single // Freak Scene
Re-released to coincide with the remasters of the
first three Dinosaur Jr. albums, 'Freak Scene' is undoubtedly
the definitive track from the J Mascis / Lou Barlow
/ Murph era, responsible for making heavy guitar riffs and
slacker ideology more palatable. The original UK release of 'Freak
Scene' was in 1988 on Blast First and preceded the album
Bug - the band's third album. It's sloppily melodic, near
joyous in its grungy celebration of being different. I still think
it sounds fresh against today's rock sounds, and its emotional reading
of the love-hate tension of relationships is simple and effective.
'What a mess' says J toward the end of the track - a beautifully
raucous mess at that, although the remaster partially destroys the
gritty appeal with a mix that lifts the high end too far.
Sweet Nothing's reissue adds the early track 'Bulbs
Of Passion', which is also available as a bonus track on the reissue
of their first, eponymously-titled album. Its raw and noisy, Lou
Barlow providing a sludgy, aggressive bassline undertow while J's
guitar really only comes into its own as a solo two minutes in.
Melodic anti-pop of the highest order.
Whilst the packaging isn't anything like the original
Blast First 'Freak Scene' release, one beautifully consistent factor
is the lack of any discernible detail on the sleeve. Anonymity rocks.
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