More Light (J Mascis + The Fog album)

More Light is the debut album by the alternative rock band J Mascis + The Fog, released in 2000.[3][4] It can be seen as a solo album of sorts because Mascis played almost all of the instruments on the recording.[5]

More Light
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 24, 2000 (2000-10-24) (U.S.)
GenreAlternative rock
Length43:22
LabelUltimatum Music (North America)
City Slang (Europe)[1]
Pony Canyon (Japan)
ProducerJ Mascis
Kevin Shields[2]
J Mascis + The Fog chronology
More Light
(2000)
Free So Free
(2002)
Singles from More Light
  1. "Where'd You Go"
    Released: 2000
  2. "Waistin"
    Released: 2001

Production

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The album was composed on electric piano. It was recorded and mixed at "Bob's Place", Mascis's home studio in his native Amherst, Massachusetts.[6] The album title was inspired by the Hindu "hugging saint", Ammachi (also referenced on "Ammaring"). Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine and Guided By Voices frontman Robert Pollard contributed to some of the songs.[5]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [7]
Dayton Daily NewsB+[8]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [9]
Entertainment WeeklyB[10]
Pitchfork8.3/10[11]
Reno Gazette Journal    [12]
Rolling Stone     [13]
The Sydney Morning Herald    [14]
The Times9/10[15]
Times Colonist     [16]

OC Weekly wrote that "the songwriting is familiar enough to please old Dino fans, especially those whose favorite album was Where You Been."[17] The New Zealand Herald thought that "the songs are consistently good here right from the get-go when this kicks into life on the fuzz-storm opening of 'Same Day' (featuring the first of three vocal guest spots by Guided By Voice's Bob Pollard) then straight into the sleepy pop charms of 'Waistin', and 'Where'd You Go' with its Ziggy Stardust/ Mick Ronson riffery and skyscraping solo."[2] The Washington City Paper opined that "Back Before You Go" "channels both Rainbow and Hüsker Dü to predictably savage effect."[18] The Guardian praised the "tangibly zestful sense of engagement on the part of its creator."[19]

Tour

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The supporting tour for the album featured former Minutemen member Mike Watt on bass and former Dinosaur Jr collaborator George Berz on drums.[20][21] On some stops of the tour, the band was joined by original Stooges members Ron Asheton and Scott Asheton.[22] The tour was a key factor in the reformation of the Stooges (who also added Watt as their bass player, replacing the late Dave Alexander).

Track listing

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All songs written by J Mascis.

No.TitleLength
1."Sameday"4:16
2."Waistin"3:42
3."Where'd You Go"3:21
4."Back Before You Go"3:52
5."Ground Me to You"4:42
6."Ammaring"4:47
7."All the Girls"3:17
8."I'm Not Fine"3:18
9."Can't I Take This On"3:22
10."Does the Kiss Fit"3:28
11."More Light"5:17
Total length:43:22
Japanese Edition Bonus Tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Can I Tell You Stories"1:57
13."Too Hard"5:17
14."Leaving on a Jet Plane"4:10
European Edition Bonus Disc Tracks
No.TitleLength
1."Riptide Swim Sideways"3:35
2."Let's Go To Church"2:53

Personnel

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  • J Mascis - vocals, guitar, drums, bass guitar, keyboards
  • Kevin Shields - guitar, percussion, backing vocals (tracks 3, 7, 10)
  • Robert Pollard - backing vocals (tracks 1, 7, 8)
Technical

References

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  1. ^ Buckley, Peter (June 10, 2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843531050 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b "J Mascis & The Fog: More Light". NZ Herald.
  3. ^ "J Mascis & the Fog | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  4. ^ "J. Mascis Taps Kevin Shields, GBV's Pollard For "Light"". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "SPOTLIGHT". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  6. ^ Nailen, Dan (3 Nov 2000). "Mascis Wants to Deliver 'More Light' to More Ears". The Salt Lake Tribune. p. B11.
  7. ^ More Light at AllMusic
  8. ^ Rollins, Ron (24 Nov 2000). "RECORDINGS IN BRIEF". Dayton Daily News. Go!. p. 28.
  9. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 11.
  10. ^ "More Light". EW.com.
  11. ^ "J Mascis and the Fog: More Light: Pitchfork Review". December 5, 2000. Archived from the original on 2000-12-05.
  12. ^ Earnest, Mark (2 Feb 2001). "CD Rack". Reno Gazette Journal. p. H14.
  13. ^ Abowitz, Richard (Nov 9, 2000). "More Light". Rolling Stone. No. 853. p. 130.
  14. ^ Molitorisz, Sacha (12 Apr 2001). "J. Mascis and The Fog". The Sydney Morning Herald. Metro. p. 25.
  15. ^ True, Everett (16 Sep 2000). "New Albums". The Times. Features. p. 9.
  16. ^ Devlin, Mike (5 Dec 2000). "CD Reviews". Times-Colonist. p. D7.
  17. ^ "J Mascis + The Fog More Light Ultimatum Music – OC Weekly". www.ocweekly.com.
  18. ^ Zimmerman, Shannon (December 8, 2000). "More Light". Washington City Paper.
  19. ^ Cameron, Keith (6 Oct 2000). "Friday review: Music: Pop CD releases: J Mascis & the Fog: More Light". The Guardian. Friday. p. 20.
  20. ^ "J Mascis & the Fog, The Mercury, November 21". www.austinchronicle.com.
  21. ^ Mirkin, Steven (November 20, 2000). "J. Mascis and the Fog". Variety.
  22. ^ Lindblad, Peter (April 27, 2007). "Iggy Pop and The Stooges ARE BACK". Goldmine. 33 (9): 46–51.
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