15 Greatest Emo Albums Of All Time
9. Jawbreaker - Dear You
The much-missed New York three piece bowed out with a change of pace. Made in the wake of frontman Blake Schwarzenbach's vocal cord surgery, the frontman’s voice is notably different, and the production and slower, gloomier songwriting combine to make an album fans were initially less than fond of.
In retrospect, it’s a great piece of work, distinct from the rest of their catalogue, but full of vital material. In lieu of purist punk rage are more thoughtful pieces like “Accident Prone”, a death wish of a song with a catchy yet distressing chorus.
Elsewhere the likes of “Million” see the protagonist barely keeping himself together, a notion given credence by Schwarzenbach's now-softer vocals. The singer’s frustration at not being able to perform as he would like is palpable, and actually adds to the timbre of the album.
The band broke up shortly after this, and tension creeps into the album at all times. The album was hard work in the making, and was a disappointment for the band in their major label debut (another bone of contention for fans). It was, and is, deserving of retrospective recognition.