★★★★★
Anyone familiar with Dinosaur Jr.'s outstanding pair of post-reunion tidal waves of distortion, speed and sheer volume in the form of records -- 2007's Beyond and 2009's Farm -- knows Dino-Jay mastermind J. Mascis hasn't gotten soft in his, well, not old age, but extended tenure as an indie-rock elder ... and reigning warlock...
- www.americansongwriter.com
2013-04-25
★★★★★
Goto commentsLeave a commentShare Minus the Dinosaur After more than 25 years, J. Mascis is a name that is synonymous with heavy, crunching guitars and distorted melodies. As a respected pioneer of alternative rock, it seems odd that 2011 marks the first solo studio LP for the front man of Dinosaur Jr. Several Shades of Why is a record that breaks all the previous notions you had regarding Mascis' work. Simple and sweet are the words to describe this record from beginning to end...
- www.mxdwn.com
2011-08-22
★★★★★
So dear reader this is apparently the first solo album by J Mascis on the Sub Pop record label. Surely any record featuring the drunken bat drawl and Fender Jazzmaster theatrics of this near-genius is always a J Mascis solo record? It's always him, his unmistakeable voice and guitar on centre stage. Maybe Lou Barlow would disagree - and he alone would have a point having co-piloted some of Dinosaur Jr's best moments. Several Shades of Why has everything you'd expect from this Bostonian legend...
- hangout.altsounds.com
2011-05-11
★★★★★
On the far side of J Mascis' fuzzy guitar sounds, which defined not only Dinosaur Jr.'s sound but in turn marked him out as an alt. rock legend, lies a softer, breezier side. On Several Shades of Why, his solo debut album proper, he engages with his folk-rock influences like never before, which range from After the Gold Rush-era Neil Young and Crosby, Stills and Nash, to Nick Drake...
- www.state.ie
2011-04-29
★★★★★
Buy / Listen: 7Digital | Amazon | eMusic | We7 | Spotify On the far side of J Mascis' fuzzy guitar sounds, which defined not only Dinosaur Jr.'s sound but in turn marked him out as an alt. rock legend, lies a softer, breezier side. On Several Shades of Why, his solo debut album proper, he engages with his folk-rock influences like never before, which range from After the Gold Rush-era Neil Young and Crosby, Stills and Nash, to Nick Drake...
- www.state.ie
2011-04-12
★★★★★
J Mascis has been ROCKING for a long time now, ever since he started hardcore band Deep Wound with Lou Barlow in the early 80s. Of course, it's the group the pair later founded, Dinosaur Jr, that Mascis is best known for and which best typifies his sound: feedback-driven songs full of squalling, sprawling lead guitar solos that concealed an embattled, emotional apathy. With his debut solo album, however, Mascis seems to be laying himself bare...
- www.recordcollectormag.com
2011-03-28
★★★★★
After they had made their return to fame with 2007's stellar Beyond, Dinosaur Jr. was easily identified as one of the best line-ups of musicians around. Headlining that outfit is singer/guitarist J Mascis, whose unique style has already proven that he is without doubt, one of the finest guitarists around. And with 2009's Farm, the trio proved that there was no denying their true knack at writing the killer tune...
- www.adequacy.net
2011-03-21
★★★★★
J Mascis Several Shades of Why (Sub Pop, 2011) In the best possible way, hearing J Mascis' voice and distinctive guitar style is like slipping on a pair of the rattiest imaginable hi-top sneakers, worn to the point of bedroom-slipper softness but that nevertheless live on after several decades of trompin' through an asphalt world of gravel, mud and resin-soaked roaches...
- www.crawdaddy.com
2011-03-21
★★★★★
J. Mascis is one of the few guitarists on the planet who can play solo after extended solo without it sounding like a pointless exercise in masturbatory showmanship. This might be something to do with the fact that he appears unable to communicate effectively through the usual means of speech. It's as if he's bottling everything up, until he's finally able to unleash his feelings by firing off multiple shards of glorious guitar noise...
- drownedinsound.com
2011-03-21
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