Walter Schreifels (Quicksand, Gorilla Biscuits, Rival Schools, etc)

Glassjaw’s aptly titled Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence is a soundtrack to soothe the lonely soul, torn between hope and despair, faith and deceit, the silence can be deafening and this record is for you. As they seamlessly swing from the ultra heavy to the eternal lightness of being, these songs morph into an unfiltered truth telling voice inside your head, where it’s normal to completely break down and lay your soul to bare.

Charged by vocalist Daryl Palumbo’s electric performance the album takes off with the blistering panic attack of "Pretty Lush," setting the tone early with unhinged verses offset by heartfelt melodies in the choruses. Meanwhile, the bludgeoning guitar interplay of Justin Beck and Todd Weinstock grab the listener by the throat only to float downstream to cascading sonic landscapes that would not be out of place on a Cocteau Twins record.

Drummer Sam Siegler provides the pulsing kick drum at the center of much of the record, powering songs "Siberian Kiss," "Hurting And Shoving," "Motel Of The White Locust" with rapid fire fills ready to elevate the transitions at any turn. Perhaps Glassjaw’s most secret weapon is bassist Manuel Carrero and his low key ability to switch from supporting presence to front and center featured player in an instant, his lyrical style is enough to carry the song whenever called to do so.

What strikes most about this album is not only the musical dexterity of the players but the deep emotional range of the songs. Contrast the brooding rumble of "When Eight Becomes Two Zeroes" to the post hardcore angst of "Babe" and you can get an idea of how deep the bench truly is. After getting pummeled across the room by "Lovebites And Razorlines" you might want to bathe in the calming waters of "Her Middle Name Was Boom" in all its transcendent glory. There are worlds within worlds to be discovered.

Much credit is also due producer Ross Robinson, known at the time for his work with Korn and Limp Bizkit. Robinson does a spectacular job of capturing the fiery feel of a live album deftly balanced by subtle mic placements, sweeping guitar pans and fourth wall breaking out takes to keep it intimate and fun. The production style remains faithful to the rawness that initially got Glassjaw noticed while encouraging the artfulness that would ultimately set them apart from their peers.

It’s rare that a band makes their first record with this level of confidence and quality that it would already sound like their third. Twenty years on and Everything You Need To Know About Silence maintains that timeless quality that calls back for repeated listens continues to be a treasure for new fans to discover. Play it loud.

Vinnie Caruana (The Movielife, I Am The Avalanche, etc)

I have a vivid memory of sitting in my car with Daryl in front of my parents' house and listening to the demos for EYEWTKAS. Our whole crew knew something special was about to happen. Shows used to be our friends up front straight ruining the show for everyone. Young rascals. That record came out, everything changed. The world took notice.