Dinosaur Jr. - Just Like Heaven (Album Review)

 

Dinosaur Jr. - Just Like Heaven 

(1989)


My copy: 1989 press by Blast First.


Dino Jr. 's cover version of “Just Like Heaven” originally only existed in single format until You’re Living All Over Me was reissued in 2005, including the song as a final bonus track. The Just Like Heaven single does still retain a unique purpose, however, in its inclusion of “Chunks (A Last Rights Tune)” and the brief experiment “Throw Down” which does appear on some reissues of You’re Living All Over Me. 

Their take on the Cure is at first surprisingly sweet - so much so that it is almost disappointing when the obligatory hardcore breakdowns come to crash the party. J. Mascis actually has quite the lovely singing voice when he’s trying to do it pretty, and the wailing wah guitar attempts to make up for the butchering of the lead guitar melody. “Throw Down” is merely a short respite of acoustic guitar chords before pure adrenaline takes over on their cover of “Chunks.” While it’s occasionally fun to hear Dinosaur Jr. experiment with covers, balancing hardcore with pop, I’m not sure that this single stands as much more than innocent self indulgence.

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