Perhaps the Steve Albini-helmed (although all production credits went to Fluss, Albini’s cat) 24 Hour Revenge Therapy is the easy choice when it comes to picking the best work from Jawbreaker. Bivouac, originally released in 1992, is a strong contender for some of the most ardent fans of the influential emo group, however, and understandably so. A darker, grittier effort compared to 1990’s Unfun (which was a great album also), Blake Schwarzenbach (also of Jets To Brazil) & gang present an inventive brand of punk rock here, and the emotional depth, as well as the lyrical prowess displayed on the 9-tracker sound as captivating and refreshing as they did almost 25 years ago. “Chesterfield King” is probably the most popular song off of the record, but don’t miss out on “Donatello,” “P.s. New York is burning,” “Big,” and the title track.

• black vinyl pressing
• remastered sound
• digital download included
• music label: Blackball Records 2012

reviewed by nakaveli 11/2017