Government Issue, D.C.'s veteran punk outfit, broke up in 1989, which lead to J. Robbins forming Jawbox alongside Kim Coletta and Adam Wade. The band put out two records on Dischord but signed with Atlantic in 1994, and this self-titled LP is Robbins & gang's final effort. Moving from a legendary indie imprint to a major label was a bold move, but Jawbox took its Dischord-bred sound to the next level w/ the help of Atlantic's resources. It put out the lauded 1994 full-length For Your Own Special Sweetheart, with Jawbox, which would be the band's final album, followed two years later. Jawbox sounds fuller and cleaner than previous works, and the songwriting consists of varying tempos (slower, groovier "Iodine" is a highlight), dynamic guitar work, and furious drumming. It's a loaded body of work and essential listening for post-hardcore fans. Check out "Mirroful," "Desert Sea," "Absenter," and "Iodine."

• music label: DeSoto Records 1996 / 2015

reviewed by singing in japanese 01/19