Dinosaur Jr continue their collaboration with Cherry Red Records with the re-release on splatter vinyl of an early career spanning best of collection, “Ear Bleeding Country”.
Formed in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1984, Dinosaur Jr lit up the independent rock scene, but the original line-up only lasted until 1989, when bassist Lou Barlow left.
Drummer Murph continued until 1993 and guitarist J Mascis made a couple more albums before retiring Dinosaur Jr in 1997.
If this was the end of the story and their final release was this best of, it would tie things up nicely. However, the original line-up put aside their differences and reunited in 2005. This wasn’t a one-off tour as they’ve released five albums since their reunion and toured extensively.
On top of this, a documentary was made about them (2020’s “Freakscene – The Story of Dinosaur Jr”) and they’ve collaborated with Cherry Red Records, which has seen the release of extended album editions and exclusive and rare vinyl only live recordings.
“Ear Bleeding Country” was originally released in Australia and the USA back in 2002 and puts together songs spanning their early career before their reunion and even includes one song by J Mascis and The Fog, the band that succeeded Dinosaur Jr.
Is there any point in a best of on vinyl when you can stream and create your own digital playlists? Firstly, it’s a fantastic way of introducing this band’s music to vinyl listeners. Secondly, to hear some of the band’s best songs on one record is not something you can do on vinyl, unless you have a compilation.
Best of collections are subjective and debatable but “Little Furry Things”, “Freakscene”, “Thumb”, “Start Choppin” and “Get Me” (I could go on) are all perfect Dinosaur Jr songs and capture the band at their best.
“Feel the Pain” never disappoints, with the cork popping at the start before the guitar kicks in and Mascis drawls, “I feel the pain of everyone. Then I feel nothing.”
It’s also exciting to hear the best version (The Cure agree) of “Just Like Heaven” on the same side as the brilliant B-side “Not you Again”.
If I have a problem, it’s the selection on side D. “Never Bought It” is the best song from the album “Hand It Over” and deserves to be included instead of “Nothin’s Goin’ On”. “Take a Run at the Sun”, which was written for a film and is a solo Mascis song, shouldn’t be included at all.
Having a song by J Mascis and The Fog may have seemed logical at the time but it doesn’t now, as the band reunited and produced more music.
But if you must include a J Mascis and The Fog song then why not include “Back Before You Go” or the brilliant “Ammaring”?
Splatter vinyl is supposed to look impressive and this black and white splatter certainly does. The package also includes an essay by Henry Rollins, of Black Flag, and a Dinosaur Jr fan, and sleeve notes.
This is a “best of” that captures a period before anyone knew there was more to come. Yes, you can create and stream your own playlists but this is a great introduction to a brilliant band, on vinyl.
“Ear Bleeding Country” (Double Splatter Vinyl Edition) is out now on Cherry Red Records.
RF
