Jawbreaker – Dear You

Sounds good, but the CD is better. It's pretty quiet but that can't be helped when trying to fit 50ish minutes onto a record. Also missing the sample on Jet Black. Still a great pressing and we probably won't see better until it's released on a double LP. A must have for Jawbreaker fans.

At various times I've owned the 1995 blue-swirl original (not terrible, but sides ran a bit long and it pretty much just sounded like the CD slapped onto vinyl), the UMe reissue in a different shade of blue-swirl from 2015 (pretty meh, and missing the "Annie Hall" dia "Jet Black") and finally this, which is markedly better than either of the others. Splitting the original album across three sides with all of the various b-sides and outtakes on the fourth is clearly the way to go. Sound is better, packaging is better, everything is better. If you're on the fence, grab it: it's worth the extra money.

I'd dump the 2015 in a heartbeat, but it does have that weird version of "Jet Black" on it, which while it mostly sucks *is* different... Music nerd completism, how I love and/or hate you.

As reissues go it's okay, but no more than just okay. Like the original 1995 press, it's just a bit too long to comfortably fit on a single LP, although the mastering on the original had a bit more power than this does. The missing Annie Hall dialogue in Jet Black is just plain weird sounding; while it's kind of cool to just concentrate on the music in the outro, I wouldn't want this to be the only version of the song I owned.

The Blackball 2xLP, in any of its issues, is a much better alterative if you can find one.

I have no idea why there is such an extreme difference in sound quality between this LP and the original from 1995. I understand the omission of the samples in Jet Black, but why does the mastering on the same recording sound so vastly different? It's like they tried to dull it down. It sounds a little hollow with too much reverb and the low end has completely disappeared adding some sibilance to the vocals. I get it, it's remastered. It still feels like a cheap knock off next to an honored original, so it should remain cheap and affordable to all.

Dont get me wrong, it's surely a decent facsimile to remedy most fans' desire to own a copy of this iconic album on vinyl but as the color knowingly suggests - next to the original - it is merely pale (blue) in comparison.

I’m fairly positive this was cut by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk. It has “Gateway / Masterdisk” in the deadwax, and the etching handwriting is the same as my pressing of Rage Against the Machine s/t, which was also cut by Ludwig.

Needless to say - this is the best I’ve heard this album, by far.

Just started listening to this band recently but I love them so much great record great pressing

Ordered this from TTL, and I’m really happy to finally own it. This is probably the best sounding Jawbreaker record in my collection. The vinyl is a beautiful opaque light blue. The cover looks nice and the record is dead quiet.

Fluance RT-81 TT
Ortofon 2M blue stylus
Fluance PA-10 preamp
Pioneer VSX-516 Receiver
Marantz SX-9 Speakers
Klipsch R-101 SW

The definitive pressing. Shout out to buying records in the mid 00’s on the VinylCollective where I got this sealed for $10 ppd.

Like others have said, very dynamic sounding pressing. Each instrument is easily discernible in the mix and it does justice to Rob’s meticulous production (especially the white hot heat tone for Blake’s guitar). Plays quietly and I’m really happy to have this in my collection.

FWIW, this version does have the Christopher Walken sample. Also, damn, the epic crescendo in Accident Prone still gives goosebumps after all these years.