Dinosaur Jr.- Freak Scene REACTION & REVIEW 

With "Where is my Mind?" (The Pixies), "Freak Scene" was, as we say now, a game-changer in 1988. It contributed to a kind of revolution in sound and structure, opening the path for grunge, noise rock and so much more. Many had pave the path but the fact they had success was a major change. It's weird to see someone discovering who is J. Mascis, one of the most iconic rock guitarists on the last 35 years.

I bought the album "Bug" about two weeks after its release. Never having heard a single note from the band, but thoroughly impressed by the music paper's reviews, i needed to hear it. I was already listening to Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers, etc, so it was hardly a leap of faith. A fantastic, messy, sprawling killer of an album, "Freak Scene" remains an anthem for slackers everywhere!

Your description of J Mascis’ vocals is spot on except for the fact that he’s a hard core STRAIGHT EDGE guy. So he’s not high or drunk for sure haha. LOVE THIS BAND

Got to see them perform this album live in its entirety. One of the loudest concerts I've ever been to 🤘

Killer guitar sound. Grungey and poppy.

Great reaction and very much on point on the vocals (and the song in general) - J Mascis has a total slacker style and your image of him laying lazily on the couch, probably a bit high, is spot on. Dinosaur Jr was a couple of years too early with their sound. They could have been massive if they happened at the same time as grunge ( I know they were around when grunge arrived but really they missed the boat).

J. & Dinosaur Jr. started the Grunge movement: Nirvana wanted to be J.: He was their role model... One of the things about J.s song writing is: J. uses a persona to write songs, so they are not about him... But everyone says J. Mascis is a "Slacker" The cover art is by Mura Jasper, who now runs Sub-Pop records. IMHO

I LOOOVE your lyrical analysis. You’re so intuitive

Bought Bug when it was new. This is still my fav DJ song. Just saw DJ play Freak Scene again last night in SF.

Wow! Space Age Love Song and Freak Scene in one day! Two of my Top 100 of the eighties. Great stuff, as always.

Wow you're on fire, this is like a soundtrack to my youth. I got into these guys at Uni as my taste expanded. Very very cool band, punk meets the Beach Boys. Pre Grunge, in Grunge terms they were like The Stooges were to punk. Bug is an awesome album. They had an amazing energy live. I saw J Mascis a few years ago and he still has it. Some other great listens: Try Lake of Fire Plateau and Split myself in 2 by The Meat Puppets off their second album II. The fantastic Doolittle by The Pixies, I'd start with Debaser and Here Comes Your Man. And finally Husker Du, you could pick any album from Everything Falls Apart to Warehouse. Most would point to Zen Arcade, New Day Rising or Flip Your Wig, but i'd go for Candy Apple Grey. I'd start with the singles Sorry Somehow and Don't Want to Know if you are Lonely.

This brings me back to those Sunday nights watching 120 Minutes on MTV. Love this guitar heavy sound. Awesome!

Ned from Spain sayin HEY ! I love these guys ever since this was released in 1988. An awesome totally influential album that broke the indie rock scene WIDE open for bands like Pixies, Nirvana, Pavement and thousands of others. Originally named Dinosaur, they put out a decent LP on Homestead but were forced by to add the Jr. when a lawyer had the rights to another band named Dinosaur. J Mascis started as a drummer and could do it all. They reformed a few years ago and are incredible.

I had not heard this particular song before either and am most familiar with their 'Where You Been?' album, and its opener 'Out There' also is very cool 😀👍 Robert Smiff likes their remake of The Cure's song 'Just Like Heaven' better than his original, by the way 😄

I love it. I can still remember the electrifying effect it had on me when I saw the video on 'Snub TV' shortly after it was released. At its heart its a pop song with fuzz poured over it and a terrific solo from J. To me, the bands that preceded Nirvana in this direction: Sonic Youth, The Pixies, Husker Du and Dinosaur Jr and so on were superior to the grunge bands that followed them.

I saw this bunch in a small venue at The Sir George Robey pub in Finsbury Park, London in 1988 = they were amazing 😍

Fairly sure most of the tinnitus I have is down to seeing this band live.

I forgot to add original members were J Mascis g /v/writer, Murph a fantastic drummer, Lou Barlow bass and later started the band Sebadoh they also still make great records. I got to see this line up play here on Mallorca a few years ago and they tore the place apart.

Nice choice for a review. Very worth it going deeper into Dinosaur Jr. J Mascis is kind of an indie guitar god. I not only love the sound of the trio but really the sheer musicality of their songs. J is a very gifted song writer IMO.

Slacker Heaven.

Oh what a treat! I've never got around to checking out much more of their stuff but this is a classic.

Checkout their newest albums

Their album Green Mind is sweet one

J Mascis is all about the fuzz.

Good memories of hearing this at the local Indie night around 1990 or so. Didn't know the name of the song until now though.

I got a whole shoe box of CDs my brother-in-law found on the curb for trash. There was a bunch of stuff I did not have, so I ripped most of them into my computer. There was a bunch of Dinosaur Jr. I bet I have this one. Will dig into them some more.

LSM bought this as it was her bag and I tagged along. Listening now, it's blistering popness makes the sensory grade of B plus ➕ diolxh

Awesome track, great band. Soe them back in 92, jeez they were loud, my ears are still ringing from that night!. Can I recommend the track Rhinoceros by the Smashing Pumpkins.

Still got this great album, haven’t heard it for a while …

If you like the guitar and vocals , then you'll enjoy Dinosaur Jr. Pick up Green Mind for some of their best stuff. BTW I lived in Boston in the 80s and was at the infamous eel curtin show !

Now, you're getting on my level.

Great but some might say the Mary Chains got there first and that’s the US catching up…

I get the impression of Velvet Underground wannabes.

Indie rock. I appreciate the album Bug, but I'm not a fan of Dinosaur Jr.

Does sound rather generic.

I really dislike this type of music. It just sounds like noise to me.

Yes yes yes!