Dinosaur Jr. There Near LP

Finally! The sixth studio album Dinosaur Jr. have recorded in the 20 years since their triumphal rebirth. Created in short, intense bursts over the course of a year at Amherst's Bisquiteen Studio, There Near was recorded almost entirely by Dino's core trio — king of the thunder tubs, Murph, human tornado Lou Barlow on bass/vocals and the inimitable J Mascis on guitar/vocals — with a bit of piano and organ work by local master musician, Ken Mauri. And the album roars from start to finish.

Trying to define the essence of Dino's sound is never easy. It's an instantly recognizable blend of loose vocals, sharp guitars and an animalistic rhythm section, but these parts combine into a whole far more magical and exciting than its components.

J's guitar tone throughout There Near is even more animalistic than usual, perhaps owing partly to the fact he's playing through a recently acquired '70s Mesa Boogie MK 1 amp. "I bought the same amp that Chris Dixon had when we made our first album," J says. "Chris recorded us at his house with his amp. It has a real interesting sound I haven't gotten for a while. And it's something I was trying to get back to on this album."

Asked about the philosophical opacity of his lyrical approach, J says. "I'm not always sure what a song is 'about' when I'm writing it. I guess the meaning will present itself at some point. I'll use whatever words work. And a lot of it will be influenced by whatever esoteric mumbo jumbo I'm reading at the time. I try not to think too hard about any of it. Someone suggested this album sounds more upbeat, but I guess that's to do with my delivery, because lyrics like 'No Friends' might make you think otherwise. But I usually write in the third person. It's all just make believe."

While it's true There Near does present a slightly softer lyrical edge on some of J's songs, even a relatively gorgeous ballad like "Put It Down" eventually explodes in a shower of fiery guitar distentions. It's just what happens. Meanwhile the two tunes provided by Lou — "Blowin' Up" and "No One's Ready" — may have less frenzied musical settings, but their lyrics sound like pointed and timely attacks on our current regime. As is so often the case, Lou's melodic constructions have a friendly mien, but his lyrics cut like knives.

There Near continues Dinosaur Jr.'s string of classic albums. The nearer the better.

—Byron Coley