Albums to watch

Several Shades of Why

J Mascis

Several Shades of Why

J Mascis goes acoustic on the first solo outing for the Dinosaur Jr alt.rock mainman

ADM rating[?]

7.1

Label
Sub Pop
UK Release date
14/03/2011
US Release date
15/03/2011
  1. 8.5 |   FasterLouder

    These songs may be more exposed and at times fragile but they carry themselves just as majestically as anything in Mascis’ back catalogue
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  2. 8.0 |   The Digital Fix

    It doesn’t force you to listen to it through bombastic tricks; you want to listen to it because it’s an assured piece of work from an artist who’s doing some of his best work right now
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  3. 8.0 |   No Ripcord

    Plaintive and embryonic
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  4. 8.0 |   DIY

    An album that is as stunning as anything he's released over the course of his nearly 30 years
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  5. 8.0 |   State

    Those with a library-full of the best folk / Americana records of the last 10 years have another addition that ever-expanding genre
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  6. 8.0 |   Mojo

    As impactful as anything he's done. Print edition only

  7. 8.0 |   Uncut

    A rather nifty set of bruised acoustic powerpop. Print edition only

  8. 8.0 |   The Skinny

    It may have been 30 years in the making, but it's an album that could dovetail into any point in Mascis's timeless pipeline
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  9. 8.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    This record is a welcome addition to the long-haired monosyllabic troubadour’s more than impressive back catalogue
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  10. 7.9 |   Pitchfork

    These are lullabies for adults, offered up with a compassion that doesn't come easy
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  11. 7.7 |   Beats Per Minute

    Adds an unexpected vibrancy to even the more dreary settings
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  12. 7.0 |   Rave Magazine

    There’s a great deal of riches to be found here in Mascis’s latest left turn
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  13. 7.0 |   PopMatters

    He approaches these quiet sounds with the same precision and energy with which he delivers the crushing volume of his rock songs
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  14. 7.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    It’s great to hear Mascis willing to let his songs just be for once
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  15. 7.0 |   musicOMH

    Long-term Dino fans will hope that Several Shades Of Why isn't the start of a permanent solo career. But Mascis followers will find plenty to enjoy here.
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  16. 7.0 |   BBC

    Drifts by like the caress of a summer breeze, and when the sun finally comes out, you could do a lot worse than finding a park and letting it roll over you
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  17. 7.0 |   Spin

    A set of gentle acoustic ditties
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  18. 7.0 |   Under The Radar

    Just when Mascis seems like he might be getting into a rut or regurgitating the familiar, he comes from the left and surprises, making everything new again
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  19. 6.7 |   A.V. Club

    A mellow Mascis is like a sports car stuck in a school zone: The chassis still looks good, but we don’t get to see what it can really do
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  20. 6.0 |   AU Review

    If he keeps producing work of this quality, he might just find himself as beloved as he was during Dinosar Jr’s heyday
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  21. 6.0 |   NME

    Very much business-as-usual, minus the noise
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  22. 6.0 |   Eye Weekly

    Mascis can be just as emotionally arresting with a simple, sad-eyed melody as with his fretboard
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  23. 6.0 |   Bowlegs

    Has some sparkling moments, all of which emanate from the simplicity of one man and his guitar
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  24. 6.0 |   The Fly

    While it’s odd to hear him without a paddy swamp of feedback behind him, ‘Several Shades Of Why’ is ultimately very charming
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  25. 6.0 |   Q

    This shouldn't really work, but it does. Print edition only

  26. 6.0 |   Blurt

    A side of this modern rock maven that stands in stark contrast to the feedback-drenched fury of his prehistoric past
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J Mascis: Several Shades of Why

  • Download full album for just £5.49
  • 1. Listen To Me £0.99
  • 2. Several Shades Of Why £0.99
  • 3. Not Enough £0.99
  • 4. Very Nervous and Love £0.99
  • 5. Is It Done £0.99
  • 6. Make It Right £0.99
  • 7. Where Are You £0.99
  • 8. Too Deep £0.99
  • 9. Can I £0.99
  • 10. What Happened £0.99
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