CMJ New Music Report 2.15.99

    Waves of delicate melancholia break all over Clarity. The record's prevailing mood is downcast, but Jimmy Eat World's delivery is striking enough to make you throw down that proverbial razor blade. Propelled by tinny, clangy guitar riffs, Clarity is excessively dynamic, yet it's also a bit too tame. On this promising effort, vocalist Jim Adkins is smart enough to leave his sweater and black specs at the door, thankfully sparing us any ultra-serious emocore wailing. Each song still feels like an outpouring of underscored emotion, though, as if the band members have unzipped their chests to let their hearts spill onto the floor. Clarity is the perfect soundtrack to feeling overwhelmed; when you're reeling, the album is an adequate salve to dull the pain. by: Amy Sciarretto