Formed in 1984, Dinosaur Jr carved a singular path through the latter half of the 1980s, issuing three highly influential albums in the process before finding a home with Sire Records, who issued a run of four excellent albums as the alternative American rock scene the band had long been part of exploded, dominate and then retreated during the 1990s.

In theory, The Bridge: A Tribute to Neil Young was a perfect concept, since most alternative bands of the late '80s owed the singer/songwriter a heavy debt. In practice, it wasn't entirely satisfying. Some groups, like Bongwater's collage of "Mr. Soul," made their interpretations self-consciously distinctive, while others, like Soul Asylum and Loop, played it close to the original. But the best moments came when a band played the song like it was their own. Listen to Sonic Youth's rampaging "Computer Age," Dinosaur Jr.'s faithful "Lotta Love," or The Pixies' gorgeous take on "Winterlong" for proof.

Here is Sweep It Into Space, the fifth new studio album cut by Dinosaur Jr.. during the 13th year of their rebirth. Originally scheduled for issue in mid 2020, this record’s temporal trajectory was thwarted by the coming of the Plague. But it would take more than a mere Plague to tamp down the exquisite fury of this trio when they are fully dialed-in. And Sweep It Into Space is a masterpiece of zoned dialing. Recorded, as usual, at Amherst’s Biquiteen, the sessions for Sweep It Into Space began in the late Autumn of 2019, following a West Coast/ South East tour. The only extra musician used this time was Kurt Vile who co-produced the record. Indeed, Sweep It Into Space is a very cool album. As is typical, Lou Barlow writes and sings two of the album’s dozen tunes and Murph’s pure-Flinstonian drumming drives the record like a go cart from Hell. Lou’s songs here are as elegant as always. But there are very few moments where you wouldn’t know you were hearing Dinosaur Jr. in blindfolded needle drop. They have a signature sound as sure as the Stooges or Sonic Youth or Discharge ever did. They continue to expand their personal universe with Sweep It Into Space, without ever losing their central core.