Jandek - The Humility of Pain - Review

The Humility of Pain is very similar to I Threw You Away, and I'm having a hard time deciding the score for this album because it’s almost as good, but I think I'll give it a score a little bit lower because it’s missing some of the things that made I Threw You Away great, and the lyrics aren’t as straightforward or relatable here. The vocals are still howling and despairing, like a cry for help, and the guitar is pretty much the same, but there’s less reverb on this one. There are no harmonica parts, but I do still feel that his vocal performance is very strong and makes this era a lot more interesting than some of the early acoustic records, partly because of how dramatic the vocals are and how certain words and phrases get more emphasis and become more memorable. 

The lyrics on this album feel less introspective and are more like a message to someone else. Jandek seems to be giving advice to someone to stay out of trouble on the title track, for instance. “I Want to Look In” is indecipherable, but it has a memorable verse: 

We’ll walk the spectrum

With lights on the walls

The floors are dead now

And that makes them alive

They love you so much

How could you turn away?

“I Can’t Leave a Clue” is a more optimistic song with Jandek hoping for a miracle and wanting to erase “what he did” in his past. “Share My Life” is straightforward and it’s about the protagonist searching for a soulmate. I like these lyrics a lot - some of the best on the album - although of course Jandek’s desperate delivery gives everything a different meaning. 

You’re missing somebody

You’re missing me

There’s nothing to weigh you down

I don’t have a past

Let’s make the clock disappear

There’s only one thing to see

You’re missing somebody

You’re missing me

“You Know You Need” seems to be “advice” again. I like the metaphor of cleaning out the house and taking out the things you don’t want as a representation of being your true self. The protagonist talks about his relationship with the addressee and how they should appreciate his presence more, but not saying that outright. Certain details, like a friend that he’d die for, are mentioned. It feels very personal; it reminds me of my lyrics in that way, in that it’s ultra specific about a person, but vague enough that someone who doesn’t know about the situation can’t exactly interpret it spot-on. It’s true that a lot of Jandek lyrics feel like something that’s too personal to be listened to. Although, I'm not sure how I feel about “the refrigerator is dead and gone” as a closing line. Maybe it’s genius?

While there are plenty of great moments on this album, it overall doesn’t measure up to its predecessor I Threw You Away in terms of lyrics, memorable moments, and musicality, but it’s certainly still a pretty great Jandek album and I guess I'm looking forward to what this era brings next. 

7/10

Essential album?: No

Essential songs:

Share My Life