Jagjaguwar

Ever wonder what Dinosaur Jr. would’ve sounded like had Lou Barlow stuck it out for the group’s Sire Records period of the early ‘90s? Well, seven years into the successful reunion of the original lineup with drummer Murph, those who’ve had a hankering to speculate what Green Mind might’ve been with the classic trio in tow will certainly be tickled by I Bet on Sky. Tighter grooves, streamlined songwriting and robust melodicism define this excellent 10-song set, punctuated by eight of J. Mascis’s catchiest cuts yet under the Dino handle, namely the funky “I Know It Oh So Well” and the Pearl Jam-esque “What Was That” and two Barlow-led tracks ( “Rude” and “Recognition” ) that are arguably his best pair of tunes since Sebadoh’s Bubble & Scrape. Ranking this record amongst Jr.’s finest work is indeed a mighty safe bet.