Several Shades of Why

Description

J MascisSeveral Shades Of Whyon LP + MP3 from Sub Pop

Dinosaur Jr. Leader’s First Solo Acoustic Album

Gorgeous Arrangements, Delicate Emotions, and Brilliant Melodies Pepper Guitar Hero’s Batch of Original Tunes

In the quarter century since he foundedDinosaur Jr.,J Mascishas created some of the eras signature songs, albums and styles. The laconically-based roar of his guitar, drums and vocals have driven a long string of bands such asDeep Wound, Dinosaur Jr., Gobblehoof, Velvet Monkeys,the Fog, Witch,andSweet Apple. He has also guested on innumerable sessions. ButSeveral Shades of Why, recorded at Amherst, Massachusetts Bisquiteen Studios, is Js first solo studio record, and it is an album ofincredible beauty, performed with a delicacy not always associated with his work.

Nearly all acoustic,Several Shades of Whywas created with the help of a few friends. Notable amongst them areKurt Vile, Sophie Trudeau (A Silver Mount Zion), Kurt Fedora (long-time collusionist),Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene),Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses), Pall Jenkins (Black Heart Procession), Matt Valentine (The Golden Road), and Suzanne Thorpe (Wounded Knees).

Together in small mutable groupings, they conjure up classic sounds ranging from English-tinged folk to drifty, WestCoast-style singer/songwriters. But every track, every note even, bears that distinct Mascis watermark, both in the shape of the tunes and the glorious rasp of the vocals. Ten brilliant tunes that quietly grow and expand until they fill your brain with the purest pleasure.

“Mascis first solo acoustic album and Sub Pop debut, the ten-song set further exposes the beautiful tunefulness and pained emotionalism at the root of his craft. Many of Mascis best songs over the past 20 years capture the lifetime-lasting wounds related to longing, wondering, and searching. Such emotional themes recur on Several Shades of Why, which finds the singer/guitarist striving for degrees of destination, closure, companionship, and certainty without ever arriving at any agreed-upon understandings or firm conclusions.”
–Bob Gendron,TONE Audio, Issue 35, February 2011

J MascisSeveral Shades Of WhyTrack Listing:

1. Listen To Me
2. Several Shades Of Why
3. Not Enough
4. Very Nervous and Love
5. Is It Done
6. Make It Right
7. Where Are You
8. Too Deep
9. Can I
10. What Happened