Dinosaur Jr @ Manchester Hmv Ritz February 1, 2013

Dinosaur Jr. is now widely recognized as one of the most significant American rock bands of all time; the sound they pioneered in the late-80s having permeated through the past 20 years. Preceding Nirvana by several years, they were instrumental in bringing the crashing sounds of lead guitar back to indie rock. It wasn't just their signature metallic haze that made an impression on listeners; their effects-laden guitars were wrapped around some of the best songwriting of the decade.

I Bet on Sky is the third Dinosaur Jr. album since the original trio reformed, and crazily, it marks the band’s 10th studio album since their debut in 85. The trio has taken everything they’ve learned from the various projects they tackled over the years, and poured it directly into their current mix. J’s guitar approaches some of its most unhinged playing here, but there’s a sense of instrumental control that matches the sweet murk of his vocals (not that he always remembers to exercise control on stage, but that’s another milieu). This is head- bobbing riff-romance at the apex. Lou’s basswork shows a lot more melodicism now as well, although his two songs on I Bet on Sky retain the jagged rhythmic edge that has so often marked his work. And Murph...well, he still pounds the drums as hard and as strong as a pro wrestler, with deceptively simple structures that manage to interweave themselves perfectly with his bandmates’ melodic explosions.

+ LITTLE BARRIE

TICKETLINE: 0161 832 1111  /  www.ticketline.co.uk  
SEE TICKETS: 0870 264 3333  /  www.seetickets.com
HMV TICKETS: 0843 221 0976 / www.hmvtickets.com
TICKETMASTER: 0844 248 5117 / www.ticketmaster/co.uk

www.dinosaurjr.com
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Official Website: http://crd.fm/1vt