Dinosaur Jr. Album: “You're Living All Over Me [Remaster]”

This record, along with Bug (also by Dinosaur, Jr.), helped get my through my angst-ridden rebelious college years. Without You're Living All Over Me, Big Black's Songs About ..., Slayer's South of Heaven, and Suicidal Tendencies' How Can I Laugh Tomorrow..., I don't think I would have made it.

Besides possessing one of the greatest album titles ever, You're Living All Over Me contains some of the best guitar sludge angst rock ever written or performed. This was recorded in 1987, while Dinosaur, Jr. was still a band, and not just the J. Mascis show. The vitality and tension of the band really comes through on the tracks in a way that nothing from Dinosaur's post-Bug period ever has (Green Mind was the last great Dino record in my opinion). Plus, J's vocals and lyrics are more heartfelt than any other 80's band that I can think of. The only 80's singer to come close to J's emotional intensity was Big Black's Steve Albini, or maybe Minor Threat's Ian MacKaye. Besides the singing, J. Mascis is truly a guitar hero. His ability and presence are stunning, but what makes it is the fact that he brings even more emotional intensity to his guitar solos than he does to his singing. And don't let me neglect to mention the amazing drum and bass work here. Murph is one of the best rock drummers ever. He's not about flashy chops, but his insistent beats and crazy fills give this music life.

Anyone rock/grunge/alternative/whatever fan who missed out on Dinosaur really needs to own You're Living All Over Me and Bug.

This is where Dinosaur Jr. shined! It is back in print, thanks J, and Merge. Yes. It was trouble to find this before this reissue and this is an essential to Dinosaur fans or 80s Psychedelic Post-Punk fans of SST bands(what label do we file these wonderful bands under?) Check out the other reissues also.

Little Fury Things opens the album beautifully with the wah pedal and screams...yet it turns out to a great pop tune with nice sounding vocals backing up J. The album sound is loud and guitar-driven obviously by Mascis! He plays the guitar with passion and lots of energy and great solos. He's probably one of the most original, passionate guitarist to come along. He mumbles the vocals though. Murph is a good drummer and he's back with tour with Dinosaur Jr. Lou is an interesting bassist and there's something different about his bass playing, but it rings good on all of the early Dinosaur Jr. albums. He also takes lead on two Dinosaur songs on here. One of them is "Poledo", which is completely lo-fi and kind of interesting. It runs a little long though and tends to be just weird noise in some parts, but it's all done on his own and there may be ukulele in the song.

The best songs are the intense "The Lung"(played on the Late Late Show" recently), the ultra heavy "Sludgefest",the single "Little Fury Things", the poppier "In a Jar", the downcast "Tarpit", the bonus track Cure cover "Just Like Heaven", and "Poledo" stands out.

The 80's was a period of continued growth and expansion for rock, it was possibly one of the last true creative times save for a few flashes of brilliance in the 90's, of the many great bands to crop up from that period (and let's face it, we'd be here for god knows how long naming them) dinosaur jr was one of the true greats. J Mascis and Lou Barlow formed Dinosaur, Sounding nothing quite like many of their SST contemporaries, Dinosaur Jr blended elements of thrash, excessive feedback, pop harmonies and catchy melodies. No other band up to this point had a front man quite like Mascis; who sounds relaxed, detached, even lazy, his vocal delivery has gone on to inspire countless other musicians, the most famous being Kurt Cobain. This is one of those rare records that from front to back is literally great, there isn't one ounce of filler nor is there a second wasted, every song on this record is solid, rocks and is catchy. The album kicks off with "Little Furry Things," which starts off in a wash of feedback and shrieking then settling into a rather catchy tune dealing with, yes, rabbits. Highlights include: the lung, raisans, poledo, and my personal favorite, in a jar. In a jar is one of those classic soured relationship tunes drawing comparisons to being kept as a pet in a jar next to a bed. The album closes with some interesting Barlow compositions, foreshadowing his next project, Sebadoh, another fine band. The expanded edition includes a killer rendition of The Cure song, "just like heaven." Robert Smith himself has stated in interviews that after hearing this, the band has since played the song live the way dinosaur jr. has here. Highly recommended for new comers to the band.

There is not a better DJ CD around, most of them are really good but this one is the best. YLAOM is pure unadulterated sludge. It is deep, heavy and above all beautiful. Any person who can appreciate good riffs in music and meaningful, strong sounds should purchase this record. The best album of the 80's. It has been about 14 years and nothing more dynamic than this has been recorded and I dont think anything ever will. Put this up aganst any nirvana, or pearl jam album and this blows it away.

I love Dinosaur Jr. and this album is one of the best there is but don't let the greedy prats who are trying to sell this to you for $70 rip you off. Look around the used-record stores, you'll find 'em if you're patient. Better yet (by far) wait until the beginning of 2005 when Merge Records is reissuing the first 3 or so Dino Jr. albums! I can't wait.