Dinosaur Jr
Dinosaur Jr is an alternative rock band that originated from Amherst, Massachusetts. This band has gone through several band member and name changes, as it developed through a series of evolutions including alterations on the types of music played. It is a fairly influential band, affecting the development of famous bands like Nirvana through the use of melodic guitar solos and creative use of gains and feedback.
Dinosaur Jr was first established in 1984 as a high school gig. The founding members, J Mascis and Lou Barlow, originally named the band Deep Wound. Deep Wound survived until 1984. Mascis went on to be the only original member of the band to continue. Before the band settled on the name Dinosaur, there was a short period where the band tried to re-establish themselves as Mogo. However, due to a conflict within the band, it was quickly dissolved and the band was reformed as Dinosaur.
The woes of Dinosaur Jr did not end there. Due to legal issues, Dinosaur had to change their name. This resulted in the last evolution of Dinosaur Jr, where it picked up its current name.
Today, Dinosaur Jr is enjoying a good reputation and good commercial success with the release of their 2008 album, Beyond. Beyond is released by Fat Possum Records, and was their first album of new material since the release of Bug. Beyond met with good reviews and critical acclaim by blending the popular sounds of the 1990's with high production value and range.
Dinosaur Jr's musical style is unique to the Alternative genre. Feedback, distortion and extreme volume are showcased by the band, and turn it into a work of art. By toeing the lines between extreme and mellow, the band has a lot of flexibility which helped it become famous in the Alternative circles. As the lead singer's voice is more of a drawl than the barks usually associated with the genre, their sound is easy to distinguish from other bands. It is this drawl that conveys a sense of separation from the music as the band plays, which often amazes audiences who watch them perform.
Dinosaur Jr is viewed as an Indy band, enjoying much of the popularity of mainstream brands without being tied to the major record labels.
Dinosaur Jr has released eight albums since their creation, with a ten year span between their latest album and the previous one. Dinosaur Jr now works on new albums in the home studio of the lead singer.
