Dec
29
2011

Jimmy Eat World

Thursday, December 29, 2011 - 08:30:18 pm
(Posted Under: Tempe Music Scene Tempe Music Scene, Music Music)
It's pretty safe to say that 2011 will be remembered as the year I rediscovered Jimmy Eat World. And more to the point, discovered Chase This Light.

"Rediscovered" feels like the right term to use, and also feels vaguely strange. Because at the turn of the last decade, I pretty much hated the band. While barely having heard any of their material. It wasn't their fault. At the time I was in a situation where I continually heard about them, but never asked to. It drove me crazy. And incubated a healthy dose of resentment, albeit unfairly, towards a band I hardly knew. That might seem weird. Trust me, you had to be there.

At some point after Bleed American came out, I made a point to borrow a copy. Because, while I was steadfast on the fact that I despised the band, I did also realize the basis of that judgement was somewhat laughable. As stubborn as I can be on somethings, given the opportunity, I'll generally come around to at least educating my stance. I'd give this CD a listen, see what all the "fuss" was about, and be able to say "they suck", now with something to back up my highly opinionated opinions.

Of course, contrary to what I expected, I kinda dug the record. I spun it a bunch, then forgot about it for a little while. A few weeks or months later on a trip with friends in early in 2002, I had a "I know this song!" moment while driving around a beach town whose name escapes me. But I couldn't place the song. It annoyed me the whole long weekend, knowing that once I got home and was able to research it, I wouldn't remember anything about it (y'know, the days of not having Google in your pocket).

But clearly, that was when The Middle was released to radio in Australia, and I heard it again the following week and able to place it as Jimmy Eat World. Which re-ignited my interest in Bleed American. It was definitely considered by myself as one of those "solid" records. Not necessarily my favorite record of all time, but still one that you can put on and not have to skip a lot, if at all. I hold records like that in high regard, regardless of how often I spin them, because they're rare to come by. But once I do find such a record, they come to mind for years to come, even if it's not every other week.

And that was true for Bleed American. I never "followed" Jimmy Eat World, or thought to look into them any further - partially because I just had other forefront music things going on - but I always went back to that album throughout the years.

By the time I'd hit Arizona, I did consciously tell myself that I should investigate the Jimmy Eat World thing. The way I looked at it, I'd already devoured so much from around here by that point, I might as well branch out into that. And hey, I really liked Bleed American. Plus, it'd be a lot easier one town away from where they hail. But the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and while that idea was more forefront in my mind than ever before, putting it into action was an entirely different thing. In my defense, I kinda had a lot going on in my life as it was [wink], and anyway, I didn't know where to start. Someone suggested Futures to me which helped. Still, life kept getting in the way of acting on that suggestion.

Not that long after, Invented was released. And there lay my opportunity to come good on checking them out beyond that one record I had. There was some buzz in these parts, so it was in my face and I wasn't going to forget about it. And there was some excitement about checking out something that had just came out. All made for a good combination, and I did check out Invented not long after it came out.

It had me at "hello" (unlike that other album the same day [wink] ). And let's not bullshit here, it was Coffee And Cigarettes that did all the work. Love at first sight...err, listen...that's what it was. There are a select number of songs that make me want to burst with uncontrollable emotion, and Coffee And Cigarettes is one of them. The fucking perfect pop song. The one that on the very first listen, once it's over, you can't hit the repeat button fast enough. As simple as it gets. Coffee and cigarettes.

The final months of last year were good for songs like that. Just over a month later Jason Longo came out with Puncher's Chance. Although Katie swears we'd seen him play it before, it wasn't until Thanksgiving - right before the CD release - that I took notice of the song. It immediately gave me the exact same reaction as Coffee And Cigarettes. There must be some formula to it. It definitely includes four chords and eighth notes, I know that much. And lyrics that make you feel like you're gasping for breath while screaming them for dear life, bleeding every word. Both songs definitely have both. But I digress...

Overall I didn't think Invented was quite as consistent as Bleed American. But that didn't seem to matter much - it was in high rotation last year, and with a few days left, it's on course to be the album I've played the most this year. I guess it being not "quite as consistent" comes down it having more songs on it that are different than I'd typically listen to, at least in comparison to Bleed American. But then again, I've kind of embraced and enjoyed that difference, which I think speaks to why it's ended up as one of my top albums over the past 12 months. As much as I hate change with a passion, a trait deeply ingrained in my being, it's hard to look back at my life over the past however many years and deny how much I've revealed in and fed off difference. Either way, Invented has been a big player of 2011.

Once I was able to put down Invented long enough, the obvious place to go was to Futures, going back to the recommendation from a friend. Mind you, it wasn't until the start of this year that I managed to get there. Overall, Futures seemed a little more hit and miss to me. But looking at the track list, not so much in quantity. I think favorites vs. not weigh up about the same as with Invented. It comes more from the extremes on both ends of the spectrum. Forgetting Coffee & Cigarettes for a moment, the absolute highs on Futures are above that of Invented and the few lows are certainly lower than Invented. And by lows, I mean Drugs Or Me, which I have to skip. But the highs kill me (no pun intended), moreso than on Invented. Work, Kill and Polaris slay me. Pretty much equally. And in that "no this one is the best" way, until the next one comes on. Pure brilliance. Then you have The World You Love which virtually ranks as high as those other three in terms of making you want to bleed. This record came out in 2004, and I'm just discovering it this year. That hurts.

Beyond Futures, I'd given Chase This Light a few spins earlier in the year. But it wasn't until midway through this year that I really took notice of it. I clearly remember being in Old Town Scottsdale, having just realized how great the album was. When it comes to consistency, forget Bleed American. Nevermind how the songs on Futures kill me. Chase This Light is my favorite Jimmy Eat World record. Or at least it is right now. But I don't realistically see that changing. The whole record blows me away, there is not a song on it remotely skip-able. Just like with Futures, only more, I'm questioning where this record has been my whole life.

Delving backwards further into their catalog has actual proved a different experience. It's actually compelling the degree to which I don't care for the majority of material prior to Bleed American, in contrast to how much I love everything since. It's pretty much indirectly proportional. And not through lack of giving it a chance. It just isn't my thing, for the most part. But that's fine, given how everything (virtually) since is - and more.

I just wish it hadn't taken this long to realize it. Which isn't the first time. And probably won't be the last.

"I've always been an easy kill. I guess I always will."
Now Playing: Jimmy Eat World - Big Casino

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