Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis yesterday announced the forthcoming release of a new solo album, Elastic Days. The LP is due for release on November 9th via Sub Pop Records and can be pre-ordered here.
Elastic Days was recorded at J’s personal ‘Bisquiteen’ studio in Massachusetts. The new album is “mostly J’s and J’s alone”, with Mascis heading up lead and rhythm guitars, bass, lead vocals and drums. There are a few guest spots, though, too: “Ken Miauri (who also appeared on Tied to a Star) plays keyboards” and “old mates Pall Jenkins (Black Heart Procession), and Mark Mulcahy (Miracle Legion, etc.), as well as… Zoë Randell (Luluc)” make appearances on the vocals.
In a departure from his croaky, buried vocal style with Dinosaur Jr., Mascis’ vocals on Elastic Days are set to be more melodic and restrained. Asked if it was intentional, Mascis said, “No. I took some singing lessons and do vocal warm-ups now, but that was mostly just to keep from blowing out my vocal cords when Dino started touring again.”
“The biggest difference with this record might have to do with the drums”, Mascis said, who played drums before picking up the guitar. “I’d just got a new drum set I was really excited about. I don’t have too many drum outlets at the moment, so I played a lot more drums than I’d originally planned. I just kept playing. I’d play the acoustic guitar parts then head right to the drums.”
See the tracklist below:
- See You At The Movies
- Web So Dense
- I Went Dust
- Sky Is All We Had
- Picking Out The Seeds
- Give It Off
- Drop Me
- Cut Stranger
- Elastic Days
- Sometimes
- Wanted You Around
- Everything She Said
Along with the album announcement, Mascis yesterday released the opening track, ‘See You At The Movies’, as a lead single. The track is definitely a sign of promising things to come with the new LP. Over a rich and relaxed backing of bright acoustic guitar and sustained piano chords, Mascis delivers a vulnerable, country-tinged vocal that touches on themes of self-criticism and discovery. “I don’t peak too early, I don’t peak at all”, J sings.