 "This is punk" | 2007-08-29 |
| - Reviewed By gitsiegrasso |
| Jawbreaker were a punk band. They bear the same likeness to "emo" as Michael Vick shares with "nice person." Please stop including that disposable no-value label around on a genuine punk band. And this album is a classic. |
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| "A Classic Punk Album" | 2007-02-13 |
| - Reviewed By veganemt |
I've listened to this album (and band) on a regular basis since I was 15 ... I'm almost 27. This album is classic in every sense. I know every drum fill and lyric. That's how catchy it is!
It amazes me how Jawbreaker was able to pull off short, catchy songs like "Indictment" and "Boxcar" and then add a meandering, melodic tune like "Condition Oakland" ... I remember listening to the latter tune as I took the BART over Oakland once, in high school. It was the perfect soundtrack!
It sounds bad, I know, but I think Blake's vocals were way better before he had throat surgery. DEAR YOU and Jets To Brazil just don't capture me the same way as when he sounded like he was struggling in agony to get the next lyric out.
Sorry Blake!
And thank you. |
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| "The Best CD of the 90s!" | 2005-12-13 |
| - Reviewed By usedwigs |
Simply put, this is the best indie rock record released in the 90s. Never mind "Nevermind" (not indie) and all the ephemeral grunge and punk that got the radio play. Jawbreaker ruled this decade for the true fans of emotional, intelligent post-punk music. Blake S., a master songwriter who penned the greatest punk love song of all time "Chesterfield Kings," played straight from his always-broken heart, but never once sounded defeated or weak. Their three-man attack on "Revenge Therapy" was pure, sparkling power driven by their trademark melodic distortion, crisp drums and Blake's commanding rasp. Every song on this CD is outstanding. It is a masterpiece, full of small stories of normal people doing normal things, just searching for a bit of happiness while dealing with loss, love and every day frustrations. "Do you still hate me?" and "Jinx Removing" are my faves, while lead-off "Boat on a Hill" always makes me a bit weepy while still filling me with hope and deep-seated satisfaction. |
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| "Masterpiece" | 2005-10-12 |
| - Reviewed By acrepeau |
| This album is one of the most pure things you will ever hear across all genres of music. It comes out swinging like Mike Tyson circa 1986 and doesn't let up. The playing is top notch and vicious and the lyrics are razor sharp. There are no tricks, the band played most of these songs live and they sounded exactly the same. Hard to believe Jawbreaker was this good, but this proves it. If someone told you about them and you're thinking of buying something, start with this because it's their best; you'll be back soon enough. |
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 "Misinformed" | 2005-04-29 |
| - Reviewed By User: A35PSMJFS7M51M |
| I first found out about Jawbreaker because AMG used to classify them as grunge. Dipsh*ts. Anyway...I picked this CD up and was totally pissed to hear that they were not too grungy. About 6 months later, I gave it another try. This isn't too bad I thought. Kind of like Green Day(their early stuff anyway). I began to not regret my decision so much. It's a pretty punk alblum. If you like just plain, decent punk, than this is for you. Nothing great. I have no standout tracks. |
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 "The highpoint of a rightfully lambasted genre" | 2005-03-23 |
| - Reviewed By timothyfarrell22 |
| Emo-punk is one of those genres that spawned about maybe ten good bands, and hundreds of bad ones. Rites of Spring, Embrace, and Jawbreaker are the few good "Emo" bands that come to mind (Fugazi isn't emo - they just influenced the genre). Everything about the genre pretty much went to hell when Sunny Day Real Estate and Jimmy Eat World hit the mainstream. The best album of the genre, however, is far and away the one I am reviewing right now. Catchy without being excruiating or poppy, and still rocking. By far this is their best work (even though "Bivouac" has its defenders). And don't listen to the diehards who proclaim this to be a "sellout" album. |
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| "Perfect man" | 2004-09-14 |
| - Reviewed By hotrod510 |
| This album is just a pop-punk/emp gem. Every songs is almost perfect. The second best album after Dear You. This is the album Jawbreaker begginers should get. |
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| "One of the Top 10 in Emo/Pop-Punk History" | 2004-08-24 |
| - Reviewed By sandmanvi |
I always knew that this album would eventually become iconic. Most of you seem to think it was always that way. However as someone who lived in the Bay Area at the time and saw many of the shows supporting this album, I know what a struggle it was for Blake and crew. When this came out, it was clear that Jawbreaker was undertaking a transition from being a pure punk band to being what at the time was classified as pop-punk (and now seems to fall neatly into emo or pre-emo depending who you ask). Well there were the constant shouts from the audience of "sellout" and "has-beens". That was very unfortunate as this should have been a time of celebration for Bay Area punk. Instead it seemed as if the guys were happy to get away from home and the pressure of the microscope; they often appeared bitter and embattled. If you don't think this is true then relisten to the lyrics when he says "You're not punk and I'm telling everyone - save your breath I never was one - you don't know what I'm all about"; This was clearly a shot at the band's old school following who felt betrayed. Anyway enough of the history lesson, but someone has to tell it the way it actually was.
The reason the album is now considered so influential is simple - it's excellent and it's unique. Blake's voice is different than any I can recall, while his vocals are simple and direct but reveal deeper truths and emotions... hey, that's a pretty good model for emo isn't it? The guitar and bass are driving and forceful but contain enough subtle nuance to allow for a mental scope greater than straight punk. While many bands have cloned the ebb 'n flow style Jawbreaker did it without sounding like some type of Linkin Park cliche. "Condition Oakland" and "Ashtray monument" are perfect examples of this. JB also had the ability to write fun music as the uptempo "Indictment" shows. Oddly he also seems to spar with his potential audience here too... "our enemies will laugh and be pointin'". There really are no bad songs on this and your favorites will evolve and rotate as should be the case with any great album. To the person who asks why more people don't refer to "Dear You", it's because that album is OK but stinks by comparison... they compromised to much. You can debate whether Blake remedied that in Jets to Brazil all you want, but there's a reason DY was the end of JB. |
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| "TRY TO IMITATE.... BUT YOU NEVER WILL........" | 2004-02-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3G4RG9TWMYHUN |
| Thats what a lot of bands will try to do. This album has(in my opinion)to be one of the Top 10 most influential ablums for, got I hate to say it, the "PUNK/EMO" genre. This ablum atually deserves 6 stars. There is so much I want to say about this album but I can't even put it in words. If you don't have this album go out and get it NOW. This album will hopefully open your minds into good music that deosn't get played on the radio. This album has made me get into music so much, I actually read the lyrics to the songs now. I know, I'm an IDIOT. I used to buy so called "punk" music, put it in my cd player and rock out. BOY was I wrong. Their is soooo much good music out their today that is not being heard because corporate America is buying you guys out. Don't listen to the critics on albums and don't buy the cd's MTV is puching down your throats. You all walk like zombies listneing to the same crap music. Hopefully I shed some light on just one person to go out and get this CD, or if this is to raw/hard go out and get Jawbreakers Dear You CD very well produced and AMAZING lyrics. Who is more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows? |
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| "Get a pony keg of buy this CD" | 2003-10-08 |
| - Reviewed By aaaaaaambition |
This is my second favorite CD ever, and there's really not a lot to say about it except it is AWESOME and there's nothing wrong with it in the least. Seriously, all of the songs are incredible. I really am having trouble deciding my favorites, but I'd have to say Ashtray Monument and West Bay Invitational. If I said any more, I'd have to let them all in. When he yells "isn't it always?!" in West Bay Invitational...my god. It's amazing. Except for the Thing part of the Pixies song The Happening, that's probably my favorite part of any song I've ever heard, even if it is only for a second.
Another thing that really sets this album apart from their others is the strength of their joke-type songs. On Dear You, Bad Scene Everyone's Fault is great and quite funny, and I like Lurker II as well. But others, especially Oyster, I can just live without. On here, Boxcar is amazing and very funny (you don't know what I'm all about/like killing cops and reading kerouac). Anyway, don't hesitate, if you are hesitating. I wish I could have seen them live. I saw jets to brazil in June and Blake told us he's quitting rock music to be a visual artist, I guess, so that's a shame. Jets to brazil lost it after Orange Rhyming Dictionary, but that's also a great CD. |
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International Available
![Jawbreaker - Dear You [Expanded]](product_images/1422000/1422003_thumb.jpg)
