- more so even than fellow MA-veterans Mission of Burma or latter-day Sonic Youth-- from the years, experiences, successes, and disappointments elapsed between then and now.  Full text...

Despite Beyond’s tendency to feel like a career retrospective in spots, it contains plenty of songs that rival Mascis’s best work.  Full text...

With tracks as good as 'Back To Your Heart' and the blistering 'Pick Me Up', it's also clear that - unlike the embarrassment of that new Stooges album, or the let-down of last year's Lemonheads comeback - this is an album that sits well alongside classics such as 1987's 'You're Living All Over Me'. In other words: a genuine monster.   Full text...

Not many people will need much convincing to listen to Dinosaur Jr.’s first album in 10 years, but this album’s got plenty, with “I Got Lost” and “Pick Me Up” leading the pack.  Full text...

Sting, Summers and Copeland may currently be getting all the headlines for reviving The Police, but if it's a reunion of a seminal '80s rock trio you're after, then the original Dinosaur Jr line-up releasing a new album should definitely be enough to have you Walking On The Moon.  Full text...

Dinosaur is the quintessential slacker band, not just because of all the flannel, noise, and Mascis's half-an-octave, could-give-a-shit drawl, but because of the way the group absolutely worships Crazy Horse-style guitar solos. Honestly, anyone who's had two or three months of guitar lessons and a steady regiment of finger exercises can kick this shit out in two or three takes.  Full text...

Return of the slack - original line-up's welcome return.  Full text...

The first recordings in 18 years by the original trio of Mascis, drummer Murph and bassist Lou (Sebadoh) Barlow, Beyond follows acclaimed performances at both last year's All Tomorrow's Parties, and presents a band at the top of their game, not just reclaiming old territory but pushing its boundaries further out. Mascis's vocals still epitomise grunge apathy on songs like "Crumble" and "Almost Ready", while the bristling skeins of fuzz-guitar are intertwined skilfully to form the ropes which pull their riffs along.  Full text...

Beyond begins with Mascis delivering a trademark freak-out, the rhythm section thrashing along at hardcore velocity, and keeps up the excitement for all 49 minutes. Mascis has rarely been so consistent and engaged. Nevertheless, the bassist Lou Barlow will be satisfied that his song, Back To Your Heart, narrowly outclasses those of his passive-aggressive boss.  Full text...

What the most unsettling this is though, is how little they've changed...It's almost like someone hit pause at the end of ‘Don't' on ‘Bug' in 1988, dusted off the tape deck in early 2007 and had ‘Almost Ready' spluttering into life back at them.  Full text...

For all of the Jurassic (pun intended) styling, a sound that by now is definitely dated, Dinosaur Jr. remains a relentless guitar band to this day – even moments of near balladry become pastiches of feedback and percussion.  Full text...

The spiraling, distortion-drenched guitar solos, the cracked and ruined moan of Mascis, the passive-aggressive romanticism, the relentless beat, the pedals, the sheer turbulent volume...it's just like Where You Been? all over again, with all the positives and negatives that the comparison implies.  Full text...

19 years on, acclaimed trio reform to blend punk and arena rock like they've never been away.  Full text...

The full lineup of Dinosaur Jr. is back after a full childhood's hiatus with no signs of age or tiredness.  Full text...

Featuring the original line-up of J Mascis, Lou Barlow and drummer Murph, the sound is still essentially the "Junior" of old - slightly off-key, yearning vocals, scattergun drumming and fuzz-grunge guitars that play off catchy power chord changes and warm melodies.  Full text...

Many bands in Azzerad's bookend their careers acrimoniously, but uniquely, Dinosaur Jr seem to have loathed each other from the outset.  Full text...