Dinosaur Jr. - Been There all the Time (Sire)
4/5
By: Chris O'Toole
More than a decade after J Mascis split Dinosaur Jr. for the first time, only to reform the band hours later without the group's other key protagonist, Lou Barlow, the guitar rock goliath has once again reared its head. Returning with a new album, 'Beyond', later in 2007 Dinosaur Jr. are hoping to turn back the hands of decline, negate any advances in alternative rock since their demise and recapture the crown they wore so briefly in the late 1980s, (before Nirvana exploded on to the scene and took it from them forever). Thankfully for the group's fans, 'Been There all the Time' is a decent stab in that direction.
After the original Dinosaur Jr. line-up disbanded, Lou Barlow continued his recording career under a number of guises, including Sebadoh and The Folk Implosion, to a decent level of critical and commercial acclaim. The same cannot be said about Mascis. The solo albums he produced throughout the 1990s under the Dinosaur Jr. mantel served to undermine the groups legacy. A slue of increasingly dubious recordings were released, including 'Without a Sound' and 'Hand it Over' with a large degree of diminishing returns on a limit range of ideas.
'Been There all the Time' though is an attempt to reverse this decline in the Dinosaur Jr. brand and is a mighty strong start. The melody and hooks are strong, blaring away as if the band had never changed and never would. Mascis' voice is on form and resolute; yet still filled with the powerful expression that originally made him one of the strongest vocalists of the era. Most importantly however, the sound is almost improvised and the Dinosaur Jr. play with abandon; more of a revelation in the bands success to date than an attempt to combat any cumbersome thoughts of expectations or legacy.
More than a nostalgia record, cashing in on the current trend of reforming ageing dinosaur rock bands, where the listener has to go looking for the attributes that made their idols great, 'Been There all the Time' is a genuine Dinosaur Jr. track; a refreshing, confrontational listen that reaches close to the heights the band hit first time around. The guitar solos are fresh and vibrant, never cheesy and the track points to a positive come-back album.
Watch the video to 'Been There All The Time' HERE.
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment