Dinosaur [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Dinosaur Jr.

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 22, 2005)
• Original Release Date: March 22, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Merge Records
• ASIN: B0007NMKAI
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #59,723 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
When Dinosaur’s first record was released in 1985, it didn’t make much of a stir. This is understandable, and not because the album is a bit of a sprawling mess, because it’s a pretty great sprawling mess. It’s simply that much of the point of punk had been to "cut out the guitar solos," to quote the Minutemen. Punk rock was in a strange morphing phase in the mid '80s, and, with the exception of Meat Puppets and Otto’s Chemical Lounge, few folks had thought to graft the laconic and woozy sounds of mid '70s rock with the frenetic energy of hardcore (guitarist/ singer J. Mascis had played drums amazingly well in the band Deep Wound). When the label released the album’s best song, the frazzled and distorted "Repulsion," as a single, they started to get college radio play. The band’s far more cohesive followup, '87’s phenomenal You’re Living All Over Me, would prove to be a major blueprint for alt-rock and grunge. Don’t overlook this debut; the slacker-y, adolescent ode "Severed Lips" might be J.’s finest slow jam ever, and when you hear Lou Barlow sing lead on "Forget the Swan," you’ll really wish the two had gotten along better and collaborated more. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Original American Indie Greatness, March 25, 2005

By	Christopher R. Bejgrowicz (Lancaster, Pennsylvania U.S.A.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Would you believe I just asked my friend the other day if this would EVER get re-issued on cd?? If you are this far then I assume you like great independent music. If that's the case, then just go ahead and "One-Click" this cornerstone. I was a college dj when this album came into our station. At the time I was heavily into British music (punk, metal, ska, oi, The Smiths, The Jam, Bauhaus, Alarm,Joy Division, etc...). I thought that the only thing American music was good for anymore was the Ramones, Social Distortion, DK, Metallica, rockabilly and hardcore. Well "Dinosaur," as it was called at the time, opened my ears to a whole NEW U.S.A. scene that featured Husker Du & The Flaming Lips. Like I needed more bands to follow. Looking back, I think you would agree, it was all worth it. I don't remember being bored with one song on this lp and the b-side to my single was good too = this cd is a 5 star.
20 years later and "Dinosaur" is not stale. Enjoy.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bulbs of Passion! , June 10, 2005

By	jacktheidiotdunce "weezeridiot" (Racine,WI) - See all my reviews

This is it...the first Dinosaur release all reissued even with one or two bonus track(s). I don't really know because I've never seen the original version of this album. "Bulbs of Passion" is a rare song that wasn't on the original album, but I also think the "Does it Float"(live version) is a bonus track too.

This really is a treat to have on CD, though it isn't as good as YLAOM...it really is an original effort with interesting guitar tricks fom J and interesting genre mixing in all of the songs. It's almost folk in some songs, there's metal riffs,some screaming, weird psychadelic tricks, hints of new-wave and use of casios(though where it is found is unknown). The best songs= "Forget the Swan", the heavy and interesting "The Leper", the folky "Cats in the Bowl", the single "Repulsion", the metal driven and quite humorous "Mountain Man", and "Does it Float".

This took me a few weeks to really like, but when it came to me. It really was excellent and I realized "Dinosaur" is really unique and a really creative effort. Almost five stars.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's back!, June 19, 2005

By	M. LaVigne "Evil Imp of Rock and Roll" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm almost sad that this got re-issued because I really loved blowing the minds of Dinosaur Jr. fans by playing this album for them. This was actually before the band was Dinosaur Jr. and was just Dinosaur. Sure, it's not as good an overall album as YLAOM or Bug, but there are four or five cuts on here that are up with their best songs. Particulary "Forget the Swan". A must have for any Mascis fan.