ALBUM REVIEW: J Mascis 'Tied To A Star'

Rating:

Starting out back in the 80’s, J Mascis’ lengthy career has certainly not been in a stasis throughout all these years. For more than three decades, the Massachusetts-born multi-instrumentalist has been an inspiration to many with countless projects including soundtracks, solo albums for charity, founding and drumming for the stoner metal band Witch, and of course his most widely-known and recognised work as a frontman of Dinosaur Jr. The latter has greatly influenced the sound of the ’90s alternative rock scene, with Mascis’ drawn-out vocals and feedback/distortion-centred guitar work, and has earned him a spot in more than one “Top 100 Guitarists Of All Time” lists.

His solo work over the past three years continues, even if in a way contradicting his previous success. His 2011 debut solo album, Several Shades of Why, surprised his fans with an acoustic sound that had not been heard before, and his newest record continues the same trend. Hankering vocals, soothing guitar and lyrics packed full of emotion; all the ingredients of Several Shades of Why are lovingly re-gathered for an encore. While featuring fewer collaborations, his second solo outing is still graced by appearances by Pall Jenkins, Mark Mulcahy, Ken Maiuri and a perfectly harmonious duet with Cat Power on ‘Wide Awake’.

Opening track ‘Me Again’, living up to its title, reminds the listener of J Mascis as he appeared in his previous solo album, immersed into a world of his own that consists of longing and bittersweet melancholy. It sets the tone for a 10-piece procession of wistful acoustics that, instead of a set of individual songs, rather sounds like one 43 minute-long trip that takes listeners into this world. Apart from ‘Every Morning’, which almost radiates sunshine through the player with its joyful strumming, it is hard to distinguish and in fact remember any individual songs. This is not necessarily a downside, as, just as any medicine, it is obviously intended to be taken in full dose in order for its folky goodness to have its blissful therapeutic effect on the listener.

As with Mascis’ first solo album, Tied to a Star, unlike the rest of the songwriter’s impressive musical catalogue, does not rely on genre-defining heavy guitar riffs. What its appeal lies in is a stripped-down sound, which seems to pour directly from J Mascis’ soul to reach for the audience. It is an album that, if one sits back and listens to with eyes shut, triggers memories of carefree sunny days and long-lost romances.

Tied to a star is released on 25^th August via Sub Pop.