I didn’t truly become a Jimmy Eat World fan until after Futures, but that album was so brilliantly written from start to finish, I had to go back and give everything else a shot. That developed into a full-blown rediscovery over a two year period, and it’s fair to say I’ve been looking forward to this album since I was aware they were capable of making good music.

The delightful news is that it doesn’t disappoint. It’s not quite as introspective as Bleed American or as deliberate as Futures, but it’s equally mature. The result is an album with only a couple clear standouts, followed closely by a string of super-solid songs with precisely the potential of growing on you over time. Immediate favorites are Always Be and Electable (Give It Up), but it’s an injustice to the rest if you think for a second they don’t each have something unique and intricate to offer.

My only complaint is the usual amalgamation of separating tracks for release in various territories. Another of the album’s best hits Be Sensible was omitted from the US retail, appearing instead on the UK release. There’s a handful of other tracks also available on iTunes and various preorder sites.

But as a whole, this release accomplishes the Jimmy Eat World sound in fine form, with all the potential of becoming a favorite over time. I just hope it doesn’t take three more years for the next round of new material.

8/10, with the potential to reach 9.

Well, this is a decent place to post the first time in like 2 years or so.

Chase this light got handed to me a few weeks ago, with about 95% of the US record and a few of the UK and Japan release tracks. At this point, I’ve gotten my hands on almost everything and I have to recommend getting it all.

I’ve been a fan of Jimmy Eat World since the mid 90’s when I first heard the record Clarity, which stands as the turning point for this band, stepping away from early emo on Static Prevails and doing a brand of very tight, fast and brilliant pop. Sadly Clarity never broke, nobody digged it but me it seems, as they got dropped from their label.

The newest record is probably the first time I’ve ever felt clarity got eclipsed by any of their later efforts, although I’ve loved each one so very much. This one represents such a truly grown up sound, a point where the lead singer and primary songwriter Jim Adkins seems to have gotten to a whole new level of writing and intimacy in his lyrics. The guitars are smooth and strummed as fast as they can manage (the part of clarity that was my favorite) the drums have a nice bit of effect on it and some proper synths and edits hidden away (this is a headphone album btw). There’s this sheen to the sound, Butch Vig style, everything is big, and the whole record is so clear and in the end, so easy to listen to.

Great records fit into a particular part of your life, where those records get consumed and assimilated into your head; they aren’t listened to anymore, they just sit on your shelf. The truly singular records, are the one’s that never get old, that become the soundtrack of your life. Here, Jimmy Eat World is doing the latter.

10/10

Regards,
eg

will check it out.... and while i’m here I will say check out the new Angels & Airwaves as well. I didn’t think it could be as good as the first album but so far its on its way.

who is this jimmy and why is he eating the world?