Bug (Dinosaur Jr. album)

Bug is the third studio album by American alternative rock band Dinosaur Jr., released in October 1988 through SST Records. Blast First and Au Go Go Records released the album in the United Kingdom and Australia, respectively. It was the last Dinosaur Jr. album with original bassist Lou Barlow until Beyond in 2007.

Bug
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 31, 1988
Recorded1988
StudioFort Apache Studios in Cambridge, Massachusetts
GenreAlternative rock, indie rock, noise rock
Length35:24
LabelSST (216), Blast First, Au Go Go
ProducerJ Mascis
Dinosaur Jr. chronology
You're Living All Over Me
(1987)
Bug
(1988)
Green Mind
(1991)
Singles from Bug
  1. "Freak Scene"
    Released: 1988

Bug is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[1] Beats Per Minute ranked it the 41st best album of the 1980s.[2] Despite it being a favorite of many Dinosaur Jr. fans, J Mascis has said it is his least favorite Dinosaur Jr. album. The version of 'Keep The Glove' included on the 2005 reissue is not the same as the version on the b-side of the 'Freakscene' single or the 'Fossils' compilation.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Drowned in Sound4.5/5[4]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[5]
Mojo[6]
Paste[7]
Pitchfork7.3/10[8]
PopMatters8/10[9]
Spin Alternative Record Guide8/10[10]
Stylus MagazineA[11]
Uncut[12]

The album was generally well received by critics. In a favorable review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine described 'Freak Scene' as the album's "masterpiece" and opined "Although the majority of the album is firmly situated in the sprawling, noisy metallic fusion of hard rock and avant noise, Bug also demonstrates that J Mascis has a talent for winding folk-rock. Like its predecessor, the songs on Bug are quite uneven, but it does represent a major step forward for Mascis".[3]

Writing for Drowned In Sound in 2005, Mike Diver said of the album "The songwriting has increased tenfold since You’re Living All Over Me, with Barlow and Mascis really beginning to flex the grey matter muscles. But really, if you like music – be it grunge, indie, punk, whatever – you will love this. Period. Go spend some money already."[4] Awarding the album 4 out of 5 stars, Mojo said in their issue 108 review article "Bug marks the emergence of Mascis writing by rote. When applied to such an outlandishly great song as 'Freak Scene' his skills still blazed..."[6]

Track listing

All songs written by J Mascis.

No.TitleLength
1."Freak Scene"3:36
2."No Bones"3:43
3."They Always Come"4:37
4."Yeah We Know"5:24
5."Let It Ride"3:37
6."Pond Song"2:53
7."Budge"2:32
8."The Post"3:38
9."Don't"5:41
Total length:35:24
Bonus track
No.TitleLength
10."Keep the Glove" (Bonus track on 2005 Merge Records reissue)2:52

Personnel

Dinosaur Jr.
Additional personnel

References

  1. Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (February 7, 2006). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 0-7893-1371-5.
  2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Bug – Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  3. Diver, Mike (March 18, 2005). "Dinosaur Jr. – Dinosaur / You're Living All Over Me / Bug". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  4. Sinclair, Tom (April 11, 2005). "EW reviews the latest album reissues". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  5. "Dinosaur Jr.: Bug". Mojo: 108. Bug marks the emergence of Mascis writing by rote. When applied to such an outlandishly great song as 'Freak Scene' his skills still blazed...
  6. Sheridan, Tim (April 1, 2005). "Dinosaur Jr.: Dinosaur Jr.: Reissues (Mergebinoa)". Paste. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  7. Harvell, Jess (April 8, 2005). "Dinosaur Jr.: Dinosaur / You're Living All Over Me / Bug". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on June 19, 2007. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
  8. Teegarden, Lance (April 7, 2005). "Dinosaur Jr.: Bug". PopMatters. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  9. Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  10. Dale, Jon (August 2, 2005). "Dinosaur Jr.: Dinosaur / You're Living All Over Me / Bug". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  11. "Dinosaur Jr.: Bug". Uncut: 118. [With] sonic sophistication...



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