J Mascis fans have had a lot to rejoice over in the past decade. They’ve seen Mascis reunite with Murph and Lou Barlow for a full-on Dinosaur Jr. reunion (shocking just about everyone–band members included) with consistent tours and four (four!) albums of new music since they last called it a day.
The band is in prime form–not as slobby as the mid-80s but still impressively ferocious. Meanwhile, Mascis has managed to multitask like a champ, keeping up his solo output. His latest, Elastic Days, the third record since 2011, continues on the same trajectory as the last two, forgoing the loud, abrasive guitars–his Dinosaur Jr. signature–in leu of a quieter, but still just as impactful, acoustic guitar route punctuated with savvy lyrics.
Songs like the beautiful “Sky is All We Have” and the title track are among some of the best solo Mascis songs ever committed to tape.
It’s hard not to draw comparisons to peers like Husker Du’s Bob Mould, coming from a similar cold climate punk rock background. Mascis has grown significantly as both a musician and a songwriter in the decades since arriving in the 80s while still keeping up a trends-be-damned philosophy of writing stellar punk music buttressed by sharp lyrics and solid playing.
