Dinosaur Jr.-Without A Sound (1994)


Artist: Dinosaur Jr.

Title: Without A Sound

Label: Sire/Reprise/Blanco y Negro

Format: CD

Cat: 9 45719-2

Year of Release: 1994

Country and Year of Edition: US 1994 Gold Stamp Promo

Sell Price: $3.70  VG+/VG+ 6/9/24

Discogs Last Sold: 4/24/24 VG+/VG+ $7.14

Low: $0.99

Median: $3.35

Average: $4.16

High: $10.99

Current low price: $3.00

Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 35

Have/Want: 2174/264

Where Sold: Brooklyn, NY

Time it took to sell:  12 years

Where and When Purchased: used Sounds NYC $8.99 sticker still on it, bought when released

Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: B-

Sad To See It Go: No

Without A Sound is a weird member of the Dinosaur Jr. catalog.  Mascis plays guitar and drums bringing in Mike Johnson for bass.  The result is a bit flatter than the previous couple albums.  That said, commercially it was his second highest charting record on Billboard debuted and peaked at #44 on an 8 week chart run (in comparison, the previous album from 1993, Where You Been, debuted and  peaked at #50 with a 15 week run, 2009's Farm debuted and peaked at #29 on a 4 week run).  Interesting how none of the first three albums that are the bands calling card had any Billboard chart success, but that was the pre-Soundscan era where independent rock records not on commercial radio didn't chart.

I've had a couple albums to write about (tomorrow will be a surprise) that were the exact same sort of thing.  One great opening hit song either that could easily be among the artists greatest hits followed by an entire record neither particularly memorable by the listener or played live by the band.  Many bands with large discographies have this type of record, but for Dinosaur Jr. one of the biggest sellers happens to be a holding pattern type.  Album number 6 of 13 studio albums and counting but really the 3rd of 4 J only Dinosaur albums of the 90's before the 2007 J-Lou-Murph reunion, each one not as good as the one before it.

The opening exception, "Feel The Pain," is rock 'n roll genius not in the middle of the road.  Despite Barlow & Murph's return they still do it live and even with harmony enthusiasm from Barlow.  I witnessed this last year on the last night of a run of shows at the Music Hall of Williamsburg playing Where You Been in full for it's 30th anniversary.  I don't think Without A Sound warrants the same treatment.  They've got bigger paydays later this year opening arenas for (ugh) Weezer.  I bet negative odds that on a shorter opening arena set they will include "Feel The Pain."

For me the only other standout song was "Get Out Of This" which is probably because of the great harmony with Thalia Zedek of Come.  As for the rest, the closing "Over Your Shoulder" was a song that made the setlist in the 90's as did "Grab It" and "Even You" from time to time.  The second track "I Don't Think So" was the only one to emerge in the modern era, one time in Glasgow in 2017 despite having a video.   

You are still going to get craggy vocals, wah (or some kind of) pedal soloing and an appropriately loud mix.




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