Four albums into their post-reunion career, which began in 2007, US indie rock titans Dinosaur Jr. are living proof that veteran bands can sustain their artistic relevancy without having to sound like a bunch of old men trying to sound young.

Give A Glimpse of What Yer Not (Jagjaguwar) is an exceptionally solid record front to back, melodically and sonically compact, with every song bringing out the best of the band’s “ear-bleeding country” sound.

In the context of the band’s whole discography, the record feels like a relatively subdued affair. Though not as sorrowful, Give A Glimpse feels like a mature cousin of 1994’s Without a Sound in its reflective nature and “rockers”. Lead vocalist and guitarist J Mascis’ legendary guitar playing continues to enhance, but this time it feels especially littered with victorious melancholy.

The record is peppered with references to love and lost ones, which may not be an alien topic for the band, but this time feel especially brimming with current-ness (somewhat like, “Defend Yourself”, bassist Lou Barlow’s 2013 affair with his band Sebadoh).

But instead of delivering the sentiments with the introverted poetics of younger musicians, these songs retain their sadness with the contented shrug of an older person.

This certainly means that the music-or-death edginess of Dinosaur Jr. from 25-30 years ago no longer permeates through their music — as it shouldn’t. Mascis, Barlow and drummer Murph are elder statesmen of indie rock now and it’s good to hear them sound like it.

The record’s first few tracks set the mood quickly. “Be A Part” opens up with a high lead guitar riff over minor chords before drifting into a breezy tempo reminiscent of “Feel the Pain” from Without a Sound, complete with an REM-ish chorus, before eventually sliding into one of the record’s best solos.

Meanwhile first single “Tiny” rides on one of the record’s few “upbeat” riffs (almost like a crunched up version of a 90s teen movie soundtrack) and a simple chorus in which Mascis repeatedly intones “I wanna know [....]” in his signature drawl.

By the time the fifth track, Barlow’s acoustic-driven “Love Is [...]” arrives with its powerful refrain, “Here comes the age/ Where forgiveness is a sin/ If you’re still so full of rage/ That only poison lets you in”, it feels like a complete journey across the band’s most sentimental side, with the push-pull between Mascis’ more distanced renderings of the human psyche and Barlow’s more direct approach coming closer together.

Dinosaur’s best songs have often been tucked away at the back and “Lost All Day” certainly qualifies as one. With its laid-back strumming, Mascis asks “Oh baby/ What went wrong?/ You and me/ You and me”, one of his most emotionally direct moments on the record, which finds a fitting coda with a brimming solo that leads the song toward its end.

The double falsettos of “Knocked Around” similarly delivers straightforward sentiment — “Cause I miss you all the time” sings Mascis in the chorus. As the song shifts gear into an explosive rocker, the record shows a glimpse of the old Dino. It’s tempting, nostalgic and somewhat satisfying. Yet it’s a pleasure to hear a band that is content with who they are at the current moment, even if they know that going backward may be an easier route.

— Marcel Thee

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