Grippe is the first album by the post-hardcore band, Jawbox. It was released in May 1991 on Dischord Records. Recorded throughout 1990, Jawbox's first effort was generally brushed off by critics as a sloppy but promising debut. According to Allmusic's reviewer, Andy Kellman, it was "essentially recorded after getting enough songs together to fill out a 12" chunk of vinyl" calling it "an enjoyable, albeit introspectively brutal record." Kellman also described the music in the album as the marriage of the "earlier crunchy side of Joy Division with Throb Throb-era Naked Raygun" while highlighting their cover of the Joy Division track "Something Must Break." Jim Testa, of Trouser Press, was more positive, writing that the record was "a rich, varied, polyrhythmictour de force that still bears repeated listening." "Consolation Prize" appeared on a cassette-tape that had been floating around the hardcore scene albeit in demo form. "Bullet Park" had also been previously released in demo form, but on a Maximumrocknroll compilation, in 1989. "Footbinder" appeared on a compilation for the indie labelSimple Machines shortly before the album release. The last four tracks on the album had previously been released as a self-titled EP in 1990. The original vinyl and cassette copies of the album does not include the last five tracks. This is the only Jawbox album with the band as a trio, since second guitarist Bill Barbot would join the band shortly after the album's release for its touring cycle.
Track listing
1. "Freezerburn" - 3:39
2. "Impossible Figure" - 2:54
3. "Tools and Chrome" - 2:31
4. "Paint Out the Light" - 2:28
5. "Consolation Prize" - 3:29
6. "Grip" - 3:34
7. "Ballast" - 1:47
8. "Something Must Break" - 2:33
9. "Green-Line Delayed" - 3:33
10. "Bullet Park" - 2:40
11. "Manatee Bound" - 3:41
The following tracks were added to the album, taken from other releases:
12. "Footbinder" - 1:54
From Jawbox's self-titled first 7":
13. "Tools and Chrome" - 2:26
14. "Secret History" - 2:21
15. "Ballast" - 1:55
16. "Twister" - 2:32
Note - All songs written by Jawbox, with the exception of "Something Must Break."
