Albums to watch

Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not

Dinosaur Jr

Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not

Fourth album since reforming and eleventh overall from the alt/indie rock stalwarts

ADM rating[?]

7.4

Label
Jagjaguwar
UK Release date
05/08/2016
US Release date
05/08/2016
  1. 9.1 |   A.V. Club

    To the uninitiated, it may seem formulaic, but it’s the self-imposed limitations that make Dinosaur Jr. so distinctive
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  2. 9.0 |   All Music

    The execution of it all, from composition to performance, means that Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not feels fresh, which is quite an achievement for a band approaching the tenth anniversary of its reunion
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  3. 9.0 |   The Quietus

    Dinosaur Jr. have succeeded in creating the ultimate gateway album, a perfect synthesis of all the ingredients that have made them one of the most intriguing and long-lasting guitar bands in recent history
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  4. 8.7 |   Paste Magazine

    While most of Dinosaur Jr’s material is 80 percent Mascis, Barlow, who normally turns in two pretty good songs per album, is at his absolute best in years here
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  5. 8.0 |   musicOMH

    The tension that gave those early albums their fizzing energy may no longer be there, but in its place is a band operating at a far higher level
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  6. 8.0 |   Evening Standard

    Murph and Barlow are a magnificent engine room, but Mascis cranks out muscular Byrds-style riffs at every turn
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  7. 8.0 |   The Observer

    A brutish soup of sound
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  8. 8.0 |   The Irish Times

    The sense of playfulness and looseness is present right from the beginning
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  9. 8.0 |   The Music

    The variation added by tracks like Be A Part removes any chance you'll get bored by this quality record
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  10. 8.0 |   Q

    J Mascis’s dazzling, exploratory guitar solos still come as standard. Print edition only

  11. 8.0 |   Mojo

    Mascis could sell this sound by the yard, and you wouldn’t be a fool for buying it
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  12. 8.0 |   Uncut

    It's Dinosaur Jr doing what they do - but they have rarely done it better. Print edition only

  13. 8.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    To be frank, it’s pretty much business as usual for Dinosaur Jr on Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not, but when the formula works this well, what’s the point in switching it up?
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  14. 8.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    More than just a routine 8/10 Dinosaur Jr album, it’s their most satisfying and realized post-reunion album yet
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  15. 8.0 |   The Skinny

    If the 50something version of Dinosaur Jr is happy to keep refining a formula that was pretty damn fine in the first place, we’d be fools not to indulge 'em
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  16. 8.0 |   PopMatters

    As impressive and lasting as anything the band has made
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  17. 8.0 |   The Arts Desk

    It would be wrong to claim there’s been no movement at all – it’s just that it’s gradual, natural, and at a rate that's almost imperceptable
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  18. 8.0 |   Tiny Mix Tapes

    It’s a great irony that the band we call Dinosaur Jr. are probably the best case being made for the lingering fallback position of guitar godhead deference
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  19. 8.0 |   State

    Reassuringly familiar, unfailingly melodic and laden with classic Mascis solos, Dinosaur Jr give us a glimpse of what they very much are – and it’s something to be greatly enjoyed
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  20. 8.0 |   God Is In The TV

    A record which comfortably sits alongside, and may even surpass, their best work
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  21. 7.7 |   Earbuddy

    It makes sense that some creative friction must be informing the songs, because they knock it out of the park almost every time
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  22. 7.5 |   Consequence Of Sound

    It’s yet another solid record from a band that has rarely sounded better
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  23. 7.5 |   Pitchfork

    Proves the equilibrium they discovered on their 2007 comeback Beyond remains intact
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  24. 7.5 |   Under The Radar

    While they're not reinventing the wheel here, this is a very enjoyable album and their best work since 2007's Beyond
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  25. 7.0 |   No Ripcord

    Even if Dinosaur Jr. don’t make any radical changes on Give a Glimpse, they do sound like they’re heading into a transitional period that may either build or destroy their collective productivity

  26. 7.0 |   Rolling Stone

    Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not presents more polished, reenergized (but not too much) versions of the fuzzy, impressionistic downer rock they helped pioneer 30 years ago
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  27. 7.0 |   Spin

    The band’s as unstoppable on 11th album Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not as frontman J Mascis’ infinitely grey hair
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  28. 7.0 |   Slant Magazine

    There's arguably only one song on Give a Glimpse that demands immediate induction into the Dinosaur Jr. classics canon: the opening track
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  29. 7.0 |   The Digital Fix

    Resting on laurels is not something that factors into this band’s world
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  30. 7.0 |   Exclaim

    Whether or not the group are attracting new listeners with these releases is unclear, but they're certainly doing nothing to dissuade old ones
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  31. 7.0 |   Gig Soup

    It isn’t doing anything we haven’t already heard before, but it might be the most consistently gratifying release the band have conjured since their raw early days
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  32. 6.5 |   Spectrum Culture

    Mascis is the father unable to leave his child, Barlow is the returned prodigal son
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  33. 6.0 |   Crack

    This album will please fans and won’t give any ammunition for people looking to trash their reputation. But it’s not as urgent and compelling as their earlier work
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  34. 6.0 |   The Guardian

    A murky, melodic onslaught
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  35. 6.0 |   DIY

    Beloved veterans Dinosaur Jr don’t move into unknown territory on their new album, but there are still some precious moments
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  36. 6.0 |   The Independent

    The results are quirkily, unexpectedly appealing
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  37. 6.0 |   Loud And Quiet

    If you’re after an album that sounds like Dinosaur Jr did 30 years ago then you’re in luck
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  38. 6.0 |   NME

    Despite its dips, there are plenty of strong reasons here to keep Dinosaur Jr from extinction
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  39. 6.0 |   The FT

    Mascis’s wiry guitar solos emerge with customary sharpness from rumbling fuzz-rock, an electric maelstrom that seems to press down on his exhausted slacker’s voice
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  40. 4.0 |   NOW

    The band will no doubt be their usual fearsome selves while touring behind this album, but it's like there wasn't much at stake when they were recording it
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