J Mascis has used his solo albums to focus on his softer acoustic side. The evolution of J Mascis from distortion-fuelled grunge overlord into introspective acoustic wizard has been one of American music’s more remarkable recent transitions. ‘Elastic Days’ is his third album in this guise, and it’s a plaintive, poetic, and endlessly endearing return, a sign that the acoustic well, while previously untapped, remains brimming with inspiration.

Like: Dinosaur Jr, Lee Ranaldo, Sebadoh, Lou Barlow

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Play: 1, 2, 8, 9, 10

1.See You At The Movies (3:22) - Pleasant, pastoral opener.
2.Web So Dense (3:37) - Melancholy hue due to its slower tempo and Smashing Pumpkins-esque strings.
3.I Went Dust (3:47) - Downbeat gorgeous ballad.
4.Sky Is All We Had (3:07) - Urgent, pleading vocals stripped back and vulnerable in a raw, honest way.
5.Picking Out The Seeds (3:27) - Gently galloping country-rocker.
6.Give It Off (2:50) - Upfront vocals from J whose singing usually blends into the overall sound.
7.Drop Me (3:49) - Driven by acoustic guitar and loose, roaming drums.
8.Cut Stranger (3:23) - Finger-picked minor-key guitar line, is a particular late-album standout.
9.Elastic Days (3:32) - Brilliant soloing that really stretches the songs out.
10.Sometimes (3:33) - Pretty acoustic work with crisp percussion.
11.Wanted You Around (3:30) - Pretty, easy rolling, laid-back style.
12.Everything She Said (3:30) - Jangle-pop dream, the sort of melodic, jammy alt-rock track.