Given the dictatorial one-man band approach of Dinosaur Jr guitarist and vocalist J Mascis, it's easy to understand why former sidekick Lou Barlow and present supporting player Mike Johnson longed to show what they could do on their own. On the other hand, even hard-core fans might wonder what the point is of a Mascis solo album. The answer is in the title: That's Martin as in the acoustic guitar company. After years of crafting slacker updates of the fuzz-guitar blowouts perfected by Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Mascis is trying his hand at the acoustic Young of "Sugar Mountain." And he's a spectacular failure.

Recorded live during a solo acoustic tour of small clubs last year, Martin and Me features demo-quality versions of 10 previously released Mascis originals, including "Repulsion," "Blowin It," "Keeblin" and "Not You Again." These bare-bones interpretations add nothing to the songs besides a new vocal and lyrical clarity, and considering the annoying nature of Mascis' nasal whine and the tossed-off quality of his lyrics, that isn't a good thing. The notoriously introverted performer also offers four covers that are presumably intended to shine a light on some of his non-Neil Young influences, including the Smiths ("The Boy With the Thorn in His Side"), Greg Sage of the Wipers ("On the Run"), Lynyrd Skynyrd ("Every Mother's Son") and Carly Simon (although I suspect Mascis really associates "Anticipation" with the old ketchup commercial).

None of the songs on Martin and Me sounds better than their original studio versions. Overall, the album is proof positive that J Mascis ought to leave the sensitive acoustic thing to Barlow and his Sebadoh unplugged side project, Sentridoh.

In contrast, Johnson's second solo effort raises the question of why he's limiting himself to serving as Mascis' four-string foil. (Johnson has also collaborated with Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees on Lanegan's solo albums.) Year of Mondays is a collection of simple but striking folk-rock songs in the mold of songwriter Leonard Cohen. Delivered by Johnson in his rich baritone, such songs as "Circle," "One Way Out" and "Where Am I?" boast beautiful and elaborate string and keyboard arrangements that owe more than a passing nod to the dreamy sounds of Five Leaves Left (1969) and Bryter Layter (1970), by the English folkie Nick Drake, as well as the contemporary orchestrated pop of Eric Matthews (who like Johnson is a native of small-town Oregon).

Not only are the songs on Year of Mondays more ambitious than anything Mascis attempts on his solo outing, Johnson outdoes the boss at his regular game, closing the album with the nearly 13-minute "Overdrive," one of the best full-throttle "Down by the River" guitar epics since Dinosaur Jr's 1991 single "The Wagon." At least Mascis can brag about guesting on drums for the track. (RS 733)

JIM DEROGATIS