Arguably the best album Jawbreaker ever wrote, 24 Hour Revenge Therapy (released 2/7/94) is a classic in every sense of the word. Considering how things shook out with Jawbreaker after the release of their third independent LP, this album is more than a collection of finely-tuned angst set to blistering tempos. This album achieved the ultimate feat music can, it captured a moment perfectly. The world of Jawbreaker seemed to be crumbling around the release of 24-Hour Revenge Therapy. Songwriter Blake Schwarzenbach had become sick while the band toured in Europe, forcing an early end to the overseas stint and forcing the members of the band to get day jobs. The album was recorded around the new schedules and the results sound as urgent and infectious as they did when they were released.
24 Hour Revenge Therapy was released on February 7, 1994, 30 years ago to the day. At the time of recording, Jawbreaker was hitting a brick wall in their life. Schwarzenbach had developed a polyp on his vocal cords around the release of the band’s 1992 sophomore album Bivouac. He underwent surgery in London on the growth and was back to singing only five days after the procedure. This trip to the hospital inspired a lot of 24-Hour Revenge Therapy as Schwarzenbach pens moving poetry about the experience. Arguably, this is some of the best writing the frontman has done in his entire career. The traumatic experience and the idea that Jawbreaker was only moments away from ending on his polyp’s terms inspired the frontman to jot down meaningful moments of vulnerability.
24 Hour Revenge Therapy is the last album Jawbreaker would release as an independent band. Anyone familiar with the Gilman scene the band arose from, signing to a major was a quick way to exile yourself from the bustling art scene. This album marks the departure of Jawbreaker from the scenes and crowds that made them who they are, a swan song to the gritty textures of their lo-fi recordings. While it might not have meant to be, this album is the most polished Jawbreaker has ever sounded. Songs like “Ache” feature infectious melodies that harken back to the pop-punk they saw created while performing at Gilman. “Out Patient” and “Condition Oakland” explore the surgery Schwarzenbach underwent just before recording their third and final indie LP.
While Jawbreaker left their legacy with their underwhelming major label debut Dear You, 24 Hour Revenge Therapy will always be right next door to remind us of the magic of the band. The band’s third LP captured a transitional period for one of the most exciting young bands of their time. Jawbreaker went into their major label contract with a bang, 24 Hour Revenge Therapy is an explosive record that was hellbent on getting its message across. A message of mortality and perseverance is set to grainy textures, powerful guitars, and neck-breaking drumming. 30 years have gone by and it might be safe to say that 24 Hour Revenge Therapy is not only the best Jawbreaker release, but it is an essential in the history of punk and its transition to the mainstream.
