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 Eclectic, interesting, raw, and not nearly as embryonic as history has treated it. Sep 08, 2008
The debut offering from Dinosaur Jr (then called simply "Dinosaur") is generally perceived to be an unfocused affair, albeit one which exhibits plenty of potential and includes some genuinely great material in its own right. I tend to agree. The three-piece were very young when they cut this, and it shows in the slightly apprehensive vocal delivery (from both J and Lou) and the muddled production - they seem unsure just what instrument should lead the charge, despite some decent guitar work signalling the future and displaying the talent of the now iconic Mr Mascis.
Despite this, it includes several classic Dinosaur tunes and live favourites and seems to prove that Mascis' songwriting skill arrived fully-formed, if not his instrumental performance. "Repulsion", "Severed Lips" and the brooding "Quest" (with the personality-defining chorus of "Why won't you be my friend?") are all brilliant songs despite the sonic shortcomings of the recording. Other highlights sound more like Lou's contributions, or group efforts at the very least, and "Forget The Swan" comes off as possibly the best track on the record. It's certainly one of the most effective songs in their post-reunion live set, and is usually played with just the confidence and aggression the studio version lacks. Lou's influence can also be heard on "Gargoyle" and "Mountain Man" - both successes, exemplifying the clash of influences in Dinosaur Jr's genetic make-up: hardcore punk's aggressive catchiness, the pure noise of Hendrix-esque wild soloing, and more than a dash of post-punk's angular restraint.
They would do better on their next two releases, both undeniable classics, but "Dinosaur" itself is one of their more interesting records because it still feels like the band that recorded it could go in any number of directions next time out, even though by now we (the fans) know "You're Living All Over Me" inside out.
Also: this remaster includes "Bulbs Of Passion", which is still a Dinosaur Jr live staple to this day, making it a must buy.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 my favorite Dinosaur Aug 22, 2007
Dinosaur Jr are about my favorite band, right up there with Meat Puppets, and this album, to me, is their best output. I'm familiar with all three of the original Dinosaur Jr's albums, and I love them all for different reasons, but this album always made me want to keep listening to it over and over in a way that You're Living All Over Me and Bug don't quite acheive. This album is definately more idiosyncratic than the other two and it's diferent from just about anything that's ever been recorded as far as I know. You should probably just buy the album and let the music explain itself to you.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Pulsating White-Noise Dec 28, 2006
Like a nuclear reaction, an earthquake, and with the inclusiveness of a tree falling in the middle of the forest that only makes a sound by those cool enough to be in the know, came Dinosaur Jr.`s 1985 debut album, "Dinosaur": a white-noise album in the vein of Sonic Youth, another band that used punk and psychedelia flooded with sound to create a girth of atmospheric noise, pummeling the audience with its sonic attack. Seeming reckless, and random, there still is a masterful volley of musical energy realized on the onset, with the newly included track Bulbs of Passion, and its fine stop-go-and explode beat patterns, make it apparent that Dinosaur Jr. laid the groundwork for the genre's of modern Alternative and Grunge. These soundscapes are somber and the stratosphere of passionate noise creates a rush to make it unique and never boring, while the lyrics are fragmented, and devoid of mirth.
Basically this three piece unit's sound came from just letting the speakers go at high volume, and then wailing on their instruments. Singer/guitarist Jay Mascis' vocals sound identical to that of Kurt Cobain, and quality wise there's really no duds here, while each song is done with a penchant and still-learning attitude that tells the listener that they will go on to bigger and better things. There are plenty moments of beauty, too; like in the second song, Forget the Swan, featuring bassist Lou Barlow's singing, and his scruffy, nasal voice is pretty poetic, while the melodies and the dance between complete rock-out riffs, and restrained minimalism are memorable enough to convey an emotion, thus making the song just as good as anything by the later-day seminal grunge rockers, Nirvana. The sonic haze never dissipates, and the whole album only gets better from here; songs like, The Leper, and Does it Float claim their right as minor greats of rock-outs, with plenty of screams, instrument solo's, and simplistic, yet blunt, effective, and depressing lyrics that provide a nice counterbalance to their racketed attack.
Then there are the classic tracks, as the album bristles with ingenuity and will make your head explode. Such as with Repulsion, a melodic hard-rocker with a simmering guitar/baseline that coincides with the aggressive angst of the chorus, and even if many of the actual words are indecipherable, its beautiful stuff, atonally played, and ravishingly delightful; sounding modern even more than twenty years later. Gargoyles, and Severed Lips, the next tracks, are festive songs, shingled with burst of feedback, in which the music and words mesh to an indiscreet mess, yet not an ugly one, but rather one with an acute attention to detail.
Dinosaur Jr. brought guitar rock back to the mainstream, and much like The Pixies, Nirvana, and Fugazi, they defined and invented second-wave alternative rock; cultivating it as genre to be reckoned with, and this noise lyricism harvested a new breed of young and ambiguous rockers that are still influenced by their music to this day. That, my friend, is what rock-and-roll is about; so when you listen to this album, make sure to crank the dial loud, to then be immersed in a tidal of bass wails, and guitar solos. Oh yea, and don`t forget to tell your mom that you will need to keep the turntable blasting all night, because that's what Dinosaur Jr.'s music is made for.
**** (Out of 5)
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Where it all begins Dec 28, 2005
I suppose it is typical for a first release to be under-appreciated and, perhaps more importantly, under-promoted. "Dinosaur" was originally released by small label Homestead Records, so this was expected.
This is a great album (yeah, I know it's not really an album you little whippersnappers). It's stacked with great songs. There are maybe two songs that I sort of endure, but even those are significant works of art. Mascis doesn't play "Severed Lips" live very often unfortunately, it's the best song there imho.
This release is an essential part of any Dinosaur Jr collection.
20 years old already? wow? Dec 01, 2005
So Dinosaur JR is now touring the world again in the old and most legendary formation of Jay Mascis, Murph and Lou Barlow. With this is also the release the of the first three Dinosaur JR album that they recorded before Lou left the band to start also legendary Sebadoh.
It's a precursor to the best album they made two years later "You're Living All Over Me". The sound already sounds mostly unproduced and the quality of the songs has not yet reached the high level of that album.
But of course it's great as has classics as 'Repulsion' and the Lou song 'Forget The Swan'. This has made the first Dinosaur JR slowly into a classic indierock album because it didn't cause much of a stir when it just came out. But it doesn't sound dated still. Be sure to get all the new re-releases.
Like all Dinosaur JR, play under loud volume
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