Ear Bleeding Country Review by Billboard.com

[Cloud9]

Dinosaur Jr. Bleeds Ears On Best-Of

Seminal indie rock outfit Dinosaur Jr. will be the subject of a new greatest hits compilation slated for an Oct. 2 release on Rhino/Warner Archives. "Ear Bleeding Country: The Best of Dinosaur Jr." features 19 tracks culled from the band’s 1985 Homestead Records debut, "Dinosaur," to 1997’s "Hand It Over" (Sire), plus one song from frontman J Mascis’ 2000 album with his new band, the Fog.

The collection also features non-album tracks such as the Cure’s "Just Like Heaven" and "Take a Run at the Sun," a song that appeared on the MCA soundtrack to the 1996 Allison Anders film "Grace of My Heart."

Mascis formed Dinosaur Jr. in 1984 with bassist and future Sebadoh/Folk Implosion leader Lou Barlow, and forged a reputation for blending the underground noise-rock of groups like Sonic Youth with more traditional song structures reminiscent of Neil Young. Two albums on famed indie label SST, "You’re Living All Over Me" and "Bug," helped establish the group’s sound and pave the way for the "alternative" boom of the early ’90s.

The group signed with Sire at the start of the decade, releasing four more albums, including 1993’s "Where You Been," which peaked at No. 50 on The Billboard 200 and spawned the No. 3 Modern Rock Tracks hit "Start Choppin’."

Mascis remained the only consistent member throughout the group’s existence, even recording entire songs and albums by himself. After disbanding Dinosaur Jr. in 1997, he formed the Fog, and issued "More Light" last year on Ultimatum. Mascis followed the album with a tour that included former Minutemen/fIREHOSE bassist Mike Watt and former Stooges guitarist/bassist Ron Asheton.

— Troy Carpenter, N.Y.

[Author]

Posts