Dinosaur Jr. “Just Like Heaven”

Dinosaur Jr. “Just Like Heaven” 1989. SST Records, clear green vinyl 7″ single. An…interesting take on The Cure’s hit “Just Like Heaven” from their 1987 album Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. Dinosaur Jr.’s version is an alternative to alternative, some jangle, some distortion, a tiny bit of thrash and a truly weird-ass video with B-level muppets dancing and head-banging along to J Mascis’ distinctive whiny and slightly off-key vocals. I actually really love it and the video is hilarious – the guys in Dinosaur Jr. looked stoned off their asses when they briefly appear on screen. Side B has “Throw Down,” a DJ original, and another cover, “Chunks” originally by Last Rights (’84), a hardcore band from Massachusetts. Dinosaur Jr.’s version is pretty faithful to the original (even the vocals), making it as about as polar opposite as possible to their Cure cover while still staying under the “alternative” umbrella.