Dinosaur Jr.: Hand It Over

Dinosaur Jr's stock has fallen a bit since its classic Green Mind came out in 1991: The band's albums have become increasingly interchangeable since that album's release, while frontman J Mascis has taken to recording spokesman-for-a-generation anthems like "Feel The Pain." (Mascis' unplugged solo album, the underrated but uneventful Martin & Me, didn't win him many new fans, either.) The new Hand It Over improves somewhat on Dinosaur's recent past, mostly by diversifying the group's sound: There's a horn track on "I'm Insane," a few sci-fi effects on "Nothin's Goin On," and cooing female backing vocals on tracks like "Never Bought It." Dinosaur sounds almost jangly on the refreshingly human "Mick," while "Alone" is a hugely epic—and largely successful—Crazy Horse-style ballad. Mascis' act may sound a little too familiar after this many albums, but Hand It Over shows him integrating a few new ideas into his well-worn sound.