Dinosaur Jr. frontman J. Mascis steps away from the amplifiers for a bit to release an acoustic record that keeps the same rough-around-the-edges guitar style that is Dinosaur Jr.’s signature sound. Mascis’ voice has an earnest, gravelly quality to it that perfectly compliments the guitar work, which is as stellar as any fan would expect. “Where You Are” is the best track on the album, with understated chords and perfectly matched vocals. The lyrics on the whole are far more personal than a Dinosaur Jr. record. Several Shades of Why is a perfect acoustic record that shows the acoustic guitar still has potential to make beautiful music.

(Sub Pop Records, 2013 Fourth Avenue, Third Floor, Seattle, WA 98121)