Customer Reviews

You're Living All Over Me

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

YLAOM still stands out as one of the best underground/alternative/progressive/college-music/whatever albums from the mid-late 1980's. My taste in music has changed considerably since that time, but, unlike many other--well, loud--recordings from the period, I always gravitate back towards YLAOM and the follow-up BUG, both of which are awash in crazed screeching feedback but somehow sustain a sense of melody at times. As for the remastering, it's excellent. The levels were so low on the old SST CD version that you had to bump the volume all the way up when listening. Merge has cleaned up and amplified everything, although it still keeps that low-fi sound that's part of the production.

This record, along with Bug (also by Dinosaur, Jr.), helped get my through my angst-ridden rebelious college years. Without You're Living All Over Me, Big Black's Songs About ..., Slayer's South of Heaven, and Suicidal Tendencies' How Can I Laugh Tomorrow..., I don't think I would have made it.

Besides possessing one of the greatest album titles ever, You're Living All Over Me contains some of the best guitar sludge angst rock ever written or performed. This was recorded in 1987, while Dinosaur, Jr. was still a band, and not just the J. Mascis show. The vitality and tension of the band really comes through on the tracks in a way that nothing from Dinosaur's post-Bug period ever has (Green Mind was the last great Dino record in my opinion). Plus, J's vocals and lyrics are more heartfelt than any other 80's band that I can think of. The only 80's singer to come close to J's emotional intensity was Big Black's Steve Albini, or maybe Minor Threat's Ian MacKaye. Besides the singing, J. Mascis is truly a guitar hero. His ability and presence are stunning, but what makes it is the fact that he brings even more emotional intensity to his guitar solos than he does to his singing. And don't let me neglect to mention the amazing drum and bass work here. Murph is one of the best rock drummers ever. He's not about flashy chops, but his insistent beats and crazy fills give this music life.

Anyone rock/grunge/alternative/whatever fan who missed out on Dinosaur really needs to own You're Living All Over Me and Bug.

This record has more pure power than any other album ever, I really think. Sonic Youth is my favorite band, but I think You're Living All Over Me exceeds anything they've ever done. Daydream Nation, Doolittle, and Double Nickels on the Dime are incredible, but this album is the absolute apex of 80's rock music.

The album starts with a quick drum fill and smacks you upside the head with a blast of noise. Is that Lee Ranaldo screaming in the background? He gets credit for vocals on this song.

The most perplexing thing about this record is that its so noisy and powerful and has such soft melodies all the way through. The combination works better for Dinosaur Jr. than it ever did for Sonic Youth or Pavement.

I love Dinosaur Jr. and this album is one of the best there is but don't let the greedy prats who are trying to sell this to you for $70 rip you off. Look around the used-record stores, you'll find 'em if you're patient. Better yet (by far) wait until the beginning of 2005 when Merge Records is reissuing the first 3 or so Dino Jr. albums! I can't wait.

Merge really dropped the ball on their reissues of the first three Dinosaur Jr. CDs.

For whatever reason, the era appropriate "Show Me The Way" was replaced with "Just Like Heaven", which was recorded two years later. "Just Like Heaven", as well as all the b-sides from the single, would fit better as bonus tracks for Bug.

Don't get me wrong, the album tracks are as good as they ever were. It's just that a reissue of this landmark album deserves better attention to detail.

This is where Dinosaur Jr. shined! It is back in print, thanks J, and Merge. Yes. It was trouble to find this before this reissue and this is an essential to Dinosaur fans or 80s Psychedelic Post-Punk fans of SST bands(what label do we file these wonderful bands under?) Check out the other reissues also.

Little Fury Things opens the album beautifully with the wah pedal and screams...yet it turns out to a great pop tune with nice sounding vocals backing up J. The album sound is loud and guitar-driven obviously by Mascis! He plays the guitar with passion and lots of energy and great solos. He's probably one of the most original, passionate guitarist to come along. He mumbles the vocals though. Murph is a good drummer and he's back with tour with Dinosaur Jr. Lou is an interesting bassist and there's something different about his bass playing, but it rings good on all of the early Dinosaur Jr. albums. He also takes lead on two Dinosaur songs on here. One of them is "Poledo", which is completely lo-fi and kind of interesting. It runs a little long though and tends to be just weird noise in some parts, but it's all done on his own and there may be ukulele in the song.

The best songs are the intense "The Lung"(played on the Late Late Show" recently), the ultra heavy "Sludgefest",the single "Little Fury Things", the poppier "In a Jar", the downcast "Tarpit", the bonus track Cure cover "Just Like Heaven", and "Poledo" stands out.

The 80's was a period of continued growth and expansion for rock, it was possibly one of the last true creative times save for a few flashes of brilliance in the 90's, of the many great bands to crop up from that period (and let's face it, we'd be here for god knows how long naming them) dinosaur jr was one of the true greats. J Mascis and Lou Barlow formed Dinosaur, Sounding nothing quite like many of their SST contemporaries, Dinosaur Jr blended elements of thrash, excessive feedback, pop harmonies and catchy melodies. No other band up to this point had a front man quite like Mascis; who sounds relaxed, detached, even lazy, his vocal delivery has gone on to inspire countless other musicians, the most famous being Kurt Cobain. This is one of those rare records that from front to back is literally great, there isn't one ounce of filler nor is there a second wasted, every song on this record is solid, rocks and is catchy. The album kicks off with "Little Furry Things," which starts off in a wash of feedback and shrieking then settling into a rather catchy tune dealing with, yes, rabbits. Highlights include: the lung, raisans, poledo, and my personal favorite, in a jar. In a jar is one of those classic soured relationship tunes drawing comparisons to being kept as a pet in a jar next to a bed. The album closes with some interesting Barlow compositions, foreshadowing his next project, Sebadoh, another fine band. The expanded edition includes a killer rendition of The Cure song, "just like heaven." Robert Smith himself has stated in interviews that after hearing this, the band has since played the song live the way dinosaur jr. has here. Highly recommended for new comers to the band.

There was a time from about 1987 to 1990 where Dinosaur Jr. ruled the indie roost, at least in my mind. With three albums-- "You're Living All Over Me", "Bug", and "Green Mind", they redefined what it meant to make guitar rock. They also unabashedly made it ok to jam out and throw extended solos into what had mainly been a straightforward punk-ish indie scene totally devoid of any such musical embellishments.

"You're Living All Over Me" is not only full of well-written songs, but also contains some of the most blistering solos ever recorded. "The Lung" contains an uplifting jam over those staple chords of rock-- G, D, and C, while "Raisans" and "Sludgefeast" just blister you with their power. "Kracked" and "In A Jar" have shorter solos that you'll wish were extended. "Tarpit" offers a lesson in how to make noise sound cool, contained, and, yes, musical. J Mascis isn't the cleanest guitar player out there, but he is without a doubt one of the most soulful, as this album shows.

There is not a better DJ CD around, most of them are really good but this one is the best. YLAOM is pure unadulterated sludge. It is deep, heavy and above all beautiful. Any person who can appreciate good riffs in music and meaningful, strong sounds should purchase this record. The best album of the 80's. It has been about 14 years and nothing more dynamic than this has been recorded and I dont think anything ever will. Put this up aganst any nirvana, or pearl jam album and this blows it away.

The first time I heard YLAOM I was listening to the cassette in my truck. I remember because I had to pull over during Tarpit. It blew my mind. I sat on the side of the road and listened to it 3 or 4 times in a row. It still gives me chills. It's a great record and I never get tired of it. It may be the most important record to come out of the late 80s when you consider it contains the seeds (and maybe the whole forest) of both grunge and lo-fi. But I do have one small complaint. I upgraded to CD a while back and I really think that including Show Me the Way at the end was a bad idea. It's funny and all, but I think it's a blemish on a perfect album. If you've never heard this record and you listen to the CD all the way through, please hit Stop after Poledo. It's the true last song. A must have for Poledo alone, especially if you're a Sebadoh fan. An absolute must have for Tarpit, the song that should have made them Nirvana.