Jimmy Eat World

Bleed American, Bleed Quality

Review Score:

(8/10)
Jimmy Eat World has come a long way from their early beginnings and releases of Static Prevails and Clarity. Early releases like Static Prevails include raw, powerful tracks with faster guitars and the majority of the vocals done by guitarist Tom Linton. Its follow-up, Clarity, is a little more emotional, and overall, a slower paced album that picks up where Static Prevails left off but is a little more polished and clean sounding.

"Jimmy Eat World" (formerly "Bleed American") pushes the envelope of popular music today, combining sounds of Static Prevails and Clarity and is full of potential chart-toppers. It has Static Prevails' power as heard in tracks like "Bleed American" and "Get It Faster." The 'sweetness' of Clarity is apparent in tracks like "Hear You Me," "Cautioners," and, "My Sundown."

Also included on the album are tracks like "A Praise Chorus," Jimmy Eat World's current single, and "Authority Song": two uptempo tracks that are so good, they'll have you pushing the repeat button on your CD player.

If the above information just isn't working for you, I've included a brief track synopsis below. Enjoy!

01. "Bleed American" - This is a powerful rock track with heavy guitars and powerful vocals. The lyrics may seem a little confusing but it was intended that way. Jim Adkins wrote this song out of pure emotional frustration and it just came out this way. The lyrics ARE very interesting, though, so check 'em out. This was J.E.W.'s first single from "Bleed American" in the summer of 2001.

02. "A Praise Chorus" - A great upbeat track with a great message. The lyrics tell you not to let life pass you by and to get out there and make something out of yourself, depicted in the verse "Are you gonna live your life standing in the back, looking around? Are you gonna waste your time? Gonna make a move, or you'll miss out." This song has great harmonies and a reference to the classic tune, "Crimson and Clover." This is Jimmy Eat World's current single.

03. "The Middle" - A very catchy and radio friendly song you had to have heard by now, so I'm not going to say much about this one other than it has a good uplifting message, an upbeat tempo and an amazing guitar solo. This is Jimmy Eat World's most popular single, released in late 2001.

04. "Your House" - This one's a little different than anything on the album. Its message speaks about a past relationship that ended in heartbreak for Jim. He's in the process of healing and doesn't want to revert back to his old feeling; hence the line, "If you still care at all, don't go tell me now."

05. "Sweetness" - A strong rock track with amazing vocals by lead singer Jim Adkins. The lyrics refer to a potential relationship that's a little confusing and a little elusive but seemingly anxious is Adkins of an outcome. "Sweetness" was released as a single in 2002.

06. "Hear You Me" - Easily the sweetest song on the album. This song was written for Weezer fan club proprietors, and friends of Jimmy Eat World as well as Weezer, Mykel and Carli who were tragically killed in a school bus accident. Their favorite saying, "Hear You Me," is also written in Weezer B-Side, "Mykel and Carli." Despite the tragic inspiration to this song, "Hear You Me" is a heartwarming song that can bring a tear to your eye as well as my personal favorite.

07. "If You Don't, Don't" - This song is an uptempo emotional song with cool guitar effects and sweet harmonies. It's likely to have been written about being afraid to tell someone how he really feels for fear of change to the current situation and the dissatisfaction with his lack of courage. She also may be leading him on a little. The possibility exists in lines like, "If you don't, then honey would you just say so cause I need this now more than I ever did."

08. "Get It Faster" - This is a great rock song that starts out a little dark but later opens up and rocks till the end. This song seems to be about walking out on a relationship due to confusion and argument and settling for something easier and more pleasing. Included in this song are thick guitars, nice harmonies and an awesome dueling guitar solo.

09. "Cautioners" - A dark ballad that starts with choppy bass and drums and leads into more melodious Jimmy Eat World style chops. Overall, a different sounding, but good song. The lyrics suggest a nervous expectancy for rejection although things are probably fine. Maybe even too good to be true.

10. "Authority Song" - This is a very upbeat and happy song with strong harmonies throughout. There doesn't seem to be a real lyric sructure to this song other than a basic rhyme pattern but that doesn't take away from it's catchy feel and sound. Overall, a great song.

11. "My Sundown" - This is a nice sweet slow one to finish out the CD. Its sweet harmonies and snapping are unique to this song. The lyrics speak of a willingness to make himself a better person although his efforts go unnoticed. He's also asking someone for help in his personal reform.

Overall, I feel Jimmy Eat World's self titled effort is the best release of 2001, as well as the band's best release to date. Released in the summer of 2001, "Jimmy Eat World" is still releasing singles, including its current, "A Praise Chorus." This is an album you can put into your CD player and let play through without skipping a track. Although some tracks are better than others, there isn't a track on the album you should skip.

So whether it's heavy guitars, emotional lyrics, pop hooks, or sweet slow songs you're looking for in an album, "Jimmy Eat World" will not disappoint.

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