J Mascis: "Not Enough"

A J Mascis song without electric guitar is kind of like a Michael Jackson video without dancing: it seems criminal to neglect such a superhuman gift for even a moment. So while Mascis’s guitar-god status is well-earned, it’s rare that a man who can make his guitar sing so beautifully, humanly, can also do so with his voice—a big voice, instantly warm and recognizable.

“Not Enough” is the first cut from Mascis’s forthcoming solo acoustic effort, the angst-ily titled Several Shades of Why. Though he’s done the acoustic thing before with minor success, he’s spent most of this past decade doing what he does best: crafting howling, transcendent guitar rock with the reunited Dinosaur Jr. I hope this recent time apart doesn’t spell discord for the band, whose work post-first-time-apart has proven just as sharp and fluid as their 80s peak. It’s undeniable Mascis is at his best with Barlow and Murph—no matter their personal differences—at his side, but I’ll be damned if solo Mascis doesn’t win me over anyway.

“Not Enough” is nothing too exciting, just a low-key, twangy rambler with vague-ish lyrics like “Can we be loved? / Can we be free?” But from the very first line, hearing Mascis’s voice is like uncovering a thrilling memory. If one has never laid eyes on J Mascis, he of the giant grandpa glasses and lank silver hair, his iconic croak would paint a different picture entirely. Unchanged since youth, his voice is sexy and optimistic—yet lived-in. “Not Enough” is certainly folkier than we’re used to hearing from Mascis, but it’s got a sound that suits him well, and the song’s light touches—earthy harmonies, brief yet intricate guitar work—keep it buoyant. The slightness of “Not Enough” indicates that Several Shades of Why isn’t going to be the next Bug (1998), or even the next Farm (2009), but without his bandmates, J Mascis is still one of those rare finds who’s been through it all yet come out with talent intact and ego in check. And a voice that can still make your heart ache.