Novelty is the second studio album by the American post-hardcore band Jawbox, released by Dischord Records in May 1992.[1][2] The songs "Tongues" and "Ones and Zeros" were previously released as a single, and "Static" was featured on a split 7-inch with Tar. A video was produced for the track "Cutoff."

Novelty
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 1992
RecordedSeptember 1991
January 1992
StudioOZ (Baltimore, Maryland)
Inner Ear (Arlington, Virginia)
GenrePost-hardcore
Length43:00
LabelDischord
ProducerIain Burgess
Jawbox chronology
Grippe
(1991)
Novelty
(1992)
For Your Own Special Sweetheart
(1994)
Singles from Novelty
  1. "Tongues"/"Ones and Zeros"
    Released: February 1992

Novelty was the band's first album with guitar player Bill Barbot and last album with drummer Adam Wade.[3]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular MusicStarStarStar[5]
MusicHound RockStarStarStarStarHalf star[6]

Trouser Press opined that "the mushy mix wastes the dual guitars, and [J] Robbins' vocals frequently seem dreary and monochromatic."[7] The Washington Post wrote: "Punchy but hardly pop, such songs as 'Cutoff' and 'Static' possess both focus and bristling energy."[8]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Jawbox.

No.TitleLength
1."Cutoff"3:51
2."Tracking"2:32
3."Dreamless"4:08
4."Channel 3"2:56
5."Spiral Fix"4:52
6."Linkwork"3:58
7."Chump"2:25
8."Static"4:07
9."Spit-Bite"4:52
10."Send Down"2:36
11."Tongues"3:59
12."Ones and Zeros"3:02

Personnel

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References

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  1. Washington, Dischord Records 3819 Beecher St NW; U.s.a. 703.351.7507, Dc 20007-1802. "Jawbox - Novelty (069)". Dischord Records.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. "Jawbox Announces Reunion Tour After a Decade Away". NPR.
  3. Rodriguez, Kenn (July 5, 1996). "Jawbox Takes Independent Attitude to Major Label". Albuquerque Journal. p. E18.
  4. "Novelty - Jawbox". AllMusic.
  5. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. pp. 587–588.
  6. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 596.
  7. "Jawbox". Trouser Press.
  8. Jenkins, Mark (May 29, 1992). "Dischord, Hardcore Still in Harmony". Weekend. The Washington Post. p. 24.