Throwback Thursday Presents: See You - Dinosaur Jr
Probably one of my favorite songs of all-time, from one of my favorite albums of all-time, Farm released in 2009, "See You" is right at the beginning of Rock and Roll's movement to a more relaxed and vibe-oriented sound, essentially, the dream pop movement. Although not thought of as a calming and spacious group, on Farm Dinosaur Jr combined elements of skater-rock from the 90's with jam-band motifs to create an addictive sound that connected the bridge between indie rock and jam-band lovers. Although the song gained less notoriety than other pioneers of this sound such as Mac DeMarco-who would release his launching-off Ep, Rock and Roll Night Club the following year-"See You," is the epitome of what dream pop would soon become, a focus on beautiful and lucid instrumentals, but with subtle vocals that emphasizes the central feeling or theme.
To reiterate, "See You" and Farm in general doesn't adhere to a dream pop label but it has the elements that would make up the prominent wave that dream pop is today. That is explicitly heard in the melodies of the song, but particularly the focus on the improvisational rhythm of the guitar. From the start, the initial chords institute a feeling of calmness that proceeds into a beautiful Mascis guitar solo. An odd way to begin a song, but a track about a cracking relationship may suggest a different meaning to a solo than just gorgeous riffs. Not limited to its opening, there is an interplay between the harmony and solo throughout "See You" that suggests a cracking relationship; the harmony representing being together and the solo being, well, solo. Throughout the song the idea of being on your own or with someone goes back and forth like a tennis match, each side as capable as the other without a clear winner, an idea that Mascis is clearly wrestling with. Already perplexing, both insinuations of a relationship or lack there of are easy on the ears, adding to more difficulties for either choice has its own beauty.
The lyrics bring some clarity to this idea but to what clarity is there? Mascis' lyrics are often without too many articles and is very direct "Had enough of what I knew/Had enough to know that it's not true." Within a context his lyrics may evoke a strong and palpable theme, but without context or investigation into the song, that meaning may become lost and the lyrics become confusing as all hell. Deducing the theme to a complicated/cracking relationship, lyrics such as "Here me out, I'm about to fade/I've no doubt, you meant that way," seem clear with relation to the aforementioned theme but without a central motif, the meaning can become cloudy.
Without an analysis of "See You" there may not a tremendous amount of appeal besides it's pretty aesthetic but breaking down the song (and any song in general) transforms it into an intriguing masterwork by Dinosaur Jr. At 5 minutes and 48 seconds, "See You" is so seductive that the roughly six minutes feel like 2; the melodies, the interplay of the harmony, and the calming cadence of J Mascis' voice gives you so much to work with but with so so so little time. I suppose that's why they invented the replay-button?
To reiterate, "See You" and Farm in general doesn't adhere to a dream pop label but it has the elements that would make up the prominent wave that dream pop is today. That is explicitly heard in the melodies of the song, but particularly the focus on the improvisational rhythm of the guitar. From the start, the initial chords institute a feeling of calmness that proceeds into a beautiful Mascis guitar solo. An odd way to begin a song, but a track about a cracking relationship may suggest a different meaning to a solo than just gorgeous riffs. Not limited to its opening, there is an interplay between the harmony and solo throughout "See You" that suggests a cracking relationship; the harmony representing being together and the solo being, well, solo. Throughout the song the idea of being on your own or with someone goes back and forth like a tennis match, each side as capable as the other without a clear winner, an idea that Mascis is clearly wrestling with. Already perplexing, both insinuations of a relationship or lack there of are easy on the ears, adding to more difficulties for either choice has its own beauty.
The lyrics bring some clarity to this idea but to what clarity is there? Mascis' lyrics are often without too many articles and is very direct "Had enough of what I knew/Had enough to know that it's not true." Within a context his lyrics may evoke a strong and palpable theme, but without context or investigation into the song, that meaning may become lost and the lyrics become confusing as all hell. Deducing the theme to a complicated/cracking relationship, lyrics such as "Here me out, I'm about to fade/I've no doubt, you meant that way," seem clear with relation to the aforementioned theme but without a central motif, the meaning can become cloudy.
Without an analysis of "See You" there may not a tremendous amount of appeal besides it's pretty aesthetic but breaking down the song (and any song in general) transforms it into an intriguing masterwork by Dinosaur Jr. At 5 minutes and 48 seconds, "See You" is so seductive that the roughly six minutes feel like 2; the melodies, the interplay of the harmony, and the calming cadence of J Mascis' voice gives you so much to work with but with so so so little time. I suppose that's why they invented the replay-button?
Comments
Post a Comment