It’s hard to believe, but it was 20 years ago when Dinosaur first roamed the back roads and byways of central Massachusetts.  J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph formed their band in 1984 in the sleepy college town of Amherst, MA, and went on to change the face of rock forever…whether they actually ever intended to or not.

Long before the folks in Seattle were raiding thrift stores for flannel, Dinosaur Jr. laid the groundwork for a seismic shift in the underground rock scene.  These first three albums, with their sonic wall of melodic bass, furious drums and stunning guitar wizardry, coupled with an almost laissez faire vocal delivery, became the sonic blueprint for what would become known as “alternative rock” over the next decade. Dinosaur Jr. single-handedly moved the indie scene from the rigid ideology and rapid fire bursts of hardcore and post-punk into a new era of introspective yet no less powerful expression. Instead of dismissing the influences of 60s and 70s rock, as had been the rallying cry of punk, Dinosaur Jr. embraced the heavy guitar riffs and melodic underpinnings of a bygone era, and created a full on sonic assault that took the world by surprise if not by storm.  Some folks called it the perfect union of Sonic Youth and Neil Young, and when it’s all said and done that’s as good a reference point as any.

The influence that Dinosaur Jr. has had on their peers and future generations of musicians/bands is immeasurable.  Now, 20 years since the release of their self-titled debut that left folks scratching their heads (yet at the same time hungry for more) Merge is honored to bring these three classic CDs back into print after years of scattered availability and $40+ price tags on EBay.

Originally released on two of the most influential independent labels of the time – Homestead and SST – Dinosaur, You’re Living All Over Me and Bug will now be available to an entirely new generation of music fans.  If there is any justice these recordings will be just as influential the second time around…

All three CDs have been remastered and will be reissued with original cover artwork, but the new booklets will contain never-before seen images that are sure to electrify longtime fans.  Bonus materials include a rare live track – “Does It Float” – which captures the power and sheer chaos of early Dinosaur shows, as well as videos for classic tracks “Little Fury Things”, “Just Like Heaven”, “Freak Scene” and a recently-discovered, never before seen video for “No Bones”.  Also included are extensive new liner notes for all three albums compiled by music writer/gadfly Byron Coley featuring interviews/commentary from Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Mike Watt (Minutmen) and Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices).  Acclaimed filmmaker Allison Anders also contributed liner notes for Bug. 

But really, who needs extra bells and whistles?  These albums contain so much raw power and melodic tension that they speak well enough for themselves, as seminal pieces of rock and roll history.