Dinosaur Jr

Beyond

(Fat Possum)

Record Review by Adam McKibbin

With their original trio restored for the first time since 1989, underground alt-rock titans Dinosaur Jr. pick up right where they left off on Beyond, ignoring every musical trend that's occurred during their lengthy hiatus and focusing squarely on the trio's time-tested strengths: Lou Barlow's skewed pop sensibilities, Murph's versatile anchoring behind the drumset, and, most importantly, the signature vocal warble and guitar majesty of J Mascis.

"Almost Ready" causes a ruckus from the start, featuring the first of many gleeful guitar solos on Beyond and an infectious melody peeking out from underneath the wall of noise. The oft-acknowledged Crazy Horse/Neil Young parallels emerge more explicitly on later tracks like "It's Me." Barlow, on his second big reunion of the year after already helping revive Sebadoh, leads two songs himself: "Lightning Bulb" and "Back to Your Heart," the latter a sort of Matthew Sweet-on-steroids number.

Despite a famously acrimonious personal relationship, there was never any doubt that Mascis and Barlow were important creative foils for one another. In no way a crass capitalization on their fence-mending reunion tour, Beyond holds its own with its storied predecessors. Old Dino diehards and champion air guitarists, rejoice—this one's been a long time coming.