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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Since bassist Lou Barlow left Dinosaur Jr. in 1989, the band--whose last record was 1997's expansive Hand It Over--has largely become an alter-ego moniker for guitarist/vocalist J Mascis. But now the original trio (including drummer Emmett "Murph" Murphy) has reunited for the first time since Barlow's split, and the 11-song outcome makes one ask: Why did they wait so long? Mascis's thunderous "Almost Ready," featuring both his combustible guitar and weary vocals, is the perfect blast-off, allowing Murphy's backbeat to set a turbulent pace early, and while songs like "Been There All the Time" and the Neil Young accolade "This Is All I Came to Do" have Mascis as primed as ever, Barlow (whose '90s-era Sebadoh set the bar for lo-fi bands) reappears with two of the record's strongest tracks: the poppy "Lightning Bulb" and "Back to Your Heart," which recalls late-in-the-game Hüsker Dü. These 50 minutes of music are as cohesive as they are conquering, and whether the same can be said of the once-prickly relationship between Mascis and Barlow will ultimately decide if this is a one-off reunion or if the real Dinosaur Jr. is back for awhile. --Scott Holter
Review
It doesn't take a great intellect to recognise that bands reforming after a considerable time apart doesn't always work. Industry politics; adapting to the current musical climate; scepticism from both the public and the critics! there's any number of hurdles. Take Dinosaur Jr for instance, who, let's face it, are hardly All Saints. Yet, as the original line-up regroup for their 8th studio album, it would seem no band is immune from such obstacles.
Evidently picking up exactly where that particular line-up left off, Beyond has a distinctly non-21st century feel. Perhaps no bad thing - after all, there's a good 19 years to catch up on. But sadly, the alt-rock pigeonhole in which Dinosaur Jr once sat happily has evolved hugely. Music which was just the right side of edgy in the late 80s and early 90s is just the wrong side of indifference in 2007.
Had you heard "This Is All I Came To Do" or "We're Not Alone" during the reign of grunge, you'd be suitably impressed. But with grunge having since given birth to an array of sub-genres far more relevant to today's audience, these songs just about invoke a shoulder-shrug.
For long-term Dinosaur Jr fans, the return to the pre-89 original line-up will be an event in itself. If those fans were hoping the event aspect would spill over into the music, they'll be sorely disappointed. By no means is Beyond a poor quality record, it merely lacks the impact one might have expected, either as a result of the personnel-related hype or off the back of older material.
It's certainly not completely bereft of character. Beyond's saving graces come in the form of its soaring, epic instrumentals, and the engaging lazy drawl of J. Mascis. But stylistically it covers such well-tread ground that it's difficult to actively appreciate. A heavily-American, FM-friendly - yet refreshingly unpretentious - sound unfortunately makes for an overall unremarkable album. --Al Fox
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
So J and Lou have kissed and made up, but was it worth it?
You bet your ass it was!!
If you liked the original stuff then you won't be disappointed here, everything is in place from J's drawl and mind boggling, teatering on the edge guitar work to Lous unique strummed bass and Murphs powerful tub thumping. Also, caught them live a couple of times since they reformed and they are as gigantic a live experience as ever. Only down side is it may have you thinking "was that REALLY 20 years ago!!!?"
But nostalgia aside this is a great album in its own right. If you've never even heard of Dinosaur Jr but like melodic powerful guitar driven music you should check this out. I reckon it's as good a place to start as any of their original stuff, and that's saying something!!
You bet your ass it was!!
If you liked the original stuff then you won't be disappointed here, everything is in place from J's drawl and mind boggling, teatering on the edge guitar work to Lous unique strummed bass and Murphs powerful tub thumping. Also, caught them live a couple of times since they reformed and they are as gigantic a live experience as ever. Only down side is it may have you thinking "was that REALLY 20 years ago!!!?"
But nostalgia aside this is a great album in its own right. If you've never even heard of Dinosaur Jr but like melodic powerful guitar driven music you should check this out. I reckon it's as good a place to start as any of their original stuff, and that's saying something!!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In the late 80's, early 90's I was a big fan of alternative rock from
the US, sebadoh, pavement, pixies, polvo, arcwelder, superchunk, mudhoney, early nirvana, trumans water, archers of loaf, sonic youth, lemonheads, smashing pumpkins, sugar,screaming trees - they all had that slacker vibe which appealed to my teenage self. Come university in 93 and for me it was Warp records all the way as the records became less fresh sounding. In the past couple of years i have been dusting off my old vinyl and some of it stands up pretty well. In this sense there is nothing on Beyond which i haven't heard before, especially in terms of general song structure eg a chunky riff, a wistful/pained first verse and one line choruses repeated.
However, the quality and production of the songs is good and there are some awesome sounding guitar solos - DJ have basically taken all that was good about that scene and assembled it into an effortless and contemporary feeling package. This album could not have been released at the time, as the whole has been informed by history and put together by musicians who have consistently produced quality music in the years since - happily Beyond is all the better for it.
the US, sebadoh, pavement, pixies, polvo, arcwelder, superchunk, mudhoney, early nirvana, trumans water, archers of loaf, sonic youth, lemonheads, smashing pumpkins, sugar,screaming trees - they all had that slacker vibe which appealed to my teenage self. Come university in 93 and for me it was Warp records all the way as the records became less fresh sounding. In the past couple of years i have been dusting off my old vinyl and some of it stands up pretty well. In this sense there is nothing on Beyond which i haven't heard before, especially in terms of general song structure eg a chunky riff, a wistful/pained first verse and one line choruses repeated.
However, the quality and production of the songs is good and there are some awesome sounding guitar solos - DJ have basically taken all that was good about that scene and assembled it into an effortless and contemporary feeling package. This album could not have been released at the time, as the whole has been informed by history and put together by musicians who have consistently produced quality music in the years since - happily Beyond is all the better for it.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I got a pre-release copy, and was also lucky enough to see Dinosaur Jr. recently in Galway, where they played 2 new songs from Beyond. Starting with 'Almost Ready', J Mascis reminds us that it was Dinosaur Jr who put the G in Grunge, with blistering guitar designed to be played as loud as possible (hit the pain threshold, then keep going), and a simple chord sequence played as only J can, with speed and accuracy. Pick Me Up shows the guys still have that killer instinct when it comes to catchy but heavy riffs, and Been There All The Time simply rocks your socks off. A truly refreshing album showing that there still IS decent music out there.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Back of Beyond
Having come to this after their more recent (as of 2011) release, Farm, I was glad I did not purchase this in 2007. Read more
Published 9 months ago by ratmonkey
The real follow up to Green Mind
I'm not in the habit of giving out 5 stars but when you have spent your formative teenage years listening and loving a band only to watch it self destruct when they refrom it is... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Puffinsnotreal
RAW BUT WELL PRODUCED
If you like hard raw rock then this should be right up your street. In fact the only reason I only gave it 4 stars was that its a bit samey.
Published on 1 April 2010 by Stephen
A very upsetting disappointment
Well Dinosaur Jr. were and remain one of my favorite bands of all time and IMHO very little has ever touched You're living all over me - it is still one of the best albums ever... Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2008 by D. Chadwick
Outdated? Timeless!
Well, grunge is unfashionable now, but the original grungesters are back, and with a no-compromise rock record. Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2007 by Christopher Owens
if you like it hard and dry...
...then these albums are for you:
DINOSAUR JR. BEYOND: ASIN; B000NJMM2C.
This is one of the two albums for the summer of '07. Read more
DINOSAUR JR. BEYOND: ASIN; B000NJMM2C.
This is one of the two albums for the summer of '07. Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2007 by bohobozo
Really very very good...
You would think a group of 40 somethings would be producing 'dad rock' but much like Primal Scream, Dinosaur Jr, now boasting the original lineup from some 20 year ago, have... Read more
Published on 24 July 2007 by S. J. R. Cheesman
...you killed Kenny...
Has it really only been 18 years since the original line up of J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph last recorded together? I never really got it the first time around. Read more
Published on 12 July 2007 by Mr. H
Beyond Everything
As a long-time fan of Dinosaur Jr I have to day that this new LP is right up there with their greatest works, like Your Living All Over Me and Bug. Read more
Published on 6 May 2007 by mARKst
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