Farm [Deluxe] [PA] [Digipak]

Performer: Dinosaur Jr.
Engineer: Justin Pizzoferrato; John Agnello; Justin Pizzoferrato; John Agnello
Producer: J Mascis
Distributor: Alternative Dis. Alliance

Notes: Audio Mixer: John Agnello. Audio Remasterer: Greg Calbi. Recording information: Bisquiteen, Amherst, MA (2008-2009). FARM is in every respect an equal to Dinosaur, Jr's 2007 comeback, BEYOND: a muscular, melodic monster that stands among the best albums the band has made. It possesses an impressive combination of vigor and consistency, sounding as if it could have arrived in the early '90s, minus some subtle distinctions in production and attitude. Dinosaur Jr.'s assuredness is striking; Mascis may drawl that he "did it wrong" on the pre-chorus of "There's No Here," but once again his tongue is firmly in cheek, and any traces self-mythologizing slackerdom are steamrollered by the band's roar. The songwriting is strong, with Mascis alternating between molten rock & roll ("Pieces"), fuzzy pop gems ("Over It" and "I Want to Know"), and churning slow burns ("Ocean in the Way"), while Lou Barlow throws in two good numbers. As good as the songwriting is, the real rush comes from the band's interplay, sometimes taking upwards of seven or eight minutes to get where they're going. Although there have been imitators and disciples, this is a sound that's utterly unique to Dinosaur Jr. If Farm lacks the element of surprise of Dinosaur Jr.'s 2007 comeback, Beyond, that's just about the only thing it lacks: in every other respect it is its equal, a muscular, melodic monster that stands among the best albums the band has made. Again, what impresses is a combination of vigor and consistency, consistency not only in regards to the songs on Farm, but how it picks up on the thread running throughout the band's career, feeling as if it could have arrived in the early '90s, minus some subtle distinctions in production and attitude. As on Beyond, Dinosaur Jr.'s assuredness is striking; Mascis may drawl that he "did it wrong" on the pre-chorus of "There's No Here," but once again his tongue is firmly in cheek, and any traces self-mythologizing slackerdom are steamrollered by the band's roar. As good as the songwriting is -- and it's as strong as it was on Beyond, as Mascis alternates between molten rock & roll ("Pieces"), fuzzy pop gems ("Over It" and "I Want to Know"), and churning slow burns ("Ocean in the Way"), while Lou Barlow throws in two strong numbers -- the real rush of Farm comes from the band's interplay, how the group locks together and rides the wave, sometimes taking upwards of seven or eight minutes to get where they're going. Although there have been imitators and disciples, this is a sound that's utterly unique to Dinosaur Jr., and what's different about them in their reunion is that the group not only realizes their individuality, they revel in it, getting lost in the noise, and it's hard not to get swept up with it, too. [The album was also released as a "Deluxe Edition" that came with a bonus disc comprised of four brief songs: two Mascis originals and covers of songs by the Zombies ("Whenever You're Ready") and Elyse Weinberg ("Houses"). ] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Rolling Stone (p.76) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Avalanching metal riffs and spit-polished solos reach for the sky with a classic-rock charisma the band never went for in its youth." Spin (p.90) - "FARM sounds like old-school Dino -- gnarlier, snarlier, and better than it has any business being." Alternative Press (p.110) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t boasts some of Mascis' biggest departures under the Dino name. 'Your Weather' is a surprising interpretation of vintage Britpop..." Q (Magazine) (p.121) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Naturally J Mascis's guitar playing remains as distorted -- and dextrous -- as ever, but here his songcraft burns as brightly as his fretwork..." Pitchfork (Website) - "[W]ith riff-heavy slacker classics that rival past gems like 'Little Fury Things' and 'Freak Scene'. Opener 'Pieces' is a vintage display of Dinosaur Jr.'s knack for grafting unruly riffage to unabashedly bittersweet choruses." Record Collector (magazine) (p.82) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "It begins with 'Pieces,' its catchy, upbeat melody underpinned by Mascis' trademark noodling, feedback-drenched guitar."

Formed in Amherst, Massachusetts during the mid-1980s, Dinosaur Jr. crafted punky, ramshackle songs that featured J. Mascis' sleepy vocals and meandering, feedback-drenched guitars. After a series of well received indie releases, culminating with 1988's BUG, bassist Lou Barlow departed to form Sebadoh, and the band (Mascis and drummer Murph) signed with a major label. In 1991, the group released their masterpiece, GREEN MIND, an album that displayed a poppier, dreamier sound. However, Dinosaur Jr. was essentially a Mascis solo project by this point, and although Murph and other musicians appeared on subsequent albums, Dino Jr. remained a Mascis-driven vehicle until he officially went solo in the late '90s.

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