Formed in 1984, Dinosaur Jr. is an alternative rock band from Amherst, Massachusetts. After a lengthy hiatus during the late !90s and early 2000's, the guitarist J Mascis reformed the band in 2005. Their distinct sound is characterized by high gain and extensive use of feedback and distortion. You can hear echoes of their sound every time a post-grunge band slugs out a chunky riff or when a jam band noodles its way to guitar nirvana. Dinosaur Jr was the perfect vehicle for singer/guitarist J. Mascis' unwieldy, gut-bucket guitar leanings, fusing them with singer-songwriter melodies and obfuscating lyrics that have become the hallmarks of grunge rock.