J Mascis – Several Shades of Why

In a career that has spanned three decades and countless bands, Several Shades of Why marks J Mascis’ first solo studio recording, but it’s certainly been worth the wait. A lot of signature traits still remain here, like understated vocal delivery and a propensity for writing songs that are heart-warming yet bereft of cod sentimentality, but there is a notable frailty that will be unfamiliar to fans of Dinosaur Jr.

The lack of drums and distortion results in a much clearer sense of purpose, aided along the way by the likes of A Silver Mount Zion’s Sophie Trudeau, contributing gorgeous stringed textures in the album’s title track. The anodyne Make it Right shows an unexpectedly folk charm, but the star is Is It Done, showcasing both the new, acoustic sound but also adding a gently distorted solo to keep the old vanguard interested. It may have been 30 years in the making, but it's an album that could dovetail into any point in Mascis's timeless pipeline. [David Bowes]