J. Robbins of Jawbox announces new solo album, Basilisk

J. Robbins of Jawbox has announced a new solo album. On February 2, he’ll release Basilisk, his sophomore album, via Dischord. The first new song he’s shared is titled “Exquisite Corpse.” Hear it below.

Robbins said about the album in a statement, “2020 gave us the pandemic, which despite all its awfulness also gave me a lot of opportunities to write and demo music – but everyone was terrified to get into the same room together to play. Finally, around February of 2021, I called up Brooks Harlan and drummer/dear friend and long-time collaborator Darren Zentek and asked, if we all tested negative for a couple of days in a row, remained masked, etc, would they be down to meet me at the studio and do a 2-day session where we work up the songs on the spot, hit record, and see how it turns out. Brooks and Darren were into the idea – we were all in full cabin fever mode at that point and dying to do anything – so I sent them the demos and we did it. The musical connection had always already been there, but the energy that came from all being in the same room doing this together – something we had just spent a year wondering if we’d ever get to do again – was wonderful. It felt like having been lost in the desert, and then finding an oasis. I’ve never been so happy with a session – both the results and the experience, and the outcome was exactly what I had wanted: something more stripped down and very immediate.”

Jawbox’s For Your Own Special Sweetheart is featured on our list of 91 Essential Alternative Rock Albums of the ’90s.

J. Robbins Basilisk tracklist:

Automaticity
Exquisite Corpse
Last War
Gasoline Rainbows
Not The End
Old Soul
A Ray of Sunlight
Deception Island
Sonder
Open Mind
Dead Eyed God

J. Robbins tour dates:

2.15.24 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
2.16.24 – Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
2.17.24 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
2.18.24 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Government Center
2.20.24 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool
2.21.24 – Troy, NY @ No Fun
2.22.24 – Medford (Boston), MA @ Deep Cuts
2.23.24 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
2.24.24 – Washington, DC @ Comet Ping Pong