 
J Mascis is best known as the founder and vocalist
of Dinosaur (Jr) but in his spare time when he
is away from his band he likes to carry on being
creative within the music industry with his solo
project with only EP’s and various different
live sessions being recorded and released before
but that is all about to change as J Mascis is
gearing up to release his debut solo album ‘Several
Shades Of Why’.
‘Several Shades Of Why’ has defiantly
been worth the wait as everything to do with the
album features that classic Mascis touch from
the chilled out vocals to the soothing guitar
lines all the way to the beautifully painted cartoon
style album artwork.
The album features 10 tracks and they are all
executed in the same chilled out way that the
album feel like one big song with each song having
that knock on effect where each and every song
finishes and sounds so similar due to the whole
sleepy feel and vibe throughout and in all honesty
it is the most natural music that J Mascis has
ever written and performed.
‘Listen To Me’ opens the album and
from the go the track is so beautiful from the
soothing vocals to the technical yet laid back
acoustic guitar lines, it is the kind of track
you that would be perfect to listen to in the
background whilst having that all important me
time whilst deep in thought, the track soon flows
into track two the album title track ‘Several
Shades Of Why’ which picks up the pace only
by half a notch but once again the guitar work
shines throughout with some of the best acoustic
notes I have heard in a while being knocked out
with Mascis signature vocals softly standing out
on top.
The stand out track on the album for me is ‘Is
It Done’ the track is slightly more upbeat
from the rest of the songs on the album and it
features Ben Bridwell from Band Of Horses on guest
vocals and it is such a pleasure to hear Mascis
signature vocals being backed up by those of Bridwell,
it works well and the additional electronic guitar
work towards the middle part of the song also
helps it stand out that little bit more.
‘Is It Done’ may well be the stand
out track for me but there are so many good moments
on the album such as ‘Where Are You’
and ‘Too Deep’, the songs run back
to back and whilst being so similar in pace and
style they end up shining in their own little
way.
It has been over 30 years that J Mascis has been
making a name of himself in the music industry
and it is safe to say that this has been the biggest,
bravest and most honest work in his entire career
and I am sure that any lover of acoustic music
will find pleasure within the 10 tracks featured
on the album and the good thing is after each
and every listen a different song will grow on
you from the last listen and that is all part
of the J Mascis creativeness.
4/5
Review by Trigger
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