by Chris Familton

Of the recent spate of reunions, Dinosaur Jr’s was one of the most unlikely, but over three albums it’s proven to be one of the most successful. From the cyclical soloing and piano on opener Don’t Pretend You Didn’t Know to the sleepy sway of Stick A Toe In and the rapid-fire riffs of Pierce The Morning Rain, the quota of simple ideas executed with energy and creativity is ridiculously high, making the album a thrilling listen from top to bottom.

I Bet On Sky continues the trend of featuring the songs of J Mascis with a couple of Lou Barlow gems added to the mix. Barlow as usual brings a thrashy pop briskness to his songs, in particular Recognition with its serrated, choppy rhythms. There are also signs of the trio stretching out with the funk rock of I Know It Oh So Well, which sounds much better than it does on paper. Dinosaur Jr. have survived by eschewing grand evolution in favour of subtly expanding their template. The results, once again, are glorious.

this review was first published on FasterLouder