For the record, J Mascis’ or Dinosaur Jr’s typical albums historically have some sense of the chip on the shoulder feeling of a stoner attitude, but generally they are also cerebral and tormented, really emotionally desperate. His most recent work both solo and Dinosaur Jr-wise has trended to acoustic-ballad-land musically, but remains cerebral.
Mascis’ new single “Can’t Believe We’re Finally Here”, from February’s solo album What Do We Do Now, has the chip on the shoulder, but is mindfully brimming with effort to stretch and bridge his way to society, and is full of rolling energies.
Seen in the lines from the Mascis’ track, “I’m Gonna Crawl Out of My Skin”, and for a Mascis’ number even with a band, look for the cerebral. From 2000’s romantic “Pick Me Up”, to perhaps lyrically most importantly the mid-‘90s “Green Mind”, “To the outside… come with me / I’ll introduce you to some of their kind,” there suddenly it becomes brash when he then says, “It’s cool they’re probably asleep.”
Even earlier, “Raisins” is pained, “Gargoyle” equally so, but the reason this matters is such songs give chips on the shoulder the shrug for thoughtful efforts to bridge the gap to be exactly what one wants lyrical prowess that embraces all.
Final things to note here are if course musically, rolling if cliched guitar for, J Mascis’ works perfectly for an acoustic track as it is feel good vibes with still some “Almost Ready”, “Crumble”, “Muck”, “Plans”, or also solo “And Then”. As opposed to solo, “Web So Deep”, “Every Morning”, or say in Dinosaur Jr, “Forget the Swan”.
Thusly, “Can’t Believe We’re Here”, checks all the boxes, musically full, round, pleasing, and mentally positive enough while emotionally stretching.
J Mascis’ video for “Can’t Believe We’re Here”:
