I Bet on Sky is the third Dinosaur Jr. album since the original trio J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph reformed in 2005. And, crazily, it marks the bands 10th studio album since their debut on Homestead Records in 1985. Back in the 80s, if anyone has suggested that these guys would be performing and recording at such a high level 27 years later, they would have been laughed out of the tree fort.
The trio has taken everything theyve learned from the various projects they tackled over the years, and poured it directly into their current mix. Js guitar approaches some of its most unhinged playing here, but theres a sense of instrumental control that matches the sweet murk of his vocals (not that he always remembers to exercise control on stage, but thats another milieu). This is head-bobbing riff-romance at the apex. Lous basswork shows a lot more melodicism now as well, although his two songs on I Bet on Sky retain the jagged rhythmic edge that has so often marked his work. And Murphwell, he still pounds the drums as hard and as strong as a pro wrestler, with deceptively simple structures that manage to interweave themselves perfectly with his bandmates melodic explosions.

After submerging myself in I Bet on Sky, its clear that the album is a true and worthy addition to the Dinosaur Jr. discography. It hews close enough to rock formalism to please the squares. Yet it is brilliantly imprinted with the trios magical equation, which is a gift to the rest of us. For a combo that began as anomalous fusion of hardcore punk and pop influences, Dinosaur Jr. have proven themselves to be unlikely masters of the long game.