Jawbreaker: Dear You 12″

Description

After a trio of underground classics built a fanatical fanbase and a critical buzz, Jawbreaker hit the majors with its 1996 debut (and ultimately swan song) on Geffen Records. While shunned by many of the Cali band’s hardcore fans at the time–the melodies were purer pop, Blake Schwarzenbach’s affected accent more pronounced-DEAR YOU would go on to be cited as one of the forefathers of the ’00s brand of emo.

Its re-evaluation is overwhelmingly deserved; DEAR YOU contains some of the sharpest, most psychotically searing lyrics the soon-to-be English professor Schwarzenbach ever composed. While opening track “Save Your Generation” is a tad preachy and obvious, the neurotically sinister “Accident Prone,” the ultimate love/hate song “Fireman,” and the Christopher Walken-sampling stalker-y “Jet Black” more than make up for it. Perhaps the best moment comes near the end on “Bad Scene, Everyone’s Fault,” where in pure first-wave punk style, Schwarzenbach excoriates a 1990s hipster party tableau.

• Format Type: 12″