Customer Reviews

Jawbox

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This record changed my life, and it sounds as good today as it did when I first heard it 9 years ago. It's twin slashing guitars darting in and out of a mind-blowing rhythm section, with a glaze of sweet yet slightly ominous melody hanging over it all. Its simple on the surface, yet ridiculously complex underneath. Its shimmering and grand one moment, descending into visceral aggression the next - the perfect synthesis of brains meeting brawn. It's not punk, its not post-hardcore, its certainly not emo - its just a band fully realizing the breadth of it's potential and striking gold.

I recently dug this album out of my record collection. All I can tell you is WOW. I had totally forgotten about what a powerful album this is. JAWBOX was released the summer before entered my senior year in high school. It was also the summer that I fell in love for the first time. This record was kind of the soundtrack to all of that. For about forty five minutes I was back in the summer of 96. Needless to say it was all down hill from there but it still nice to conjour up some of those feelings with this album. CHEERS!

This is simply an amazing record. Don't expect to find any "throw away" songs on here. The recording quality on this record is far better than on "For Your Own Special Sweetheart," their 1994 debut record on Atlantic. This record has a slightly different feel than the Sweetheart album, but the differences are not too drastic.

Jawbox was the best band I never saw live. I was first exposed to them on "For Your Own Special Sweetheart" after reading a review in the local paper. It reminded me of my local favorite, The Jesus Lizard, except that J. Robbins can actually SING. I liked it so much I quickly went out to buy "Grippe" and "Novelty". Then "Jawbox" hit my CD player. At first listen I thought the band would soon be all over the media as the "Next Big Thing". This music makes everything else I listen to seem old and out of date. Songs like 'Iodine' , 'Excandescent' and 'Capillary Life' are so good it seems impossible that the rock and alternative radio stations somehow managed to overlook them. And now the band is no more. I guess I'll have to survive on the new Burning Airlines CD "Mission Control". Luckily, it too is excellent.

Easily the best album from one of DC's greatest bands. Never before have pop and hardcore found such a thrilling and addictive combination. It's not quiet, and certainly not relaxing. Play this rec. loud! A damn shame that they split after this album. Fear not, half of the band now comprises the equally intense and remarkable 'Burning Airlines', also on DeSoto. This self-titled album will forever be a favorite of mine -- yeah, it IS that good.

If you haven't listened to Jawbox's music before you are missing out. raw and complex at the same time ,jawbox beats you senseless with a leveling rhythm section, swirling guitars and spiraling vocals. a must buy. i'm only sorry you didn't buy it sooner.

I bought "for your own special sweetheart" when I was in college 8 years ago, and was completely blown away. I thought at the time, and still do to this day, that it is one of the best cd's I own. Just recently, I found their other releases on Amazon.com and bought this release and "Novelty" at the same time. Though I have not recieved "Novelty" yet, I was dissapointed with "Jawbox." You can go down the line in "FYOSS" and find one great song after another filled with passion and intensity and songs you never get sick of. In "Jawbox", the songs don't seem to go anywhere, and kind of list with no direction. I got up to song 8 and was still waiting for the cd to get going - which it never did.I was expecting an improvement (if that is possible)on "FYOSS", but found myself waiting for "Novelty" to arrive.