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Jawbox

For Your Own Special Sweetheart
1994
Atlantic

Jawbox - For Your Own Special Sweetheart (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Infrarecon
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Jawbox's Dischord Page (link)

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Published on July 11th 2006

Undoubtedly entering their recording session with Ted Buckley with a great deal to prove, primarily from being Dischord Records' first act to jump ship to the majors, Jawbox came back with For Your Own Special Sweetheart, in turn delivering their strongest album, of which continues to influence bands to this day.

I am going to forgo the standard "I was surprised to see that this review wasn't on this site" intro, and the general biography of the band has already been included in my review of the Jawbox tribute. So I’ll just delve right into the music. I think this album in conjunction with their second major label album Jawbox marks the pinnacle of their sound. For those uninitiated with Jawbox’s music, they were a `90s post-punk band who took influence from several luminaries of the genre, such as Gang of Four, Mission of Burma, the Minutemen, and Big Black as well as fellow D.C. natives and former label-mates Fugazi. They were never ones to wear their influences on their sleeve however, creating their own unique hybrid of them instead. All of this was complimented with an additional sense of melody and their knack for writing a catchy chorus, which was doubtlessly important in helping them land that oh so controversial Atlantic recording contract. All this was anchored with the tenor of lead singer / guitarist J. Robbins, which ranged from soothing singing to a brash yell to a spoken word style. At times, this was also complimented with an inter-song vocal trade-off with guitarist / backup vocalist W.C. Barbot and at times having Barbot at the helm himself.

What was able to put this album above their rest was the ability to successfully mix angularity with melody without it seeming contrived or forced. Tracks like "LS/MFT" successfully display this with a catchy chorus smoothly integrated amongst dueling angular riffing. Some tracks find the band exploring one side of the dynamic more than the other, with starting track "FF=66" having little interjections of melody and tracks like "Savory" finding a place on alternative radio and MTV. Some additional highlights also include "Cooling Card," a medium-paced, more melodic track which keeps the flow of the album well. The album closes out with "Whitney Walks," a slow, more bass-oriented track which works well into easing the listener to the end of the album.

Various tracks on the album show J.’s borderline stream of consciousness style, which while slightly disjointed, never seems absurd or completely unable to be followed. Examples like “Falling down / Aging in place” from "U-Trau" which may seem slightly odd at face value, make perfect sense within the context of the song, a feat which many who attempt a similar style can’t accomplish.

Still, I don't believe this is simply a really good album, but one that will continue to be held in high esteem, as well as serve as a benchmark for even more years to come. Due to all of this, it's very fair to say that with this album Jawbox not only made their mark on the musical landscape but were also able to easily cement their place in music history.

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Posted by dboon on 2008-01-12 15:29:23
My Score:

very good

Posted by bytheslice on 2007-08-14 21:27:22
My Score:

This album is real good, but their self-titled album is better, I think.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 16, 2006 at 12:22 PM (EDT)
My Score:

savory

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 13, 2006 at 6:11 PM (EDT)

i never liked this album or the band. i don't think pavement or pixies are very good either. not sure what my problem is. i've tried, but they all just do nothing for me.

dinosaur jr is awesome. i would recommend that...

Posted by GreenVandal on 2006-07-11 22:33:38
My Score:

Shudder to Think is another great Dischord band that jumped ship for a major. They would be a good listen for those searching for more 90's post-hardcore. I also reccomend Faraquet.

Posted by notfeelingcreative on 2006-07-11 21:47:27

Great band, never liked burning airlines as much, one ogfthose bands that I'm really glad I got to see before they called it quits

Posted by feeeding5000 on 2006-07-11 17:58:57

Yeah, the best mid-'90s college rock album would have to be Never Again by Discharge.

Posted by Infrarecon on 2006-07-11 16:13:44

I hope to see Channels at the Black Cat in Oct.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 4:05 PM (EDT)

If you like Jawbox (which you should!)

Burning Airlines
Channels
Report Suspicious Activity
Chavez
The Life and Times
Shiner
etc

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 3:28 PM (EDT)

"mid-90s alternative college rock vibe"

I WHOLE-HEARTEDLY agree with picking up some Pavement.

Also, Pixies? Definitely up there with Pavement, many may argue better.

Pick up albums Surfer Rosa or Doolittle

-kliph

p.s., I also thought of Dinosaur Jr... epitome of 90s alternative rock i would think."

I agree with Kliph as far as the Pixies. I do think they are better than any band ever though, so I am biased. Pick up Doolittle first, because it is easily the most accesible Pixies record, although Bossanova is pretty close.

Best Pavement record is Wowee Zowee.

Dinosaur Jr. is so freaking great as well. Mascis' guitar work is insane.

Hum is a great 90's band too. And Neutral Milk Hotel. Shit, I could go on all day, but I'll stop.

Posted by sweetsuperior on 2006-07-11 14:58:39

bluetip!

Posted by Inspection12e on 2006-07-11 13:54:33

Burning Airlines, to the guy searching for stuff because he liked Jawbox.

Posted by Inspection12e on 2006-07-11 13:51:50

Brian: Yank Crime.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 12:22 PM (EDT)

Posted by Crookedsuperhero on 2006-07-11 10:55:28
My Score:

Hmm... i like this album, but it's definetly not perfect. Some of the songs in the middle just mess up the flow.

Still good though.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 10:53 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Classic band.
I always loved the Jawbox/Leatherface Live split.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 10:21 AM (EDT)
My Score:

great album. i listened to it last week for the first time in years thanks to seeing savory on an old episode of beavis and butthead. "butthead don't look, that's what i was gonna get you for your birthday" (when the little girl unwraps the dead dog)

as for dlj, i dig their s/t more thank yank crime, but i think swami has a new yank crime with some bonus tracks so either or is a sound buy.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 9:51 AM (EDT)
My Score:

this album is the cotton candy. My favourite Jawbox tune is still Static though.

- APK

Posted by 200_Bars on 2006-07-11 07:06:59
My Score:

"What was able to put this album above their rest was the ability to successfully mix angularity with melody without it seeming contrived or forced."

Couldn't agree more. J. Robbins can make the most dissonant-sounding riff somehow catchy and melodic.

One of my all time favorite albums.

Posted by Archangel on 2006-07-11 03:44:51

"mid-90s alternative college rock vibe"

Slanted and Enchanted or Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain by Pavement

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 1:36 AM (EDT)
My Score:

great record. good review too. i could be wrong, but i think shudder to think might have beat jawbox as the first dischord to jump to a major, not that it really matters.

and i know i'm in the minority here, but as far as DLJ goes, i prefer self-titled to yank crime.

Posted by Infrarecon on 2006-07-11 01:36:23

I like all their albums, but think their self-titled is pretty good too. It has far higher production values and is obscenely catchy, but still very good/underrated.

Posted by joeg on 2006-07-11 01:13:27

can't go wrong with jawbox.

Posted by The_Pro_From_Dover on 2006-07-11 01:12:38
My Score:

Such a bitchingly awesome band.

And Robbins is a kick-ass producer too.

Posted by SalsaShark on 2006-07-11 00:47:21

Jawbox kicked ass. For some reason, I always associate them with Lungfish, and I'm quite sure why.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 12:38 AM (EDT)

just got into this record. what other bands/albums would you also suggest from that mid-90s alternative college rock vibe?

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 12:07 AM (EDT)

I bought this for 99 cents at a used record place. Beautifully made record. Worth the 5 stars.

As for a DLJ release, check out "Yank Crime". You wouldn't be disappointed at all. After all, that's where Bullet Train To Vegas got their name.

Ramo
(Another great band)

Posted by inagreendase on 2006-07-11 00:03:04

So now that I've got most of Fugazi's discog lined up, this band and Drive Like Jehu are the next in the style I've got in mind to check out. Anyone recommend a DLJ full-length over the other?