Search - Jawbreaker :: 24 Hour Revenge Therapy

One of the Top 10 in Emo/Pop-Punk History

SandmanVI | Glen Allen, VA United States | 08/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

The best Jawbreaker albums and still a classic.

SandmanVI | 08/23/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I picked this CD up about 6 years ago, and could never have anticapted then that I would still be playing it regularly today(atleast once a week). This is one of the greatest CDs ever released, full of emotion, full of power. The CD is a literal roller coaster ride, starting out happy and explorative, then shifts to moody and sulking, only to shift again at the end of the CD with promising hope and the felling of resolution. Blake Schwarzenbach is amazing, and fans of the album should also check out his work on Dear You (a very under appreciated album) and his new band Jets to Brazil. An amazing album that has survived the test of time."

This is punk

Lover Del Toro | Philadelphia | 08/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."