J Mascis, founder of Dinosaur Jr., is at the Bottleneck tonight

Prolific singer-songwriter and guitarist J Mascis — best known for founding and fronting Dinosaur Jr. — released a new solo album in August called Tied to a Star. At first listen, Star seems largely to leave behind the defining elements of any Mascis project — namely, an emphasis on distorted guitars; grizzly feedback; and gruff, lukewarm singing.

Instead, this new effort is a little less rock and a little more folk, with its cozy cluster of tracks relying on mellow, acoustic guitar chords. Mascis’ voice sounds rougher than ever, a bit like he sat down to record Star after a weekend bender and back-to-back shows. But the music comes off tender rather than weary. It’s perhaps the most stripped-down we’ve ever heard Mascis — a rare, raw glimpse into an artist who has informed innumerable careers.

Details here.