Released On: Atlantic Records, 1994
Jawbox were a typical victim of the Alternative Revolution; after achieving indie cred on the legendary Dischord label, they released two great but under-selling albums and imploded. In Jawbox's case it's particularly hard to take, as their major label debut, For Your Own Special Sweetheart, is a pinnacle of indie rock circa the mid-90s. It takes Fugazi-esque post-hardcore and makes it sound absolutely massive. With a major-label recording budget behind them it avoids the middle-heavy muddle that other albums of the period trapped themselves in. Each instrument is distinct and separate, which for a 1994 band with their sound is impressive (*cough* Sunny Day Real Estate *cough*). It proves that sometimes it isn't necessary to constantly progress; it perfects the sound that at the time was still being called "emo". It would never have succeeded anyway, not as a major label record; it's hooks aren't obvious enough, it's charms weren't as straightforward and easy for the masses to digest as Green Day and the Offspring would prove to be. It's simply a blessing that some idealistic A&R guy at Atlantic took a chance on them in the first place.
Where You'd Know It From: You were an indie-kid in the mid-90s, you remember when emo wasn't a dirty word, you got caught up in reissue fever in the late Oughts. "Savory" was on MTV for a while in '94.
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Track Listing:
1. FF=66 (2:41)
2. Savory (4:39)
3. Breathe (2:47)
4. Motorist (3:43)
5. LS/MFT (2:50)
6. Cooling Card (2:51)
7. Green Glass (3:26)
8. Cruel Swing (2:16)
9. Jackpot Plus! (2:34)
10. Chicago Piano (3:30)
11. Reel (3:39)
12. U-Trau (3:10)
13. Whitney Walks (3:57)
("Savory")
("Cooling Card")
("Motorist")
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