Bug: Remastered

---

---

Editorial reviews

Album Review
Relatively cleaner-produced and more accessible than You're Living All Over Me, Bug expanded on the strengths of its predecessor, and established Dinosaur Jr. as a major band in the American underground. Although the majority of the album is firmly situated in the sprawling, noisy metallic fusion of hard rock and avant noise, Bug also demonstrates that J Mascis has a talent for winding folk-rock, particularly on "The Post" and "Pond Song." The songs on Bug represent a major step forward for Mascis, particularly on the masterpiece of the record, "Freak Scene," a surprisingly catchy song encapsulating the appeal and pitfalls of indie rock within three minutes. --Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

---

Description
One of the great albums of late-1980s alternative rock, BUGis the culmination of Dinosaur Jr.'s early period. Though guitarist/singer J. Mascis would go on to record other fine outings, BUG was the last release by the original lineup (featuring future Sebadoh leader Lou Barlow), and it perfects the elements introduced on the band's debut and its follow-up,YOU'RE LIVING ALL OVER ME. With its combination of punk edge, streaming psychedelic textures, and surprisingly melodic songcraft, LIVING helped set the template for the alternative-rock revolution of the '90s.
BUG is earmarked by the epic power chords, spiraling solos, and towering squalls of Mascis's guitar, and his voice, which recalls Neil Young in its phrasing and quavering vulnerability. But it is Mascis's songs that make BUG such a strong release. "Freak Scene", thealbum's leadoff cut, is one of indie rock's best attempts at a perfect pop single, and everything that follows, including the plaintive melody of "No Bones", designates Dinosaur Jr. as true alt-rock royalty.

---

Customer reviews

review by: Billyjay date: 2007-10-03 rating:
When we were kings.
This album recalls the glory days when alternative/underground music really was that. You felt as if you were in on the secret and the rest of the world didn't have a clue. That a record this good, this exciting, this much fun, could exist and yet not touch, or conversely, be contaminated by, the 'mainstream' was part of its appeal.
Perhaps the most interesting thing that this album did was overthrow the critical wisdom of the day by proving you could rock out without sacrificing your integrity.

'Freak Scene' is great but 'Let it Ride' is just as good, and although "You're Living All Over Me" is now touted as the definitive 'classic DJnr album', I've always preferred this myself. Don't agonise, just get it.


review by: stipesdoppleganger date: 2005-04-15 rating:
A Bug thats well worth catching
Back at the end of the 80,s label "Blast First" had a roster of brilliant bands: Big Black, The Butthole Surfers, Head of David and then there was Dinosaur Jr. Released in 1988, Bug was their first album for the label, their previous the superb "You're Living All Over Me" was on S.S.T. Unlike the nihilistic Big Black, and the conventional hardcore metallisms of Head of David, Dinosaur Jr with J Mascis, s lethargic drawling vocal style were forerunners for the grunge/slacker scene of the early 90.s. Bug could have broken huge like "Nevermind", but maybe the time was wrong and they lacked Cobains ear for disillusioned anthems and the gnawing hairball of fury that drove Cobain on. Mascis couldn't be bothered man; he drove interviewers wild with his monosyballic torpor and mumbled indolence.
Thankfully the music is much more forthcoming and eloquent." Freak Scene" should have been huge like "Teen Spirit". Like that song it still sounds fresh and relevant today. It's a loser's anthem and society will always create those. It could also be viewed as a comment on the fracturing relationship between Mascis and Lou Barlow (Who left after Bug to form Sebadoh) Whatever way you interpret it, Freak Scene is the definitive tired lament of a generation that can't be bothered, told in the guise of a failing relationship with Mascis and concluding that everything's "A mess/ Best just to leave it". The guitars blaze amid the spiralling solo at the songs heart which probably Mascis is finding his true voice.
In truth the rest of the album is unable to match this song in intensity and stylistically the albums limited and at times dour in its six stringed mewling frenzy. "Budge", though is a tremendous short sharp blast of strident scorching fury. "Pond Song" is like R.E.M. around "Reckoning" with added flayed strips of rough edge guitar "Yeah We Know" breathes through it's choppy chord structure and peals of wah wah. "How did we ever get together?" Mascis moans as the songs pirouetting solo ignites. Most remarkable is the final track "Don't", a five minute tour de force of shrieking feedback and rib popping distortion. Barlow screaming repeatedly "Why don't you like me?" and sounding like the demon in "The Exorcist". I dunno Lou maybe she was into Tallulah Gosh and found all this noisy stuff a bit too much. Or maybe he's talking to Mascis?
While never an all out classic-it lacks variation and one or two tracks are bog standard blithe rock - this is still an under acknowledged album , paving the way along with bands like The Pixies for the explosion of the early 90.s. Whether that was entirely a good thing is another debate but this definitely one Bug you need to catch, at least once.

---

Similar products

You're Living All Over Me
Beyond
Dinosaur Jr
Where You Been: Remastered & Expanded
Green Mind: Remastered & Expanded

---

Similar categories

Music . Styles . Indie . Bestsellers
Music . Styles . Rock . Indie Rock & Punk . Bestsellers
Music . Styles . Hard Rock & Metal . Bestsellers
Music . Styles . Pop . Bestsellers
Music . Styles . Adult Contemporary . Bestsellers
Music . Styles . Adult Contemporary . Pop Rock
Music . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . CD . CD Album

---