The Dinosaur Jr. frontman treated the Casbah to songs both new and old. Follow Owl and Bear on Facebook and Twitter for contests, MP3s, and links that don't make it onto the blog.
Escaping the carnage of the final day of SXSW 2011, I ended up in airport security behind none other than the legendary J Mascis . Friends, never have I been so intrigued by watching another man take off his shoes. For a fella who's made his reputation at volume levels capable of repelling Ted Nugent, Mascis' newest, Several Shades Of Why is a surprisingly gentle affair. Is It Done is certainly one of the most heartfelt and beautiful tunes that I've crossed paths with this [...]
This video was originally hosted by NME , it just made it's legal youtube appearance today, it came with this bonus track from Fruit Bats featuring J Mascis. It's not too bad, you can hear Mascis in the background just wailing near the end of the song. This video is pretty all right, different backdrops are put up as he's playing his guitar. As I mentioned before when the single dropped it's a great song from a great album. I think his first solo effort turned out quite all right. Subpop still has the [...]
Image used with permission of Sub Pop Records Eric D. Johnson, who records under the name Fruit Bats , has teamed up with J Mascis for a breezy, 70s-inspired bonus track, "Wacs." The song is being released in advance of Fruit Bats' upcoming album, Tripper , due on August 2 via Sub Pop Records, but will not be featured on the album. (Hence, bonus track...)
J Mascis - "Is It Done" (Official Video) While Chad VanGaalen's abstract animation for J Mascis' "Not Enough" video was a fine representation of the Dinosaur Jr. frontman's colorful imagination, Clambake Animation's new official clip for the Ben Bridwell-featuring Several Shades of Why single "Is It Done" beautifully bridges the gap between Mascis' enigmatic off-stage persona with his lyrically direct, heartfelt, near-twee tunes. Check out the excellent new video above. Previously: Watch Mascis Cover Edie Brickell
Photo by Philip Cosores J Mascis' first solo album, Several Shades Of Why , is a step away of Dinosaur Jr. to say the least. But, though the album is a stripped-down, reflective affair, his videos for "Not Enough" and, now, "Is It Done" portray a bright and colorful contrast to the serious songs. In short, they are beautiful to watch and to hear. Check out the video for "Is It Done" below.
![[Photos] J Macias and Black Heart Procession at The Independent](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3420999_lg.jpg)
Photographs by Eric Lawson & Written by Justin Gillet Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis and supporting act Black Heart Procession played The Independent on Wednesday and managed to showcase a slightly doleful style of music that's oftentimes a rare find amid today's music scene with hyperactive musicians full of faux jubilation. Though Black Heart Procession was scaled down to a duo for its performance, the two guys on stage didn't have any trouble keeping the gaze of the audience affixed (especially with one of the members occasionally playing a saw with a violin bow to create an eerie, [...]
Here is J Mascis' video for his song "Is It Done" from his recently released solo album Several Shades Of Why . Check out the album version of the track below. "Is It Done" by J Mascis from Several Shades Of Why Related posts: J Mascis - "Not Enough", Solo Album 'Several Shades of Why' out March 15, 2011 J Mascis - Spring 2011 Solo Acoustic Tour Dates Announced [...]
J Mascis cut a lonely figure on stage at The Independent. He often looks like he'd rather be sat in front of a Marshall practice amp in his garage, than a room full of people. The last time I saw J play was at The Fillmore SF with Dinosaur Jr, I was resting on the monitor by his feet watching him wail on his Stratocaster at an ear melting decibel. Last night was a much more humble, mostly acoustic, evening, which meant J's unique raspy sometimes-in-tune-not-that-he- cares voice cut through. His simple lyrics are endearingly immature, unpretentious and heartfelt. When he [...]
[Happy birthday to Foo Fighters guitarman Chris Shiflett, who turns 40 today. There are parties everywhere tonight:] ► Dinosaur Jr. main man J. Mascis hits the Echo behind his arrestingly beautiful acoustic album, "Several Shades of Why." The Black Heart Procession and Rachel Fannan open. ► First Fridays at the Natural History Museum goes off with L.A. electro dance-punk outfit Moving Units and noisy Brooklyners Crystal Stilts . ► U.K. electro dudes Dirty Vegas are back, with their new [...]
Kelley Jackson Here's a somewhat disturbing trend - bands of young'ns drawing influence from the music I grew up with, despite the fact that they probably weren't even out of diapers when it was contemporary. Disturbing mainly in the fact that it implies I've crossed some sort of generational checkpoint and the cycle of influences is looping in on itself, as it does. Case in point, Tampa sextet Sleepy Vikings , whose acquaintance I first made at NXNE last year . Despite making a non-stop 26-hour drive from there to here and [...]
[It's not only Cinco de Mayo, but it's Adele's birthday. Best wishes, and here's what's up tonight ...] Great night ahead: ► It's that time of the month: The Rumble hits the Echo tonight, topped by two SoCal bands who released fine debut albums already this year. Apex Manor's pop-rock gem "The Year of Magical Drinking" came out in January on Merge; the Fling's harmony-laden "Then the Madhouses Appear" is just out [...]
Watch 'Is It Done?' via NME . J Mascis recently dropped by KEXP. Catch J Mascis on his North American tour. Purchase J Mascis items via Insound. MP3: J Mascis - Is It Done?
J Mascis' transition into an acoustic toting troubadour continues with this contemplative video for "Is It Done" off his Several Shades of Why LP. In the clip, we see Mascis hanging in a studio in front of nature paintings, and playing his guitar. It's as chilled-out and non-committal as the music here. Which is just fine with me. Several Shades of Why is out now. [ NME ]
If you're looking for some seething, heart-on-sleeve scuzzy stuff whilst struggling for grip on the speeding coattails of Yuck, cling on tightly to Wet Paint , as they conjure a similarly melodic sonic barrage that's intermittently concealed away within visceral vocal drawl and agitated feedback howling. The whippersnapping, rip-roaring Uptight Casuals is all but devoid of era categorisation, bubblegum chorus sticking to quintessential grunge lyrics of being brought down and written off, like Nine Black Alps enticing J. Mascis with Chupa Chups round the back of the Garage (maybe), whilst the acoustic amble of Aim Low succinctly epitomises both [...]
Check out the Dinosaur Jr man, J Mascis , rocking his acoustic yet again, but doing it oh so very well. This time it's courtesy of Pitchfork that we get to enjoy his lead cut, "Several Shades of Why" which appears on his most recent release of the same name Several Shades of Why. Check out the impressive performance up at the top and head on over to P4K for a few more if you like what you hear.
Video: J Mascis Covers Edie Brickell In addition to performing cuts off his latest LP, Several Shades of Why , Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis has been covering Edie Brickell & New Bohemians' 1988 hit "Circle" along stops on recent solo acoustic tours. On paper, the Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars single might seem like an unusual choice of cover, but when Mascis sings this tender take among his own unplugged tunes of late — such as in the Pitchfork session above — [...]
The biggest surprise about J Mascis' solo debut Several Shades of Why ? The fact that he's gone all acoustic troubadour on us, picking up an acoustic guitar and rocking, softly. You can watch the softer side of Mascis in this Pitchfork TV special presentation, which finds Mascis performing with a guitar in a Brooklyn studio. Above is video of his solo album's title track, and you can see more videos at Pitchfork. Several Shades of Why is out now.
KEXP has been on fire recently: Here's another awesome session recorded in the station's studio. J Mascis took some of the jams from his Several Shades of Why solo LP into KEXP, and totally kills it. Expect somber, earnest tracks instead of the megaton riffs Mascis brings to Dinosaur Jr. Download the session here .
J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr has released his first solo studio record. The record is almost entirely acoustic and is beautifully designed. To me, it's the album that had been kept inside since 1994's "Feel the Pain." It's more raw sharing, but this time, in a bit of peace and quiet. Or if you never realized how much pain and heartache was in all those Dino albums, this one can retrospectively shine a light for you. Several Shades of Why is a collection of ten fragile, contemplative tracks that serve as [...]
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