Jawbreaker - Dear You (Reissue)

Jawbreaker
Dear You
Blackball Records
Grade: A

I remember when I picked up this record used for three dollars in 1996 at a record store in western NY. That I night I saw some fellow compatriots for some drinking where upon telling one that I got the CD, he said it was the worst record he had ever heard. And so it was - a telling visceral reaction to what would become one of the most influential records on modern day indie rock. This is the record that would also lead to the downfall of one of the most important groups of contemporary rock music.

After the three-piece Jawbreaker released three stunning full-lengths on indie labels, Unfun (Shredder, 1990), Bivouac (Tupelo/Communion, 1992) and 24-Hour Revenge Therapy (Tupelo/Communion, 1994), they did the unthinkable - sign with major label DGC. At that point, DGC was home to bands such as Nirvana and Sonic Youth, but Jawbreaker had always extolled the fact that they were staying indie. Blake Schwarzenbach (guitar and vocals), Chris Bauermeister (bass) and Adam Pfahler (drums) scored a million dollar payday for signing with DGC and they set out to record their fourth full-length. As the story unfolds, Schwarzenbach quartered himself off at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley and set to writing the music and lyrics. Bauermeister and Pfahler would come and do their requisite parts, but played a much smaller role than ever before. Another big change was instead of recording the record in a matter days, it became eight weeks - an astonishing long time at that point, especially for Jawbreaker. What emerged from those eight weeks with producer Rob Cavallo was what my friend, the die-hard Jawbreaker fan, would vomit upon.

Under the tutelage of Cavallo's sound massaging, Schwarzenbach's once raspy and off-kiltered vocals were molested to sweet perfection. Though still unique Schwarzenbach, the melody and smoothness startled long term fans. In addition, the wall of fuzzed-out guitars also was a departure of previous recordings of the band. Essentially, Dear You (1995) had all the hallmarks of a major label release from a core indie band - and that pissed people off to no end. Stories abound of people going to Jawbreaker shows just to boo the band when they played songs off of Dear You. Though the band was drifting apart to some extent before Dear You, the angry reaction they received and the marginal sales (for a major) finally but the nail in the coffin for Jawbreaker.

So what is the deal with Dear You being released again? For one, shortly after its release, it became out-of-print as DGC wasn't about to keep fresh copies of a failed record out in stores. Yet, the so-called failure and sellout of a record was on the verge of essentially starting a musical movement - emo. Scores of contemporary bands from Dashboard to Thursday to Saves the Day cite Dear You as a substantial influence on their sound. Members of Jawbreaker have countered that they were influenced by all the punk and indie bands before them so it is a natural progression. Regardless, Dear You emerged as a kind of required listening for scenesters. In what I wished I had known about, copies were being sold on places like Ebay for upwards of seventy dollars as demand skyrocketed over supply.

As Schwarzenbach went on to form Jets to Brazil (Jade Tree) and Bauermeister went to graduate school, Pfahler after some time founded Blackball Records. The first two releases was Jawbreaker's final show in San Francisco entitled 4/30/96 and a compilation of rare material entitled Etc. Since, DGC was not about re-release it, Pfahler through some serious legal wrangling final scored the rights. And now the hot commodity Dear You is presented for your listening. Besides the thirteen original tracks, the re-release includes five extra songs "Shirt," "Into You Like a Train," "Sister," "Friendly Fire" and "Boxcar." Pfahler has also included some awesome pictures in the booklet to accompany the songs. My favorite is a letter from the Oyster Bay (NY) Historical Society - oh, the Long Island connections run deep - requesting information on the song "Oyster" as they are compiling a list of music with word 'oyster' in the title. Now that is the kind of mail that I wished I received. One with Kurt Cobain wearing a Jawbreaker is another favorite. Finally, there is an enhanced portion with the video for "Fireman."

Look there is no point in actually specifically reviewing the music contained here. The tracks are all a stunning musically and lyrically dense affair that really is requisite listening. I personally am not a fan of "Oyster" and "Jet Black" (though I love the Annie Hall quote), but I still prefer the two over most other music. For many this reissue is a means to finally buy their own copy and to score several other Jawbreaker songs - songs that smoke.

At the end of the day, I'm sure my friend still hates Dear You and wishes it never came out - and others still have similar hostile feelings for it. For those who didn't get sucked into the spectacle originally surrounding the record, there is no reason not to own this. Since a Jawbreaker reunion is not in the cards for the near future, check out Schwarzenbach still keeping the faith in Jets to Brazil. However, never say never as evidenced by the Pixies reunion.