No Use for a Name - Rarities Vol. 2: The Originals - VINYL LP

Formed in 1984, Dinosaur Jr carved a singular path through the latter half of the 1980s and early 1990s, issuing a number of highly influential albums in the process before finding a home with Sire Records. 'Where You Been', their fifth record, emerged in 1993, at the height of enthusiasm for grunge and the alternative American rock scene the band had long been part of. Produced by a new line-up of the group (longtime drummer Murph and new bassist Mike Johnson completing the three-piece), the album became the band's most successful up to that point, reaching #50 in the US (where it sold over a quarter of a million copies) and #10 in the UK album charts, and spawning the hit single 'Start Choppin'. Released to unanimously positive reviews, and containing many tracks that would become staples and fan favourites, 'Where You Been' continued Dinosaur Jr's global ascent, being issued simultaneously across the US, Europe, Australasia, Asia and South America. Collected together here on vinyl for the first time with related singles, B-sides and John Peel session recordings, and accompanied by in-depth sleevenotes from Mojo's Keith Cameron (based on recent and exclusive interviews with J Mascis), this edition provides a glimpse of a band in rampant form riding a hard-earned wave of popularity and credibility. Album Tracks 1. Out There 2. Start Choppin' 3. What Else Is New 4. On the Way 5. Not the Same 6. Get Me 7. Drawerings 8. Hide 9. Goin' Home 10. I Ain't Sayin 1. Hot Burrito #2 2. Quest (Acoustic)* 3. Turnip Farm 4. Forget It 5. Keeblin 6. Get Me (Peel Session) 7. Keeblin' (Peel Session) 8. Hide (Peel Session) 9. Missing Link (With Del the Funky Homosapien)

Finally! The sixth studio album Dinosaur Jr. Have recorded in the 20 years since their triumphal rebirth. Created in short, intense bursts over the course of a year at Amherst's Bisquiteen Studio, There Near was recorded almost entirely by Dino's core trio - king of the thunder tubs, Murph, human tornado Lou Barlow on bass/vocals and the inimitable J Mascis on guitar/vocals - with a bit of piano and organ work by local master musician, Ken Mauri. And the album roars from start to finish. Trying to define the essence of Dino's sound is never easy. It's an instantly recognizable blend of loose vocals, sharp guitars and an animalistic rhythm section, but these parts combine into a whole far more magical and exciting than it's components. J's guitar tone throughout There Near is even more animalistic than usual, perhaps owing partly to the fact he's playing through a recently acquired 70's Mesa Boogie MK 1 amp. InchI bought the same amp that Chris Dixon had when we made our first album,Inch J says. InchChris recorded us at his house with his amp. It has a real interesting sound I haven't gotten for a while. And it's something I was trying to get back to on this album.InchAsked about the philosophical opacity of his lyrical approach, J says. InchI'm not always sure what a song is 'about' when I'm writing it. I guess the meaning will present itself at some point. I'll use whatever words work. And a lot of it will be influenced by whatever esoteric mumbo jumbo I'm reading at the time. I try not to think too hard about any of it. Someone suggested this album sounds more upbeat, but I guess that's to do with my delivery, because lyrics like 'No Friends' might make you think otherwise. But I usually write in the third person. It's all just make believe.InchWhile it's true There Near does present a slightly softer lyrical edge on some of J's songs, even a relatively gorgeous bal

Vinyl LP pressing. Off with Their Heads are back with their new album, Be Good. The band has been relatively quiet over the last two years, largely because frontman Ryan Young was tending to an ill family member who ultimately passed away last year. But through mourning came inspiration. InchShe was a photographer, and at the wake were all these photos she took,Inch he remembers. One of those photos struck him immediately. It shows a Mennonite family enjoying a sunny day at the beach while an ominous cooling tower looms in the background. InchI said That's gonna be the cover of the album that doesn't exist yet.Inch That photo captures the spirit of Be Good. While all of Off with Their Heads' previous work shares a common thread of being rooted in Young's fatalistic view of the world, Be Good at least allows a tiny glimmer of hope to peek through. Young and the band members-bassist Robbie Smartwood, guitarist\ John Polydoros, and new drummer Kyle Manning-holed up for two and a half weeks at Pachyderm Studios, a mid-century mansion in Minnesota where Nirvana recorded In Utero, to make Be Good. Young co-produced the record along with Dan Jensen, and it was the first time he enjoyed the process, or at least tolerated it. Be Good will be released by Epitaph Records on August 16 and, if ever there was a time for Ryan Young's distinct brand on cautious optimism, it's now. Young says, InchBe good, be loud-that's sometimes all you can do.Inch