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Wednesday, Oct 11, 1995

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rECORd rEVIEWs

by Richard Krueger

Dinosaur Jr. Whatever ’s Cool with me (Sire Records)

Dino Jr’s 1987 release You're Living all over me will continue to be hailed as one of the most influential records of the rock era well into the next century. The problem with making such a classic record so early in one’s career is that all following albums are judged against it, usually either as pale imitations of the original. If the record represents some kind of radical new direction, it often alienates the original fans of the band.

While J Mascis’ songs have become slicker and more refined over the years, they“ are still essentially the same songs. And since they are his songs, and could only be his songs, he deserves respect. The media seems to take sadistic pleasure in hyping a new band (albeit, sone of these bands really are quite good) and placing the future of the free world on __ their shoulders. Idol rock is dead, people. Look to yourself for inspiration.

This new ep is more-of- the-same from Dinosaur Jr, which means a good collection of tunes that make you sit back and say, “Oh yeah,” as you nod in time with the beat. It is a well-travelled noise, decades old, coming from the underbelly of American _ blues. I’ve always thought of this band’s music as being at once brand-spankin’-new and ancient-as-the-hills. It is music which transcends time.

Whatever’s Cool with me features 8 songs’in all:

the title—track plus’ 5 unreleased studio cuts, with live versions of “Thumb” and “Keep the Glove,” both recorded in Vancouver at the 86 Street Music Hall in 1991. RATING: 7/10.

Engine Kid Angel Wings (Revelation Records)

The to “EPS. sby Seattle’s Engine Kid are sharp chunks of diamond- cutting noise which play with one’s tendencies to say, “Well, it kinda sounds like this band...no wait! I sorta like this

mean band...” Galaxie 500, Melvins, Helmet,

Codeine... wait — what’s with these bagpipes and trumpets? And a John Coltrane cover? There are the jagged shards of a lightning-quick —_d-chord Rollins-type ditty, followed by some spoken- word poetry and even some jazz. Surprisingly enough, none of it sounds out of place. The Kid covers an immense amount of territory with shocking ease.

My favourite track on Angel Wings is “Anchor,” a 7-minute opus featuring the aforementioned Scottish pipes, talked- through beatnik lyrics, and a whole lot of bash & smash loudness with beat and tempo changes all over the place. The Coltrane cover, “Ole,” is a free-form exploration of the song which reaches the 12-minute mark before the listener is willing to let it end.

Perhaps in another ten years people will look back at the Kid’s Angel Wings and Bear Catching Fish in much the same way as Living all over me . is regarded today. RATING: 8/10. !