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Our top 10 Jawbreaker songs list presents ten of the best songs by a band that blended punk rock with emo, pop-punk, and post-hardcore sounds. The band was formed in 1986 by guitarist/vocalist Blake Schwarzenbach, drummer Adam Pfahler, and bass guitarist Chris Bauermeister. Initially, the band went under the moniker Rise, a name that the band used until 1988.
Jawbreaker’s Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
In 1989, Jawbreaker released its first extended play entitled Whack & Blite E.P. The EP featured three songs, including “Lawn,” “Crane,” and “Eye-5.” Jawbreaker released the EP through its own record label Blackball Records. The EP was fairly received by the punk rock fans prompting the band to continue making new releases.
The following year, Jawbreaker released its debut studio album, Unfun. Unfun was issued through Shredder Records. Songs on the album saw the band blend punk rock and pop-punk sounds. “Want,” “Busy,” and “Driven” are some of the best Jawbreaker songs from the album. Unfun achieved mild success in the United States, helping the band gain a cult following.
Jawbreaker’s Album Releases over the Years
The band returned in 1992 with its sophomore album, Bivouac. Bivouac was issued through Tupelo Recording Company and Communion Records. The album’s CD release featured two cover songs, “Pack It Up” and “You Don’t Know…” “Pack It Up” was originally released by The Pretender and featured on the band’s sophomore album.
“You Don’t Know,” on the other hand, was released by Joan Jett on her debut LP, Bad Reputation. Bivouac featured some of the best Jawbreaker songs, including “Chesterfield King,” “Bivouac,” and “Donatello.” The album saw the band blend punk rock with pop-punk, emo, and hardcore punk.
Jawbreaker went on to release its third studio album, 24 Hour Revenge Therapy, in 1994. The album came shortly after the band returned from a tour with alternative rock band Nirvana. 24 Hour Revenge Therapy featured some of the most popular songs by Jawbreaker, including “Boxcar,” “Jinx Removing,” “Condition Oakland,” and “Do You Still Hate Me?” 24 Hour Revenge Therapy was the band’s last album issued through Tupelo Recording Company and Communion Label.
The band would shortly after sign a recording contract with a major label, DGC Records. DGC Records has been home to other artists, including Blink-182, Dashboard Confessional, Escape the Fate, Jimmy Eat World, and White Zombie. Under DGC Records, the band released its 1995 LP, Dear You.
Dear You features some of the best Jawbreaker songs, including “Fireman,” “Accident Phone,” and “Sluttering (May 4th).” The album was a success having its production work done by Rob Cavallo. Rob Cavallo has also worked with other reputable artists, including Meat Loaf, Alanis Morissette, Black Sabbath, Green Day, My Chemical Romance, and Linkin Park. Unfortunately, the band disbanded in 1996, only to reunite in 2017.
After Jawbreaker disbanded in 1996, Blake Schwarzenbach went on to form the indie rock Jets to Brazil. Under Jet to Brazil, Blake released three studio albums before the band broke up. Since its reunion, Jawbreaker has not released any new albums. However, Jawbreaker’s comeback to the music scene saw the band featured in the 2017 Riot Fest. The band shared the stage with Paramore, Andrew W.K., M.I.A., and Prophets of Rage.
Jawbreaker’s Legacy
Despite its short-lived glory on the music scene in the ‘90s, Jawbreaker remains one of the most influential punk rock bands of all time. My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy have cited the band as one of their influences. Dying Wish Records issued a tribute album entitled Bad Scene, Everyone’s Fault: Jawbreaker Tribute in commemoration of the band’s significant role in the ‘90s punk rock scene. Here we present the ten best Jawbreaker songs of all time.
#10 – Jinx Removing
We open our top 10 Jawbreaker songs with the tremendous hit “Jinx Removing.” The song is featured on the band’s third studio album, 24 Hour Revenge Therapy. “Jinx Removing” was penned by the band’s guitarist/vocalist Blake Schwarzenbach. Its lyrics allude to a romantic relationship approaching its death.
“Jinx Removing” was inspired by Blake’s relationship with his girlfriend, who lived a few blocks apart. The song has been covered by Riddlin’ Kids, Saves the Day, and Deer Widow. Riddlin’ Kids’ version was featured on the 2003 tribute album Bad Scene, Everyone’s Fault: Jawbreaker Tribute.
# 9 – Sluttering (May 4th)
By the time the album Dear You was being issued, Jawbreaker’s vocalist Blake had already undergone a vocal cord surgery. Without a doubt, his vocals failed to get as raspy as the band’s previous records. This saw the band’s fans subdivide into two camps; one that appreciated his previous raspy vocals and those who were okay with his new vocal style. Despite the division in the reception of Blake’s vocals, the fans agreed on one thing; the lyrical prowess expressed on the record.
“Sluttering (May 4th),” one of the songs from Dear You, has been cited as one of the band’s bitter breakup songs. Blake himself described the song to be ugly and based on a true story. The singer also tells of the desire he had to avenge the irate love triangle, a move that saw him succeed though in a horrible turn of events.
# 8 – The Boat Dreams From The Hill
Number eight on our top 10 Jawbreaker songs list is the impressive hit “The Boat Dreams from the Hill.” The song is featured on the band’s third studio album, 24 Hour Revenge Therapy. This is yet another lyrical gem penned by the band’s guitarist/vocalist Blake Schwarzenbach.
Blake was inspired to write the song after he watched a boat on a hill during one of his times out driving in Santa Cruz. This anthropomorphic vessel gives no hope of ever getting completed. The lyrics to this song are, in themselves, a metaphor for missed and broken ambitions. Face to Face, a ‘90s punk band, released a cover of “The Boat Dreams from the Hill.” The band’s cover version was among the songs featured on the 2003 tribute album Bad Scene, Everyone’s Fault: Jawbreaker Tribute.
# 7 – Boxcar
We return to the band’s third studio album, 24 Hour Revenge Therapy, where we find the seventh pick of our top 10 Jawbreaker songs, “Boxcar.” The song is one of the most definitive punk ballads by Jawbreaker. Singer Blake revealed that he penned the lyrics to the song on the roadside while in France.
He continued to say that the song was inspired by the van he was living in and its culture. “Boxcar” was covered by The Æffect in 2003 and Reward in 2015. The Æffect’s version was featured on the 2003 tribute album Bad Scene, Everyone’s Fault: Jawbreaker Tribute.
# 6 – Want
Number six on our top 10 Jawbreaker songs list is the raving hit “Want.” The song is featured on the band’s debut album, Unfun. “Want” balances its sonic influences between punk rock and pop-punk. The song has been covered by the American punk bands Lagwagon and Name Taken. Name Taken’s cover to this song was featured on the 2003 tribute album Bad Scene, Everyone’s Fault: Jawbreaker Tribute.
# 5 – Accident Prone
Dear You brings us the fifth pick of our ten best Jawbreaker songs, “Accident Prone.” Spanning over six minutes, “Accident Prone” is the longest song featured on this album. The song serves as a perfect anthem for folks who lament their past choices. “Accident Prone” also has a soft spot for people who hope to escape their world to put to an end the haunting mistakes they made in their past. The song was covered by Ghost Thrower and the post-hardcore band, The Saddest Landscape.
#4 – Chesterfield King
“Chesterfield King” is one of the biggest songs by Jawbreaker featured on the band’s sophomore album, Bivouac. Initially, the song was featured on the band’s 1992 groundbreaking EP of the same name. “Chesterfield King” tells of fear of rejection and worry of getting intimate with a lady he is in love with. The song was covered in 2003 by the American pop-punk band Nerf Herder. Nerf Herder’s cover version is featured on the 2003 tribute album Bad Scene, Everyone’s Fault: Jawbreaker Tribute.
# 3 – Do You Still Hate Me?
The third pick of our top 10 Jawbreaker songs goes to the striking hit “Do You Still Hate Me?” The song is featured on the band’s third studio album, 24 Hour Revenge Therapy. Its lyrics were penned by the band’s guitarist/vocalist Blake. The song tells of a guy who gets a little sentimental over an unsuccessful relationship. What breaks the guy into pieces is that he tries to reach out to his significant other to try to save any love left in vain.
His efforts take a toll on him owing to the great moments he reminisces they had with his significant other. Unfortunately, his desire to reunite with his significant other is just a pipe dream. The song was covered by Set Your Dreams, John Brown Battery, Lawnmower, and Kill Your Idols. Kill Your Idol’s cover was featured on the 2003 tribute album Bad Scene, Everyone’s Fault: Jawbreaker Tribute.
# 2 – Busy
“Busy” is one of the fan-favorite tracks by Jawbreaker from the band’s early years. The song is featured on the band’s debut album, Unfun. “Busy” has its sound as a blend of punk rock and pop-punk. The song features one of the band’s best instrumentation and magnificent raspy vocal delivery by Blake. “Busy” was featured by Duvall, with the cover version featured on Jawbreaker’s tribute album.
# 1 – Fireman
Number one of our top 10 Jawbreaker songs is the alluring hit “Fireman.” The song is featured on the band’s only album released through a major record label, Dear You. While most of the band’s fans were aggravated by Jawbreaker’s move to sign with a major record label, they would later appreciate the record, thanks to solid musicianship showcased and top-notch lyricism. “Fireman” remains the most popular song by Jawbreaker. The song was covered by Wrong Body and Books Lie.
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
