Free So Free

J. Mascis & the Fog, J Mascis, J.????+????? | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 8, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Artemis Classics
• ASIN: B00006JNDK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,665 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Freedom

2. If That's How It's Going To Be

3. Set Us Free

4. Bobbin

5. Free So Free

6. Tell The Truth

7. Someone Said

8. Everybody Lets Me Down

9. Say The Word

10. Outside

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't Believe Everything You Read, October 25, 2002

By 

Mr. T. M. Rapley (London) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Free So Free (Audio CD)

I have just read three, horrible scathing reviews for this record. Now I'm not really into writing reviews, as you usually find only people who really love a record will review it so in terms of bias you're getting alot. Thing is, I have to defend this record. I'm from the New School where I prefer J's output since "Where You Been" rather than before it. Ok the last Dinosaur records weren't great I admit. "More Light" was a fantastic record and easily topped his Dinosaur output. Now here comes the follow up. It's more of the same really, strong melodies, set to crunching grunge guitar and blistering solos. "Feel So Free" & "Bobbin" are really cool tracks & "Everybody Lets Me Down" is effortless powerpop which sounds so simple but few can pull it off as effectively as J. For the 3 previous reviewers who gave the record 1 star, go back and listen to your 80's indie records as you've obviously not moved on from then. For me "Feel So Free" is a moving record with an engrossing concept of freedom.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars pebbles and weeds, May 28, 2003

By 

Hickory "Hickory" (Toronto Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Free So Free (Audio CD)

All Im gonna say is that I have been into Dino jr since the early to mid 80's when they realeased their self titled. Every album offers something new and something different (especially the CD single take a run at the sun.) People always wanna compare post 'where've you been' to pre 'where've you been', well you know what it's pointless to do so. Lou Barlow's sound had such an effect on the first few albums that you could eventually tell J wasn't into them so much (because the bass lines slowly sank behind the guitar riffs) so they split up. Lou went to his own bands (sebedoh, etc...) that allowed for his sound but Dino jr has and always will be the music expression of j mascis. With or without a band he would have released the cd and had it sound his way ( and i believe he has played every instrument on a cd before -- check the liners). This CD deserves 5 stars because it is J doin what he does best...make music. At least he is still making music for our ears because there are so many other bands that made music then that I can't stand listening to now. So buy the damn CD, you'll enjoy it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Free So So, August 15, 2006

By 

Sacco (here there and everywhere) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Free So Free (Audio CD)

'Free So Free' isn't a great album. Its not exactly bad either, just kind of middling. J Mascis hasn't really created a great set of songs since 'Green Mind' or maybe 'Where You Been?' both with his band Dinosaur Jr. This set of song isn't really all the different from where he left off with that band of his last album as J Mascis & the Fog. Imagine Neil Young only more of a slacker and virtually none of the anger. Only that probably unfair to J as his own distinct personality is for better or worse stamped all over 'Free So Free'. He spins of some incredible solos left and right, not so much spectacular virtuosity as quirky bits of twisted flights of fancy (not that J isn't a brilliant guitarist, he is).

The best song and the only really great one is 'Everybody Let's Me Down' a song J should have (some might meanly say already did) write years ago during the grunge explosion when it probably would have been a massive hit. Elsewhere this is tired album, full of songs about relationships that are breaking of have broken down and about breaking out of the ruts in life whether it be depression or just old habits. If you're not a big Dinosaur Jr. fan then I probably wouldn't recommend it, and even if you are only get it if you're a completist or you prefer the later albums than band put out.