Grippe

• Artist: Jawbox
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1991 05
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Rock

Review

Essentially recorded after getting enough songs together to fill out a 12" chunk of vinyl, Grippe's achievement was obscured increasingly after each successive Jawbox LP. That doesn't prevent it from being an enjoyable, albeit introspectively brutal record. J. Robbins might address a "you" during "Paint Out the Light" and "Tools and Chrome," but a self-flagellating nature can be detected throughout. That's what initially separated the band from their post-hardcore peers; instead of railing against authority and other oppressors, Jawbox pointed the finger at themselves.

Musically it's their least distinct, marrying the earlier crunchy side of Joy Division with Throb Throb-era Naked Raygun. It's a pretty convincing synthesis, pulled off well by relative newcomers Kim Coletta (bass) and Adam Wade (drums), who sound well-honed enough for Robbins' effective Chicago-derived (NR, Effigies, etc.) guitar. Though most of the record doesn't require a skip button, the true highlight is a cover of Joy Division's "Something Must Break." Where Ian Curtis sounded typically cold and detached on the original, Robbins gradually boils over with each successive verse, draining any possible emotion from the song. As far as taking a song to another level, it rivals Hüsker Dü's explosive cover of the Byrds' "Eight Miles High." Overall, a promising debut.

[The CD version adds the band's debut 7" EP, featuring two early versions of Grippe songs and another rackety self-browbeater, "Twister."] ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Freezerburn	Jawbox	Jawbox	(3:39)
Impossible Figure	Jawbox	Jawbox	(2:54)
Tools and Chrome	Jawbox	Jawbox	(2:31)
Paint Out the Light	Jawbox	Jawbox	(2:28)
Consolation Prize	Jawbox	Jawbox	(3:29)
Grip	Jawbox	Jawbox	(3:34)
Ballast	Jawbox	Jawbox	(1:47)
Something Must Break	Joy Division	Jawbox	(2:33)
Green-Line Delayed	Jawbox	Jawbox	(3:33)
Bullet Park	Jawbox	Jawbox	(2:40)
Manatee Bound	Jawbox	Jawbox	(3:41)
Footbinder	Jawbox	Jawbox	(1:54)
Tools and Chrome [Alternate Take]	Jawbox	Jawbox	(2:26)
Secret History	Jawbox	Jawbox	(2:21)
Ballast [Alternate Take]	Jawbox	Jawbox	(1:55)
Twister	Jawbox	Jawbox	(2:32)

Credits

Jawbox (Arranger), Jawbox (Band), Jawbox (Main Performer), Eli Janney (Engineer), Eli Janney (Mixing), Jay Robbins (Guitar), Jay Robbins (Vocals), Jay Robbins (Mixing), Kim Coletta (Bass), Kim Coletta (Guitar (Bass)), J. Robbins (Guitar), J. Robbins (Vocals), J. Robbins (Mixing), Barrett Jones (Engineer), Shawn Scallen (Photography), Adam Wade (Drums), Russ Honican (Photography)