Customer Reviews

Dear You [Vinyl]

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I remember when Jawbreaker signed to a major label ... people were shocked and disappointed. I was one of them. I was a fifteen year old kid, though, and now wouldn't care so much. But I wrote the band back then. Adam, the drummer, took the time to write me back and explain things from their point of view. Ultimately, he told me there are more important things for people to worry about ... and I now definitely agree with him, although at the time I was upset.

After all these years, it BLOWS MY MIND that he took the time to write a fifteen year old, snot-nosed kid. I'm sure I wasn't the only fan he wrote back to, explaining the band's decision to sign.

That's how important their fans were to them. And that's how special this band -- and this album -- is to me.

And I still have the letter!

Wow, I remember when this was first put out by DGC, and the first time I saw the video for fireman. I only saw the video once on 120 minutes. I was so shocked and so pleased. Having made 24 hour revenge my 10th grade record and trying to write like Blake. This album is what made say wow. One if not their best. I think some people may not share the same idea. All I can remember after this album was put out every one in my cool punk rock circle kept saying "oh man they sold out, thats it it's over." Then a few years go by the band breaks up and all the same kids are saying what a great record it was, and how Jets will never live up to Jawbreaker and blah, blah, blah. You know what this record is one of the best punk/emo or what ever you want to call it, records ever put out. If it wasnt then why I ask does go for crazy prices on ebay? Im 27 and this record is still as important to me now, as it was then. Blake is one of the best song writers of this genaration. I think is he is up w/ Waits, Cohen, and Dylan. I know alot of people think Kurt was, but lets face it what the hell was he talking about half the time. I have no idea. I know something about him coming from a broken home or something. But when I discoverd Jawbreaker was when I discoverd hart break.

I've said this before (very rarely, mind you) but this is a perfect record. A friend of mine used to play this at work around the time he was dropping out of high school (and for many years after). He epitomized every lyric on "Dear You." He actually dropped out of school for admirable reasons (faculty and teachers didn't respect the students) and I really admire him for doing it. (By the way, he is now in his second year at a major university and is a straight "A" student.) He's cool because he stands up for what he believes in and does things his own way (not to spite others but because he doesn't need to "fit in.") This is the album version of his life. It very eloquently expresses the angst (real angst, not the cliched version postured by so many "alternative rock bands" today), hurt, guilt, pain, and even love (and lust) experienced by your average young person (but in a completely above average way). "Dear You" is one of those rare, absolutely honest, artistic records where everything rings true (lyrics, music, attitude, and even the production quality). It is a deeply inspired piece of work. That's saying a lot for punk/pop album.

Dear You is easily one of my top 10 favorite albums of all time. I got this album in 1996 for my 16th birthday after seeing them two weeks before opening for the Foo Fighters. All I can say is that straight through this album is filled with great lyrics, amazing sonic assaults and some very contrasting chords. Jets To Brazil is a great band, but this album will always be my favorite work from Blake Schwarzenbach. Highlights are "Jet Black", "Sluttering (May 4th)" and....oh hell they're all good. The new pressing features bonus tracks not on the original release. "Friendly Fire" really should have been on the original pressing, it's killer. "Boxcar" is a revamp of a very popular song off 24 Hour Revenge Therapy (which is also an amazing album), "Shirt" is the only song I'm unsure of. There's a version of "Shirt" on their Live CD (which is very good also) but I was unaware of a studio version. And considering most of the bonus songs are on the Etc. b-side compilation maybe "Shirt" was intentioanlly left off Etc. to inspire hardcore fans to buy the Dear You CD again? Whatever the result is, Dear You is worth purchasing. Some call the CD emo, but Jawbreaker is really just a dark punk band. If this is "emo", then a lot of emo bands have truly missed the mark and should go back to school with this album.

"If you hear this [album] 100 times, it still won't be enough"

I first heard Fireman when I was a teen and knew this band was great. I was fortunate to buy an original print which is a rare item these days. The lyrics are of lost sentiment, rough around the edges added by Blake's raspy voice. The sincerity of this CD is comparatively to Bright Eyes songs. Relive Jawbreaker with Jets to Brazil; Blake's new band.

My friend got a copy of this album for me awhile back when it was still scarce and out of print. He writes a zine on the Chicago punk scene and some of the bands he likes can be a little much for me. So I popped this into my CD player with some reservation, wondering if it was going to be some piece of crap recorded out of some guy's garage. I could not have been more wrong. These songs represent the best of the alt/indie/punk/emo genre or whatever group you think they belong in. Their songs are well crafted, with interesting lyrics and solid musicianship. The songs are insidiously catchy; I will find myself singing them at random times. I admittedly don't know a ton about punk but if I had to compare this band to something I am familiar with, I would say Echo and the Bunnymen or maybe the Jesus and Mary Chain. At least that is who they reminded me of. I later found out that this band enjoys a sort of cult following, making the few copies of this album pretty expensive. After a few listens I can see why.

This is a great album, though it has a much more polished sound than their previous work. This may be a problem for some, but it's full of great songs and if you had nothing to compare it to you'd be blown away with no questions asked. Hard to believe this was the final act for Jawbreaker.

some people will say this was the "sell-out" album that Jawbreaker made, but those people are just in awe (read: jealous) of how great this album is. I'm so glad the band bought the record back from Geffen and re-released it. Now anyone can purchase one the best records of the 1995, 1996, 1997, etc...you get the idea. This seriously could be one of the only three albums i would take with me to my stranded island. After you get this record, go out and find the first Jets To Brazil album on Jade Tree "Orange Rhyming Dictionary." These two Blake/Jawbreaker/whatever albums are his best. This has been on my top ten albums of every year, really!

The amount of people who actually work, and sacrifice to create something true and genuine is severely decreasing. Blake Schwarchzenbaugh, is one of the best lyricists, composers, and singers that has ever graced this majestic rock and roll forum. The lyrics are tragic and evocative of the struggle of anyone. The sound of Dear you is distinct and reminiscent of certain time. Just buy it, and let Blake talk to you about the ways of the world and explain all of your problems to you. Musically and lyrically this album is unstoppable. And for even better song compostions with less of the punk edge, check all of his Jets to Brazil albums.

Until releasing this album, Jawbreaker was known for Blake's raspy vocals (much in the style of their friends in the Lookout! Records band Crimpshrine). The story going around was that Blake had been diagnosed with some kind of throat tumor or polyp and that he might not sing again. (Could have been a total urban myth for all I know.) Then they came out with this album and Blake's vocal style had completely changed! Many in the punk community were disappointed that Jawbreaker seemed to be going the way of (another Lookout! band) Green Day. But this album also opened them up to a whole new audience who may have found their earlier work too hard.
I think this is a great album, very catchy, punk, but also pretty poppy. Since I already made the Green Day comparison, other than the major difference in their voices, this does sound a lot like the pop-punk Green Day made famous. Unfortunately for Jawbreaker, Green Day went on to become rockstar millionaires and Jawbreaker remained a small and poor band.
If you like Jawbreaker's more melodic stuff, the song Fine Day from the Unfun Lp and the song Eye-5 from their Whack and Blite 7" are great melodic tunes.