Unexpected as the mid-2000s détente between long-distant Dinosaur Jr. founders J Mascis and Lou Barlow might have been, the endurance of the reunion has to go down as its most shocking development. Death excepted, any band can come together for some cash-collecting touring, and many can tough out the recording of a comeback LP, as Dino did for 2007’s Beyond. But the release of a second original-trio full-length seems to suggest the once-bitter ex-mates are jelling musically in a real, lasting way.
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Cool thing, too, as Mascis, Barlow and drummer Murph have added another batch of solid material to the group’s formidable catalog. Though not quite as sharp as its predecessor, Farm succeeds far more often than it doesn’t, again proving that Mascis, and to a lesser extent Barlow (allotted just two of 12 tracks; apparently some things never change), remain the consistent, powerful songwriters of their youth.
A couple of duds (the Pearl Jam-y “I Want You to Know,” the toothless “Friends”) aside, Farm is filled with tunes that won’t kill the buzz at a Dino Jr. concert. Far from it, punchy opener “Pieces,” graceful near-ballad “Plans,” poppy “See You” and nine-minute warhorse “I Don’t Wanna Go There,” not to mention Barlow’s dark-but-driving “Your Weather,” stand up to most anything from the threesome’s prized mid-to-late-’80s run. And, of course, more Dinosaur Jr. means we get more of Mascis’ wicked guitar shredding. Maybe that’s why Barlow keeps sticking around.
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