Reviews (page 5 of 8)
I get the significance of Dinosaur Jr (80s pre grunge and new punk influence). I dont believe this is their strongest stuff and the album itself doesnt hold my attention well. It wasnt all boring: Yeah We Know was a good tune. Freak Scene was alright. Pond Song was good. Budge was fun (sounded like blink 182). Dont was striking in a refreshing way. I want to give 3.5 stars. And im afraid of rounding this one up to make a stronger point, so in a rare move, ill push it back to 3 stars
This is OK. Freak Scene almost reminded me of The Undertones, but without the class. Not really my scene, and it’s all a bit relentless at times, and not in a particularly good way. But it’s OK. I might not listen again, but I’ve heard a lot worse and at a few seconds over 35 minutes for the original release I’m happy I listened. Bit of a shame about Don’t really; that sort of spoils it. To the extent that I had to skip it. The non-original Keep the Glove is a much better ending, and a half-decent tune into the bargain. It doesn’t really fit, so I can see why it wasn’t on the original LP, but more of that would go down better with me.
Kinda cool!!
Day310 - a little of this goes a long way but i’ve always liked dinosaur jr. and their sloppy guitar sound
this was a pretty neutral, sometimes catchy album up until the song Don’t. then for that one song it turned into the album i assumed it would be based on the album art and band photo. that single song almost knocked this down from a 3 to a 2 star album but luckily there were more times where i was pleasantly surprised then when they were screaming in my ears so we’ll stick with a low 3
Sounds Grungy. Was able to listen to the whole album except for one song.
Growing up, I felt like all of the coolest older kids were into Dinosaur Jr. I never quite got it though. I can see comparisons with Sonic Youth, and influence on the grunge scene. But it just didn't click with me. I'm sorry to say my opinion hasn't changed much. It's fine indie rock but kind of forgettable. I guess maybe you had to be there. But I'd take Sonic Youth over this any day.
Sounds like a rough Smashing Pumpkins. I like it.
a step down from the last album
I’ve tried to get into Dinosaur Jr a few times as they seem like a band I would really like but I’m always a little underwhelmed listening through the whole album. I think I like them better as a singles band (freak scene, feel the pain) that pops up on playlists occasionally.
I actually really liked the vibe of this. I like the layered noisy guitars and I even like his singing. They've got a good sound here and a real identity which I admire. 3.5 rounded down.
I guess Dinosaur Jr are in the same bucket as Sonic Youth for me - hugely influential on the bands that had a major impact on me. So I can listen and enjoy it, but it doesn't quite make a connection.
I like it :) not the best D Jr album but still good
Probably won’t revisit.. but didn’t hate it
Is it Smashing Pumpkins?
This is okay, pleasant even but I'm not convinced it's that special.
Yea, pretty good
Started off good, but the last couple tracks...yikes!
Another rock/indie band I was aware of in the day but never gave the time of day. Was actually very good. 3.5 stars
It was ok, but unremarkable.
This was an interesting album. One of those where it's really ahead of its time.. sounds like it's from much later than 1988. Was clearly very influential on the alt rock sound of the 90s. Some good tracks.
Kind of all over the map on the sound, but was decent
I wanted to like this more than I did.
Average
Intense
3.5
General thoughts: kinda emoish or alt at times, else grunge didnt struck a big impression Favorite songs: Yeah We Know, Let it ride Worst songs: Don't Cover: Rustic cool but not emblematic at all Real rating: 2.95
Liked the guitar tones and noises. Hated the singer. Olivia liked it
another one of my "back in the days" memories, not sure if it belongs on the list. but i enjoyed it nevertheless.
an interest combination of hard rock, shoegaze, punk, and grunge that feels like it might have influenced everyone from Nirvana to They Might Be Giants. Ultimately, it's categorized as alternative rock, but the wide range of influence still shows throughout the album in a subtle yet impactful ways.
Decent rock album, just a bit too noisy for my taste, especially “Don’t.” Hard to hear the lyrics.
This was pretty good. Enjoyed, but doubt I will listen to it again.
I've always appreciated the guitar playing of J Mascis. I think the usage of feedback and distortion in the guitar always been the main draw of Dinosaur Jr (Nothing against his vocals, though I think there's actually a charm to his drawl). It's weird, I normally despise noise rock but I'd put Dinosaur Jr. on the fringe of that label as their noise, while in the forefront, isn't completely overwhelming like other acts. Their sound is more melodic and will feature extended solos from time to time. "Bug" probably isn't their greatest album (Mascis doesn't care for it himself, apparently), but the opening track "Freak Scene" is classic Dinosaur Jr. wrapped into one song. Simple and short lyrically with prominent guitar solo breaks to bridge the verses. The rest of the album stays afloat until around the penultimate song or so, then gets a little too wacky for my tastes. The overall body of work isn't bad, though there might be better album representatives for Dinosaur Jr.
Quite a short one. Many very similar sounding tracks but a few I’d like to hear again. Also a fan of this style. Highlights: Freak Scene Let It Ride Keep the Glove
It’s fine. Some albums are just fine. Not bad but nothing I’m in a rush to hear again. Listenable.
Pretty good.
3.5/5
I wasn't minding it until the last few tracks which probably took a star off for me. The grindy-rock whiny vocal thing worked for a bit.
There are some true high points on Bug (Freak Scene, Budge), yet, in spite of it's quite limited play time, I find myself getting impatient while listening. 3.4
Bridging that gap between sex pistols punk and the American pop punk era of the 90s
Listened Before? N I’m familiar with these guys from their later work in the 90s. This album is similar, but less polished and noisier. I liked it for what it was. Sort of a wall-of-sound approach to alternative music. Good vocals too. Added to Library? N Somgs added to playlist: Freak Scene
It was okay
Decent.
I was *really* digging it until the last 2 tracks, so nearly a 4.
I want to love Dinosaur Jr because I love their general sound, but the songwriting on this album just doesn’t do it for me. They never feel cohesive enough to want to listen repeatedly.
In de basis vind ik dit geluid natuurlijk supervet. Fuzzy gitaren zijn altijd tof. Dat de zanger een (nog) vals(er) zingende Kurt Cobain is, is in dit geval ook geen ramp. Al wordt het gedurende de luistersessie wel wat jammer. Wat het verschil maakt tussen bijvoorbeeld Pixies, Nirvana en dit is dat ik hierbij net iets te weinig liedje krijg voor m'n geld. Qua structuur heeft dit niet de catchyness wat je bij die andere bands wel een beetje terugvind. De teksten en de structuur van couplet/refrein gaan verloren in een zee van geluid. Daardoor maken de liedjes zelf wat minder indruk. Een klein beetje pop in je noiserock is wel zo prettig. Nirvana en Pixies, om ze maar weer als voorbeeld te gebruiken, doen dat beter wat mij betreft. Ik zie dan ook niet echt reden om dit album aan te zetten, ook al was deze misschien eerder. Ik ga voor 3 sterren. Je moet 'm wel na track 8 afzetten, want track 9 gaat over een grens.
Liked some of this. One song was painful to listen to.
Thanks largely to a friend in college who *really* liked Dinosaur Jr (and Mudhoney and pre-Nevermind Nirvana and others), I've tried many times to get into Dinosaur Jr's garage/wall-of-noise sound, and never really succeeded. Like so many bands of this era, there seems to be more sloppiness than anything else (mixing, singing, instruments), although I'm pretty sure that they played each song more or less the same way each time they performed. I think what bothers me the most (or perhaps is just a sign of my laziness) is that it's nearly impossible to understand the lyrics most of the time, which makes the album a somewhat uninterrupted stream of distortion, barely discernible bass and drums, and muffled singing (I think that's why I enjoyed "Pond Song" a bit more than the others, and *really*, intensely disliked "Don't"). A shame, since this seems to be generally considered their best album (or at least most referenced). But I can definitely see how influential the band was on later alt-rock bands. What always baffles me about my reaction to Dinosaur Jr is that I really enjoy listening to most of what the Meat Puppets have produced, and I'm sure you could make a similar argument about them (except perhaps the wall of noise part). Sorry Dino Jr!
First song's the best, some great guitar and instrumentals throughout but most of the songs aren't that interesting or memorable
Influential and an 80s staple for the alt rock specialists. A little too noise rock for my tastes.
I understand this isn't technically an emo album, but I'd wager dozens of midwest emo bands had 'Bug' on regular rotation. It's earnest garage rock; not too polished or confrontational. I didn't realize Dinosaur Jr. had been around this long. Highlights: Freak Scene, No Bones, They Always Come, Pond Song
I love Dinosaur Jr. and this is a decent album from them but don't listen to Don't. It's a rough song
interesting album. some songs are good, some might be good, but the vocalist never bothered to learn how to sing in key, and this was their third album, jeez. the noise part are lame as well, its just a wall of distorted guitar feedback with wah-wah effect, and its used way too often. but the shoegazy parts shine thru bright, and are interesting. i probably will come back for some songs in the first half, but last half is a complete write off. YMM
Pirteä uusi tuttavuus. Ei parilla kuuntelulla vielä suosikkien joukkoon nouse, mutta energistä ja hyväntuulista menoa.
First time listen
Never heard these before but they're definitely worth another listen. Close to a 4, but not quite there. 3.5
Meh
Another good but not great album.
Actually really enjoyed this and was pushing a 4 - until that last song lmao yeah
A pretty disappointing follow-up to "You're Living All Over Me". Here, the creaminess is gone, as if all the milk curdled up. The result is basically an extra wooshy mid alt-rock.
Bug certainly has its moments, it's got a good sound, that heavy/dirty style, big on the overdrive with enough in the bridge of most songs to keep it interesting, but the vocals are terrible and effectively make every song sound the same. More refinement and skill gets this a higher 3 or maybe 4 territory, but otherwise it's a low 3 because it could've been so much more.
It’s ok
I ended up liking almost every song on this album except for "Don't" which I thought was too hard rock for my usual taste.
I have a friend who, regardless of what song is playing, will say, "This is somebody's favorite song." Well, I'm certain that Bug is somebody's favorite album. It's not my favorite album; but I tried.
Wow! I’ve never heard of this band before but this was so good! Very sonic youth vibes, lead singer was giving a bit of thom yorke pablo honey Standouts: pond song, freak scene and let it ride
Really enjoyed the first and last tracks. Liked most of the others. Hated track 9 so much I almost turned it off.
Liked about half of this — e.g., Freak Scene, Yeah We Know, Keep the Glove. The rest was meh.
Great album. Silver Springs should have made the cut, amazing song.
This has some good songs on it and really great guitar work/solos, but it’s not consistent enough to warrant a 4 from me. The quality definitely took a drop after the first three songs, and I’ve had to skip Don’t every time I’ve listened to it. I do appreciate how 90s it sounds for being an 80s album; I love it when those appear on the list.
This whole album kind of blends together. There’s some crazy guitar which, fittingly, with all of the distortion and layers with the bass, sounds kind of like a bug buzzing. I like Dino jr. but don’t love this album
Worse than "You're Living All Over Me", because this one doesn't quite capture that feeling of sticking my head in a cement mixer. "Freak Scene" is the obvious standout, probably one of the best 80s songs in general. Nothing really comes close to it, but I also wouldn't call any song bad or anything. It's just a pretty solid noise rock album overall. Can't believe some people consider this to be "just noise". Be for real, if Nirvana released this exact same album, you would love every second of it. Strong 3/5.
I love a few Dinosaur Jr songs (none of which are on this album), but I can't help but feel that Bug would have been a lot more palatable if J Mascis could sing. It works on a few songs (again, none of which were on this album) but after a while you get VERY tired of his out-of-tune wail. I think this album would have been a lot higher rated by the community in that case. In the low 3 stars, at least.
Nothing remarkable here
first off i wanted to say i feel bad not listening to frank sinatra yesterday but it was not the vibe. this band however, was described as indie rock with the Pixies as peers. so i will be listening Freak Scene - so far, exactly what i feel i was promised. grungy guitar and male voices harmonizing. one music journalist credited this song as inventing the slacker generation. which is wild. love an influential album No Bones - i like the actual music but the vocals here do feel very men whining to me. there isn’t much actual singing in this song anyway. They Always come - once again, i love the band sound here with the guitars and drums and all. i don’t mind the singing or lyrics either, i’m just not sure what the song means! i tried looking it up but inconclusive. i like it tho Yeah We Know - same thoughts as the last song tbh but the drum is more driving. Let It Ride - i like this one but also don’t have much to say. guitar hits! Pond Song - ditto before stuff lol Budge - okay i actually liked this one much more than a lot of the others idk why, younger me would’ve thumbs upped this on my pandora radio The Post - grungy as all hell. i liked it, kind of sounds like nirvana and smashing pumpkins esque which i love Don’t - so different from any song or sound so far. i don’t listen to this stuff normally but i don’t hate it? just is out of place on this album. the lyrics are literally just “why don’t you like me” over and over again Keep The Glove - actually love. fav one on the album i think, summed it up well i’d give this a 3/5 because it wasn’t quite epic enough to get higher :/ even though i can hear the beginnings of many bands i love in this music, the first one to do it doesn’t mean it’s the best yk. i think this formula was perfected by some later bands
There's no way around it: J Mascis' vocals have always kind of grated on me when I have heard this band. Yet, I enjoy Dinosaur Jr.'s loud and musically pleasant musicianship. The band sounds tight, and J writes some good indie rock. This album reinforces this opinion for me, especially in songs like No Bones and Yeah We Know. The penultimate song on Bug, "Don't," I mostly skipped through because I "don't" need 5:41 of deliberately unmelodic guitar noise and fuzzed out vocals screaming "Whyyyyy don't you LIIIIIIKE MEEEEEE?!?" repeated over and over again. "Don't" is completely unlike the rest of the album and I can't comprehend why this was recorded and added to a full length, let alone 5:41 worth of a "song." Did their producer say "don't record that" and they did it anyway, hence the name? I get why this album is on the list. But I still won't go out of my way to listen to Dinosaur Jr. after reaching the end of Bug. Interesting Factoids from Wikipedia: *Despite it being a favorite of many Dinosaur Jr. fans, (frontman) J Mascis has said it is his least favorite Dinosaur Jr. album. *It was the last Dinosaur Jr. album with original bassist Lou Barlow until Beyond in 2007. Standout Tracks: Freak Scene, No Bones, Yeah We Know, Budge
Solid album that really sounds ahead of its time. I’m sure other people will get more out of it than I did.
It was ok. I always think Dinosaur Jr is a different genre so am taken aback on first listen.
Archaic Rock
Best een nice album. Lekkere progressieve rock Nirvana stijl. Klopt ook wel in de eind jaren 80 begin jaren 90 stijl. Don't is een knaller hahaha
New one to me. Okay album.
Bajo el liderazgo vocal de J Mascis, Dinosaur Jr. nos ofreció en los 80 un poderoso rock alternativo con personalidad propia. "Bug" es el ejemplo perfecto de su ruidosa fusión de "hard rock" y ruidismo avanzado. Pero en él también sobresalen incursiones en el folk-rock, sobre todo en temas como "The Post" y "Keep the Glove", una de las que más me gustan del disco. No obstante, la canción que destaca sobre todas en el disco es la pegadiza "Freak Scene".
Nothing special
I've never gone deep into Dinosaur Jr. Was exposed to You're Living All Over Me in college, and remember enjoying it just fine, but that was the extent. Opens on Freak Scene, which features a deadpan vocalist over some alt-rockness with a super rough mix. Could be intentional, but I think it sort of sounds like shit. Really enjoyed They Always come. Also really enjoying Pond Song and the way they play with tempo. As I get deeper into the heart of this album, the roughness of the mix is growing on me. Actually found The Post to be one of the strongest on here. Sludgy as it may be, it is pretty tight and self contained. Don't is a bit of a surprise. Opens similar to National Anthem (radiohead) and gives way to a warbly echo followed by reverb + feedback + screaming with guitar noodling in the background. Oddly enough, I love this. Makes me think of some Modest Mouse B-sides from when they were actually good. This album was alright, but I can see why I didn't fall into the Dinosaur Jr. vice-grip from the first album of theirs I listened to. While I don't necessarily mind the lo-fi production, I didn't find many tracks to really stand out from the sludgy atmosphere it creates. This is a middling 3 for me. I may or may not ever be back.
The Wikipedia scared me when it said this was noise rock. Even though I have listened to Dinosaur Jr before, I wasn't sure if in their early years they wanted to sound like Kollaps. Really like the distortion guitar throughout the whole thing it gives it a really raw sound. Started turning into some noise rock at the end and I really hated the song Don't. But minus that song this was a pretty cool album
Really digging this first song. Pretty sick guitar work at the end there. There's a lot of interesting stuff in here but it gets a bit too noise-rockish at some points, especially "Don't." I think the voice throws me off some of these songs. Unfortunate because I love most of the instrumentals. Works sometimes though giving it a solid grunge sound.
3.5 - appropriate fuzz levels, a couple bangers, a couple duds. If I ever got into dino jr. i might feel different.
They are quite raw, but I like that, after a wile it does become a bit draining
Cool alt rock a la Pixies.
Dinosaur Jr. is a band I really like in small-to-medium doses. I love the overdriven sound but this whole album in one sitting starts to feel a bit stodgy.
Lets rip the bandaid off, Don't was some of the worst shit I've ever heard in my life holy shit. The rest was okay but I do think the sound changed a bit too much throughout the album for my personal tastes. Felt very alt rock at the start then started going more grunge towards the later tracks. 5/10
Skater music to skate to. I really enjoyed the music when the singer wasn’t purposefully singing badly. He has an interesting voice, kind of in the same vein as Smashing Pumpkins but sometimes hit a note so badly it made me cringe. Don’t listen to “Don’t”. Overall there were bits a liked a lot and bits I didn’t like a lot. 6/10
nope
Classic Dr Jr. Def their best album.
+вайб - уши + динозавры?? алкоальбом: ну балтика 9
Nope
Etwas langsam
Very good hard rock album. The quality of the recording leaves a lot to be desired but i guess 1988 is unforgiving. Still sounds pretty ahead of its time
Enjoyably noisy indie rock album, with grungy vocals (although predating actual grunge by several years). True confession - I avoided this for ages because I thought that Dinosaur Jr were a novelty kids band or something. Doh.
Mediocre songs and J Mascis sings out of tune. But I like the sound in general.
okiii. 7/10
Wish they had spread the energy of "Don't" to the rest of the album. Still quite good. 🐞🐞🐞
Me gusta el sonido, me gustan las guitarras, pero no hay ninguna canción que me flipe especialmente. 3
Decent head banging rock. Not a huge fan of singers voice
Just ok
Not a remarkable album, but I don’t think it’s bad! There are some really nice moments in the guitar parts and the album has a cohesive sound to it. I’m not in love with it, but it’s certainly not as bad as some of the reviews I read made it seem!
Я где-то с неделю откладывал этот альбом и вот я до него добрался. Есть и хардкор запилы, и мелодика и вокал. По обложке не скажешь. Хотя некоторые элементы очень угадываются по обложке -- он весь такой.. сырой, жесткий, гаражный. На троечку пойдёт.
I liked it but I did skip a song so 3
Got a little scary at the end
Decent. Just didn't hold my attention too much. It all pretty much blended together, except "Don't." I liked that one. The only song with some passion behind it.
Brings me back to my 90s college days. The angry teenager years. A palatable collection of sounds from the time, the unnecessary screaming near the end of the album takes away any pluses it earned from me. Low 3.
Sounds like the precursor to pop punk. I think highschool me would have loved it. Would have been a solid 4 stars if they hadn't spent the penultimate song screaming at me.
Standard 90s feel, makes me wanna play rock and
Not my favorite Dino Jr. album
Yeah i liked this one, it had some pretty cool riffs on it. That one song near the end was pretty fked up.
This was okay.
pretty good, like proto-grunge/indie or something. Not too dated sounding honestly, probably because its mostly just good old guitar/drums/bass for the most part. I can dig it, don't love it or anything but it's good especially for 1988. 3.6.
Encore un comportement odieux de la part du Dinosaur Jr. qui va venir charger et donner des coups de tête à ses proies pour ensuite les achever puis les dévorer. Vraiment inacceptable.
Rock alternativo, así como indie. Ni fu ni fa.
People are a bit harsh, I mean this was 1988 in the middle of wedges and flares and these guys were doing this kind of thing. I initially hated this band but now realise they're worth exploring.
Never heard of this band, but I really liked this project. Freak Scene and They Always Come were my favorites. Feels like this album influenced a ton of 90's alternative artists and has a lot of elements that were used in 2010's pop-punk. Unfortunately the songs fell off in the second half of the album.
Melancholy 90s rock. Thin mastering.
Not my favorite album or group but wasn’t awful listening.
Fine
Not a bad album, not great. 2.5/5
I like Dinosaur Jr. in general, but I think I’m more of a fan of “You’re Living All Over Me” more, still good though.
Freak Scene - 3/5 w/ the vocals No Bones - 2/5 They Always Come - 3/5 Yeah We Know - 3/5 Let it Ride - 3/5 Pond Song - 3/5 Budge - 3/5 The Post - 4/5 Don't - 0.25/6 Please, don't. Keep the Glove - 3/5
Not my bag
i'm sure we've already had a dinosaur jr album. no idea how they could have two. some good, some bad.
Big
Kinda vibed with this. I should give them more of a chance.
Pretty solid, sounds like pixies
Heard a lot about this band from the whole Seattle grunge scene but still haven’t listened to or really want to listen to them. Good on them though for putting themselves out there
This is something I would have listened to when it first came out. Today it doesn't do much for me, but its impact on 90s grunge is fully evident here. 3/5
Interesting album.
Ikke dårlig, ikke super bra. 3.5
Nothing new to say about this band from a couple weeks ago's review of You're Living All Over Me... kind of wore this sound out for myself in the 90s. The penultimate (and longest) track's descent into full screamo distortion cacophany tested the limits of my tolerance: the kind of thing that might be righteous in a live show but just grates blasting through the headphones.
Some of it excellent and some is dodgy
I feel like I should like this more than I do. There are some definite highlights like Freak Scene and Pond Song, but overall I don't love the album. I think it's too sludgy and suffers from the same lo-fi production issues as a lot of 80s indie rock. I like Dinosaur Jr in general and J Mascis is a great guitarist, especially in a scene not necessarily known for musical chops, but I tend to prefer their 90s and later albums.
Badass. Hard. Nasty toward the end. But musically prescient and tasteful and a good time for all.
Not really my atyle
Ok
I had low expectations for Bug but it’s much less shoegazey and more grunge than I thought it would be. The Post is a stand out, here you can most hear the influence Dinosaur Jr had on the moody alt rock of the 90s. Don’t is terrifying closer. Pure screaming with the band fading in and out. 6.7/10
This is like the store brand cereal equivalent of grunge. That being said it was surprisingly okay after listening to the first song but theres a lot of aged cringe. So it was decent, I'm never listening to this again.
like pretty basic and then the before last song was made heavy for like no reason
Aikamoista meininkiä. Onhan tämä tällaista kunnianhimoisempaa grungea. Vitun villit soundit. 3/5
Kuten näiden edellinen levy, niin ymmärrän merkityksen ja tosi siisti meininki, mutta jotain tarttuvia koukkuja jäin kaipaamaan. Silti helppo 3.
Menevää kitarasurinaa, loppupuolella vähän meni kiinnostus. 3/5
Freak Scene was the anthem of my high school career and also is, by far, the best song on Bug. Budge is good too, but the rest of this album is trashy garbage. Why is this album even on here? Whatever's Cool with Me, Green Mind and even Where You Been are great. But DJr., is famous for releasing albums where most of it is garbage but there's a diamond or two hanging out on the top of the track list. Stop this album now and go listen to some Ear Bleeding Country.
Man, "Don't" kill my vibe! I was digging this fossil of the early grunge/indie rock era...until they went and blew it with the song "Don't". One star deduction for that monstrosity of a song and making it the longest song on the album was just adding insult to injury.
I really don't like the vocals. Whiny 90's alt rock. That said, the music is pretty good. Don't think I'd go back though
Other than playing along to "Feel the Pain" in Rock Band (or was it Guitar Hero?), I've never listened to Dinosaur Jr. before. I figured there was a good chance that I'd like this album, but I only enjoyed about half the songs. I liked the guitar-forward sound, and the heavy distortion, but some of the songs felt like they weren't very distinct from one another. "Don't" was easily the lowest point for me on this album; I wasn't into the screaming at all. As lukewarm as I was on this album, I can appreciate how influential Dinosaur Jr. was on alternative rock. I can't imagine how different rock music in the nineties would have been without these guys paving the way.
Some good parts
Love his guitar, less excited about the shoegaze slacker singing
Ambivalence abounds. 3.
They sounded a lot like what Nirvana was on "Bleach". Makes sense, since Nirvana opened for them a bunch of times. The second to last song "Don't" just got annoying, though. But I probably would have said the same about Nirvana listening to it for the first time now. I remember seeing the "Without a Sound" album all over the place, so I was surprised that THAT is not on the list, but the first two albums are. I mean, I guess those 2 albums helped to make that alternative sound in the early 90s. But still...? Ultimately, the songs to me started to sound very much the same except for the last 2. I couldn't give you titles after a while and that's never a good thing about an album. The songs just didn't have anything that was like "whoa." Granted they were there first, but others did it well and (arguably) did it better.
I still think they have better albums.
There's always room for two-fisted, brutish, antisocial noise rawk of this flavour. I generally approve, even if I'd not wish to subject my delicate ears to its tender ministrations too often. Wot a racket.
Well, alright.
Loved Freak Scene when it came out, but was always disappointed when I listened to the whole album. Still the same today
A good alt-rock record. The songs on this are the good kind of sloppy, but I can’t help but feel I won’t remember this as well as other records of the same genre on the list. Actually, ‘Don’t’ is the most memorable song here because of how out of left field it is. I don’t know how to end this review, so I’ll just say that ‘Feel the Pain’ is the only song from them I knew beforehand and it’s way better than the songs on this.
I was digging that late 80's early 90's indie rock vibe... until Don't. WTF was that? 3.5
Alternated between being right up my alley and losing me completely—I do like a lot of the instrumentation, but I just find J Mascis as a singer to not be very engaging. I also found a lot of the attempts of being more “experimental” to feel like more lackluster versions of much better artists (specifically the track Don’t). Still some great tracks here, and it’s pretty engaging throughout—just nothing to write home about.
C'est bon, ca représente bien sa période et je comprend l'attratit pour ce type de musique. C'est difficile de noter ce genre d'album inconnue pour moi quand il y en a beaucoup du meme genre dans cete liste. Celui-ci ce démarque un peu pour moi. C'est peut etre l'ambiance ou l'état d'esprit qu eje l'écvoute en ce moemnt. 3.75
listened
I like this album but I feel like J got way better in his next few albums. He's still developing as a songwriter here.
Very loud.
Grunge, noise-rock isn’t normally thing, but this album scored points with the guitar playing and how modern it sounds for being released in 1988 (I would’ve believed it was released in the early 00s). The vocals lost points. 3/5.
Bug is the third album by American alternative rock band Dinosaur Jr. This popular indie/alt rock album has everything you love about noisy rock music. It's a favorite among fans of the band, but J Mascis - singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the band - says it's his least favorite. Overall, this was a great folksy and punk sounding alternative rock album that the average listener should enjoy.
A bit too similar but a style that was copied later again and again. I respect this album for what it is in music history.
Grunge tendrils. 🦖 Vines? Roots? 🫡 Pretty cool given the time that it sounds so far ahead. Gritty and fun!
Noise rock. Will need more time with it.
Pretty okay rock album. 3/5
forerunner to Emo, with grunge undertones. Niche music.
Freak Scene and Don’t almost make this album worth it. But, still not sure why this is one of Dinosaur Jr’s most highly regarded albums…
uuuoouu
Grunge before grunge
Quite liked it, didn't love it. I know the name but don't think I've ever had a proper listen. Was a bit repetitive but not bad
To me it seems like more noise rock like Sonic Youth but apparently they are not. Not sure what the difference is. There’s something to appreciate in noise rock. Unusual song structure, a wall of sound that drowns you. On an intellectual level I think it’s pretty cool but I just can’t connect with it emotionally. Feels a bit calculated, eschewing conventional rules just because you want to rebel. I guess it’s a teenage instinct that I don’t relate to anymore. The texture of noise is actually quite nice and visceral. Unfortunately the whiny mopey lead vocals don’t really do it for me and it takes away from the experience. Most of the album feels like a blur of noise but the stand out song for me it’s Don’t. I couldn’t help comparing it with Nirvana’a Territorial Pissings but much more raw and cathartic (which is an awesome thing).
Could be good but sounds like it was recorded through 2 tin cans and some string
Wasn't expecting much from this, though obviously knew Freak Scene is a banger. I can see why many recoil from his vocals - because he can't actually hold a tune. Weirdly though I didn't mind. It was some pretty good rock and roll indie from the time when guitars ruled the world and for 35 minutes of pure noise enjoyment it was pretty good. Singer aside it was quite tuneful too. Obviously apart from the last track, Don't. Which was a load of noise.
Very average album No song really just out Sounds like a cheesy school band trying to sound "different"
3.5
aight
Nice & chill background listen
My jam right until the end
This was a bit weird but I enjoyed it.
I was ready to write the whole thing off as not really my thing based on the first couple of tracks but found myself really enjoying They Always Come, Yeah We Know, and Let It Ride. Still not really my thing but not terrible.
This album has some catchy tunes with that alt-80s vibe. I liked it ok until the last half or so. Sort of started to feel like a slog.
Basically felt like I was listening to ioe long grungey mildy interesting but not outstanding song for a whole album. 3/5
Rock alternativo, así como indie. Ni fu ni fa.
Ok so first thing’s first. I’m writing this review full of pizza and Prosecco so I’m not of sound mind (the Prosecco wasn’t actually technically Prosecco, but I’ll let them off). Anyway, for some reason I always thought Dinosaur Jr and Dinosaur Pile-Up were the same band. Obviously, I was wrong. This can be blamed on the fact that I’m an idiot. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: No Bones Alright so this music was pretty good. the singer is a little bit whiny so he could probably do with a bit of pizza and Prosecco to be honest. The sound of the music is fun though. I think the rest of the band were probably having fun even if the singer was a little bit sad. I liked this album, but I’m not exactly feeling like I’ve missed anything by not hearing it before today. Hello mum, if you’re reading this.
Van ser de les bandes que millor van predir, o modelar, el que havia de ser la revolució rock que sobrevindria als '90s. Juntament amb bandes com Pixies, Jane's Addiction o Sonic Youth, es van avançar a la seva época i des dels '80s ja creaven les bases de tot el que hauria de venir. Aquí encara abusen del soroll, emborronament de guitarres que fan de temes com 'Don't' simplement un acumulament d'acoblaments més aviat insoportable. Però també hi ha temes com 'Freak Scene', 'Pond Song' o 'They Always Come', que mereixen el seu lloc a la història del rock alternatiu dels '80s
Was actually a little surprised when this came up as I always thought of You’re Living All Over Me and Green Mind as the classics in the Dino Jr. catalogue. This album is also strong, but does tail off towards the end, especially the somewhat unlistenable track Don’t. Still, this holds up very well and barely sounds aged at all considering it came out 35 years ago. This is borderline 3/4 for me, I think if I spin again I’d get to a 4, but 3 for now.
This felt a little bit like grunge before grunge I thought it was fine.
It was fine, early indie alternative IMO
Pretty interesting. Not everything is very approachable... much of the time, both lyrics and music feel pretty noisy/messy... not really a clear melody with background falling into the background and the aggressive music takes over. It has it's hard noise element that reminds me of the Pixies. Still, a worthwhile listen.
very grungy and dirty the first couple songs are cool but the later ones go off the deep end
It was all going so well until 'Don't', suddenly turning a pleasing rock album into a screech.. anyway apart from that it's pleasant and almost melodic.
The album had potential as a pop punk album. The guitar parts are melodic and go well with the intended vocals. However, the lack of a proper singer took away immensely from the songwriting potential and leaves you ultimately unimpressed with a forgettable listen.
"Don't " was fucking awful. The rest was ok.
I wasn't able to give this album the listen it deserves. My impressions are that this reminds me a ton of garage rock bands from my hometown in MA, and sure enough, they're from Amherst! It's really endearing. But I have to dock points for the mixes! Some of the recording and mixing on these records (especially the first few ones) are so, so bad! And not bad in an endearing kind of way... they just feel pulled right off the board, or like they were referenced in a really bad room. So I'm feeling a safe 3. I'll definitely return to this, and it feels buzzy and creative, reminds me of my hometown. But could be so much more listenable.
I didn't finish. Don't know, kind of generic.
Ik vind punk-rock leuk. Het mag van mij iets sneller en energieker, maar deze is prima te luisteren. ***
My first exposure to this album was seeing Dinosaur Jr. perform it live at the Ally Pally in 2011. That night they rocked quite hard in a grumpy kind of way. It turns out is an accurate representation of this record. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Freak Scene Date listened: 23/11/22
Noisy
Not very interesting
It's just boring. There's nothing here that stands out or makes a case for its inclusion in the list. Just... meh.
I enjoyed this, and I do like Dinosaur Jr. - but do we need two albums from them? I think one was enough.
This is seems like grungy angst to me. It's amusing that someone who can't sing on key is the lead singer of a relatively popular band but that's probably the point. If I was asked to guess the year that this came out, I would have guessed early 90s, so this might be a bit ahead of the curve. but more likely I just don't know what I'm talking about. eat me.
When Dinosaur Jr. works, it works so well. On 'No Bones' and 'The Post', the desperation in Mascis' vocals just connects with me somehow. Other times Mascis' singing gets very very very off-tune ('Let It Ride', 'Pond Song'), but it somehow never truly falls in on itself, and the distorted guitar and bass accompanies the rough vocals perfectly. But, I am really not a fan of the NU-metal-ish guitar sound on 'Yeah We Know' and 'Don't' simply becomes too lo-fi and noisy for me, making it impossible for me to enjoy (despise Murph's excellent smashing behind the drums). Had to give my ears a break after this one.
I used to be heavy into grunge rock but most of it has dated poorly
Seems kind of ahead of it's time, very grunge. I think I would like it more if I was in the mood for it, but now I'm trying to work
Very much carried by the opening track but not a bad album
I'm into the grittiness, but it got repetitive. And rough vocals.
Mostly really liked this but they lost me with Don't. It was too much.
Ok, well “Don’t” scared the shit out of me. The rest was a cool fuzzy rocking groove.
blir litt mykje
"Don't" was actually pretty interesting compared to the rest of the album. The only song I liked. You can hear the influence Dinosaur Jr. had on grunge bands that came after
Okay
3.8
They all blended together
Shorter album under forty minutes. I'm a fan of Dinosaur Jr. but this isn't my favorite album of theirs. Still enjoyable just not their best imo.
Well this isn’t the band I thought it would be… The album opens with freak scene, its a well written well performed song with mid level vocals. Something I like but doesn’t scream must listen. It slows down a bit with the sludgier no bones, it all feels just very home done it’s a good sonic but the production ruins it and unlike bands like the white stripes this doesn’t feel intentional. They always come feels like dinosaur jr are going pop punk I love it honestly, fine some tweaks could be made to their production and singing but it’s well written and well performed so what do you want. Yeah you know what I am going to say for yeah I know. Let it ride feels like the point a fun yet messy album gets boring; the other raw American bands like nirvana, pixies and the white stripes have much more charm than this band being able to stretch their talents throughout a whole album but this band doesn’t seem like they can. Pond song is a nice enough change with the acoustic guitars being used more frequently making a fast paced but dreamier track. But it’s just another poor sounding song put into this machine of an album. I don’t like the use of multiple singers at the chorus of Budge it just doesn’t work for a band like this. The post reminds me of songs just like talking heads the overload and joy division’s I remember nothing for the verses ( so just morbidly depressed sounding) but the chorus is just generic dinosaur jr so I don’t know that I like this much. I love the attempt to make an interesting noise in the scarily heavy don’t but I hate it it’s near unlistenable revolution 9 tier. The album closes on keep the glove an actually rather happy acoustic note yeah this is the album’s best song! This is like a bug more specifically a lingering fly it’s a short thing that won’t go away getting progressively more annoying as it goes along. But I can’t hate them animals you know!
Enjoyed this one though some of the tracks later on were a bit iffy. Cool bridge between 80s and grunge.
Zeker niet m'n favoriete Dinosaur Jr. album - de beste kwamen een aantal jaar later. En deze is eigenlijk qua productie wel een best taaie dobber. Omdat ik ten tijde van de latere jaren 90 albums vond dat ik het oude werk ook moest checken, heb ik deze plaat al best vaak gehoord. En ik kon het ook nu nog zeker wel waarderen. Maar ook wel een beetje een bijsmaakje....
Grungy as
Good noise. The album art here really captures the aesthetic of the album well.
Rating: 6/10
Don't was a bit much for me. Overall the album was ok.
Scrappy lofi indie rock. Starts strongly but drops. Not my favourite of them.
Pretty rockin'!
Pretty cool but also a loooot of noise.
Alright with a couple of really good songs
Great sounding layers of guitars, and emotive lyrics about the disenfranchised. I can see how this dude had a big influence on the guitar rock styles that emerged in the early 90s.
A standard Dinosaur Jr. outing, save for some younger J. Mascis vocals that help the LP evoke an almost heavier Pavement-like sound. No tracks that really leap out, but this band has undeniable chops which mean the album is an enjoyable listen.
Too trashy
Some decent points but some really low ones. Interesting though.
This album opens with such an excellent statement of purpose that the rest suffers by comparison. The guitar work throughout is uproarious and distinctive, but this is a vibes album more than a songs album for me, in general, barring a few exceptional tunes. I get it, but I could live without "Don't" making the album. I associate Dinosaur Jr. with the 90s, and I think it's telling that they were so ahead of the curve with their mid- to late-80s output. A strong album that cast a long shadow over future indie guitar heroes. A worthy inclusion on this list and a lot of fun to listen to 35 years on! Fave tracks: Freak Scene, They Always Come, Budge, Keep the Glove
Some of the loud experiments bordered on irritating but most of it was OK.
I was looking forward to the noisy guitar-centric assault on the ears that they delivered on the last album, but it looks like they dialed it back, taking a more melodic approach this time round. They sound more like a run-of-the-mill grunge band here, but the song-writing is good. I liked Budge and Yeah We Know especially. I had to wait 9 songs to get the assault on the ears I was looking for with "Don't"!
Someone mentioned that this is like Pavement meets the Pixies and that is a very apt description. I must say I like their later albums better, eg Feel the pain is probably my fave Dinosaur jr song, and I’m a huge fan of J Mascis’ solo work which is very different from their early noise rock sound. Don’t could be traumatizing to listen to.
I'm not sure if this is good, but it's certainly fun. I love their sound, shaky vocals notwithstanding. Best track: Freak Scene
J'hésitais entre 2 et 4 donc je mets 3.
I liked it.
I have not heard any of DINOSAUR JR.’s music before, although I am aware of them because I am a fan of alternative and indie music. Just never had the exposure or opportunity to listen to them. They seem to be well regarded band. After listening to BUG, on first impression, the vocals reminds me of or has the vibe of PANSY DIVISION, not lyrically, of course. That PANSY DIVISION vibe gets lost upon multiple listening. I must say the album is pretty good and pleasant, but I don’t see it worthy of being in the 1001 Album selection maybe after multiple listens, it will grow on me even more. If I were to make a replacement for DINOSAUR JR. - BUG, for inclusion in the book I would choose THE GUN - CLUB MIAMI (1982) instead. In 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, there is another prior release selected, YOU’RE LIVING ALL OVER ME (1987) in the book. Rate Artist: DINOSAUR JR. (3) Rate Album (Year): BUG (1988 Original) (3) Rate Album (Year): BUG (2005 US Merge Records – MRG245 Reissue) (3)
Mixed bag. Some great choons like Freak Scene but some average ones. This album could be better with a few more good songs
I get the feeling that had I discovered Dinosaur Jr at a younger age I would have fallen madly in love with them. As it is, I already have so many bands like them that I love I couldn't be bothered to make room (I will never betray you Steven Malkmus). Freak Scene and Let it Ride are great. Don't is hilarious, and I think it's meant to be? A lot of the rest depends on your appetite for slightly bored sounding but very fun slacker rock. An important album.
So THAT'S where grunge came from
Dinosaur Jr. were considered innovative because they fused hardcore punk noise onslaughts with hard rock staples of guitar solos and the sort. But this leads to two queries: does this leave them unsatisfying two groups rather than contenting one, and was this development that wholesome? Frankly, I'm currently not in a position to answer just yet. Give me time to explore Dinosaur Jr. more. However, I can tell you this album slightly suffers from the attempt to placate the straightforward rockers and indie kids. Yes, individual moments and tracks shine, but the sum is hesitant rather than inclusive. As proof, consider that the best, most alive song on the album is Don't, the most outré and punky. I wish they had focused on their strengths. A decent album, but aggrieved at the hinted potential for more.
Heard better not gonna lie
6/10
Will pobably not be be back for further listens
Late 80s LP hailing new 90s sounds and the prescient shoegazey voice of J Mascis. Varied and subdued, this kicks in its own subdued fashion.
Eh ok. Not a very memorable album to me, good rock and roll, good music. Just doesn't get me going.
Serious, heavy rock, without being annoyingly serious about itself. The guitar tone is excellent, and when it locks in with the bass on some driving riffs, it sounds goddamn fantastic. The singing doesn't do a whole lot for me, and sometimes it gets lost in the chaotic energy of it all, but that energy is kind of the point. A solid 3
Not very accessible. Would probably benefit from a few more repeats. Not my favorite Dinosaur Jr (on a first listen)
Ok! Freak Scene. Good song. They Always Come sounds like an indie J-rock song. Don't is five minutes of feedback, which I could do without. Though its the better closer. The bonus track is kind of slapped on the back.
kinda whiney but I'm on that wave post-punky dig it
It’s like Pixies meets Pavement. Which in theory is cool but in actuality I’d rather just listen to Pixies or Pavement. Couple standout songs, the rest is fine.
Started off strong but got bored pretty quickly
Indie Rock is a genre I enjoy on both sides of the spectrum, whether it is more quiet and compressed, or noisy and explosive. Dinosaur Jr's Bug falls under the latter, and their effort is mostly enjoyable. Highlights for me are "No Bones", "They Always come", "Yeah We Know" and "The Post". The other tracks are not in any way horrible, except for the annoyingly screamy "Don't", but either drag on for too long or are too repetitive. 3/5.
Chestnut Ok a little rocker
Average alt rock sound to me.
Nao sabia que esses caras eram tao velhos assim! Maneirinho mas eu gosto de uma musica ou outra, nada muito especial.
New to me. Quite good, excepting"Don't".
Wicked indie distortion. Best Tracks: Freak Scene, They Always Come, Budge
Can appreciate it, but not really for me. The guitar is pretty impressive, Vocals... not my favourite. Yeah We know and The Post were highlights
Love dinosaur jr, not my favourite of theirs
A very inconsistent alt rock/noise rock album. The downtempo tracks are by far the worst, but "Don't" is easily the best and noisiest song. 5/10
I've heard of this band, and I know I've at least seen J Mascis in Portlandia, but never listened to them. Right away, I'm digging this. Kind of a noisy, garage-rock style but with good melody. The promise of the first two tracks fades a little, as the album begins to sound redundant, and then it finishes with a couple very abrasive noise rock tunes that I enjoyed more than I thought I would (but still not very much). This was a decent album. I won't return to much, but I respect it for sounding about 5-10 years ahead of its time. Favorite tracks: Freak Scene, No Bones, Pond Song. Album art: I like this one. Somewhat inscrutable. At first I thought I was looking at some deformed Ratatouille freak, but then I finally saw the bug. This is cool though, like the whole thing was finger-drawn in mud. 3/5
No tenía conocimiento ni del nombre Dinosaur Jr. Un rock alternativo bonito, ruidosito, a gusto, 10 canciones en 38 minutos. Las canciones cuidadas, el bajo fuerte fuerte sonando bien. Si hubiera escuchado el disco en blanco y sin conocimiento hubiera firmado que era Sonic Youth pero con otra voz. No diría que fue espectacular, quizá pesa un poco que haya tocado tan pegado a algo similar como los Pixies, pero si fue bastante agradable. No se si lo pondría en rotación pero es como para si haces una playlist de alternativo/grunge meter algunas canciones. Cumple y suena bien a pesar de no resaltar muy por encima de las bandas similares.
Musicalmente se me hicieron muy, muy buenos. Se escucha una batería de happy punk por aquí, unos guitarrazos muy grunge por acá. Musicalmente en serio me parecen una delicia. Las letras embrolladas no estorban. La métrica de la lírica me parece muy cuestionable pero al combinarla con la voz, no sé si fea por naturaleza o producida así para que suene mal, generan una combinación terrible. No me gusta el chillido desafinado que pasa en este disco por voz sobre una ejecución musical tan buena. Si no tuviera voz, le ponía 4 estrellas al disco y por culpa de cómo las partes cantadas me perforan el oído, se queda con 3 estrellas. Los gritos y atasque de Don't me parecen mucho más agradables que su manera de cantar. Me duele poner esta calificación pero no pude con la voz. Songs: Yeah We Know, Budge, Don't, Keep The Glove
Wat meer alternatieve rock, wel redelijk
Pra mim todo rock era pra ser de certa forma "Noise", mas essa banda me apresenta esse subtipo de rock que eu até então não conhecia. "Don't" faz jus ao tipo de rock.
A very underrated grunge band.
The nicer side of okay.
Never really listened to these. Not as goofy American as I thought. Good listen!
ой, не для меня. уважаю поиски жанра, но не этого (ор)
Some good guitar every now and then but not very good everything else.
I preferred this Dinosaur Jr album to the other I’ve had on here. Initially I thought this one wasn’t that good either, but as it played it grew on me more than the other album. The production lets things down severely, and it became samey after five or six songs. I erred on a 3, but I’m going with a 2. I still don’t understand why they are so lauded.
65
This was ehhhhh. First song was solid. Rest was mostly forgettable. Just a bunch of guitars making background noise and a bunch of stuff that blended together and OH GOD WHAT WAS THAT LAST SONG. Well it was gonna be a 3. But Don’t made it a 2.
5/10
Not my kind of music
Little bit depressing but ok
I want to like them - I’ve tried several times including before seeing them live once with Weezer, but just can’t get there.
Ok, competent guitar band earns a 3, lack of attitude and average vocal knocks it down to 1.5, so a 2
Sound and musicianship isn't very good. This is the sound of teenage angst and probably irrelevant for anyone beyond that age or who wasn't a teenager when Dinosaur Jr hit the scene. Noisy rock not far from contemporaries My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth, but perhaps a bit more melodic. 2/5.
I wasn't exactly into it, but wasn't exactly hating it either. I was going with a solid 3 until "Don't" came on. Jebus tits. Sounded like horses in a barn fire. Kinda ruined the entire experience.
JL : 2, They Always Come or Don't, 2nd half had some jarring inclusions
Do this band know what they are? Jingle-y guitar, metal guitar, bit of everything.
This almost sounds like 90’s music in spaces so props to hem for being cutting edge. That said, I didn’t find it that enjoyable. I did like the next couple random tracks Spotify rolled into when the album was over.
Some good parts but a lot of this is just tough to listen to. I was on the fence and then Don’t came on….ouch…I’m sure there are some art reasons but the guitars and the yelling just doesn’t work for me. I feel like an old man but this is just too much. And it goes on for like 5 minutes! And then the next song is a nice acoustic melody like nothing happened! Come on man. 2.25
This is acidly 2/3 but the track, Don’t, sealed it at a 2. I mean, keep that shit to no more than one minute. 5 mins is just mean! 2.5/5
Meh. Track 1 doesn't save it. Not enjoyable overall.
Not bad but unmemorable
Found this is a bit of a dirgy slog lacking any moments of joy. I have never really got Dinsosaur Jr - bought one of their albums at the height of grunge but ended up swapping it.
I get the Neil Young comparisons in vocals. But this just sounds like crappy American college rock. It's not fun, its not teenage angst, its just lo-fi, noisy meh. Yeah We Know is the only decent tune.
This album is much like others of its type, just was nothing special for me.
Yawn