6/23/2009

Facing Extinction?












DINOSAUR JR

Farm

[Jagjaguwar-2009]

Here's album number two from the least-likely-to-reunite lineup this side of The Pixies. And?

Well, it's classic '80s Dinosaur Jr. with all the wall-to-wall noisy guitars, lo-fi sound and buried vocals reminiscent of their pre-major label output. Is it in the same league as those beloved alt-rock artifacts? Probably not. At best, a grower perhaps; at worst, a sturdy manifestation of a band revisiting its classic sound on the ocasion of its silver anniversary. Which is to say, not bad. But not terribly exciting, either. The album cover art is in the top three worst of the year, as far as we've seen, right there with those of Brooke Hogan, and Wilco. So, there's that.

Highlights: "Pieces", "Over It", "Friends", "There's No Here"