Jets to Brazil - Orange Rhyming Dictionary

Perfect in every way.

This is erudite, poetic rock of the highest calibre. Emotional but not sensitive or twee. It's well constructed but never seems forced. Lyrically, it's pure poetry shorn of all excess. Not a word is wasted.

When Jets to Brazil rock it's infectious (The anti authoritarian 'Morning New Disease') When they get dark it's utterly heartbreaking (The study of suicide on 'Conrad' is chilling, "She checks in, in dwindling daylight. A week up front, asks not to be bothered. The registry will show her mothers name.") On 'Sea Anemone' it's marriage break up. On 'King Medicine' it's drugs.

They save the best for last, the redemptive and uplifting 'Sweet Avenue.' A song of such beauty and perfection the world stops when it comes on. "Tasting you in rain i, walk down to the train, trying not to look down. This day could some day be, an anniversary, everything is light and sound."

Yes, Jets to Brazil are an Emo band... But they are distincly 'old-school' Emo: emotional, erudite and balanced rather than emotional, attention-seeking and sullen. Jets to Brazil are an Emo band in the same way that Propaghandi are pop punk.

Please, do yourself a favour and investigate this great album. October 28, 2008

Jetbreaker

Blake Schwarzenbach was basically the sole creative force behind both Jawbreaker and JTB, so the comparisons are basically "early" Blake vs. "later" Blake. He has produced great-sounding records with both bands. The more I listen to this guy, the higher he moves up in my personal ranking of the all-time great artists. His songs come in many different forms, his lyrics range from abstract to so simple that they're almost corny, but totally sincere. I can't get it out of my car's six CD changer after over a year. Buy it. February 3, 2006

Not Jawbreaker but has Jawbreaker-esque moments

I know this is not Jawbreaker but since Blake Schwarzenbach wrote the songs on this album it has Jawbreaker moments. This album has a more upbeat feel overall and is real mellow. No really rocking tunes but it has a strong solid tone through out and if you like great guitar work and great vocals this fits perfectly with you. Unlike Jawbreaker it doesn't slam you down with great hooks and fast pace. This album lulls you in quietly and really makes you think. I think in someways this was a natural progression for Blake. April 29, 2005

Better than i thought it would be.

I'm glad I bought the Orange Rhyming Dictionary. It is a pleasant suprise to hear a different sound from the frontman, and see how he has distanced himself from his previous sound. I am a fan of jawbreaker too, but it would have been sad if the new band had sounded like crappy Jawbreaker. April 9, 2005

Wakey Wakey, Eggs and Blakey!

When I first saw Jawbreaker in 1992, they were opening for That Dog at the legendary Jabberjaw. I bought a 4-Fs t-shirt and a limited edition silk-screened poster that would probably be worth a lot on Ebay. In 1995, when they were passing through on tour with the Foo Fighters, a friend of mine was disappointed to find out that their only show in town was sold out. But, I pulled a few strings and got us two front row tickets to go see them at the Palace!

A few years later, I was accepted to Vassar and studied literature (and to be honest, in retrospect I kind of regret not goin' the anthro path). After graduating with honors in 2002 (way to go, me!), I went to our local indie record store to sell the CDs that failed to stand the test of time, among which was a copy of 24 Hour Revenge Therapy. By coincidence, Jets to Brazil was on tour and playing in town that day. Blake walked in and when he saw me, he said "Hey, I remember you from the show at the Palace, you were in the front row, etc.", and as we were talking, I had to conceal the CD behind me. I pretended, instead, that I was there to sell back some experimental japanese psyche records. Anyway, I saw the Jets play that night, and bought a copy of this album on double orange marble vinyl. And guess what -- not too shabby! It's much more mature than anything Jawbreaker recorded, and I'd even go as far to say this: Blake has graduated, in a sense, from Jawbreaker, as I have graduated from Vassar (both of us with honors, too, I should mention again). December 26, 2004

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