Novelty

Reissue! Novelty ushered in second guitarist and vocalist Bill Barbot, immediately bolstering Jawbox's might. Differing from the debut, the guitars are sharper and the riffs are more concise. Less straight-ahead, the record is also more dynamic, benefiting from more varied material. Novelty is transformed from a good record to a great one with the addition of the "Tongues" single. Full of dense swirls of swooping guitars, only to be ejected by a thick riff (the intro almost sounds like the Smiths' "How Soon Is Now"), the song separates the band from their D.C./Chicago roots while clinging to them at the same time. Call it My Bloody Minor Raygun.