It’s been three years since Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis struck gold with his third solo album Several Shades of Why. Unfortunately though, the highly anticipated and prophetically titled follow-up Tied to a Star never quite reaches the lofty heights of its predecessor. Not that it’s a bad album; far from it. The poignant ache that made Several Shades of Why so compelling is present in songs like Me Again, Come Down and Better Plane. Mascis also uses falsetto to heighten the emotional effect of many songs.
The album is somewhat let down though by its two singles. Mascis’ collaboration with Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power) was a tantalising prospect, and yet the resultant Wide Awake is a fraction disappointing. Despite some excellent finger-picked guitar from Mascis, the song never gets off the ground – the “wide awake” refrain sounds anything but – and Marshall’s considerable vocal talent goes largely underused. Every Morning also underwhelms. Ditching the intimacy and bringing in a full band – complete with Mascis’ signature fuzzed-out electric guitar – the song is a breezy soft-rock throwaway.
At the end of the day Tied to a Star is still a solid outing from the grunge veteran. It never rivals the brilliance of its predecessor, sure. But that was always going to be a hard task.
BY WAYNE MARSHALL
Best Track: Me Again
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: BON IVER, NEIL YOUNG, JOHN FRUSCIANTE, EDDIE VEDDER
In A Word: Solid
