J Mascis and Mike Watt helped define the ’90s alt-rock scene through their bands Dinosaur Jr. and Minutemen. Now, they’re covering each other’s songs for a new split 7″ arranged by Austin label Red Parakeet Records. Instead of tackling the Minutemen, though, Mascis dives into fIREHOSE’s 1991 deep cut “Formal Introduction,” while Watt lets loose on a wailing rendition of “The Little Baby” from Dinosaur Jr.’s 1991 EP Whatever’s Cool With Me. Listen to both tracks below.
This is the third installment in a cover series that Red Parakeet has been organizing. Previous split 7″s featured Watt alongside Slint’s Papa M, as well as Watt sharing wax with the Big Boys’ Tim Kerr. When you’ve written and performed as much music as these guys, part of the fun is in reimagining the songs your peers wrote. Across all of these records, it’s clear that Watt is having a blast doing exactly that.
Dinosaur Jr. last dropped an album in 2021 with Sweep It Into Space, featuring co-production by Kurt Vile. They’ve otherwise stayed busy on tour and reissuing records like their 2009 full-length Farm. Beyond guest features on other artists’ songs, Watt’s last solo release was a one-two punch of live albums in 2016 and 2017: “Ring Spiel” Tour ’95 and Contemplating the Engine Room: Live in Long Beach ’98.
Revisit the essay J Mascis’ Greatest Guitar Shreds on Other People’s Songs and read Zach Schonfeld’s Saturday Track Review of Minutemen’s “Corona.”
