Drexel University Newspaper 8.1.01
Jimmy Eat World feed your need for pop rock tunes For the past couple of months, I couldn't stop listening to demos of Jimmy Eat World's third full length album, Bleed American. They were just amazing pieces of work the group (which consists of Jim Adkins, lead singer/guitar; Tom Linton, guitar; Rick Burch, bass; and Zach Lind, drummer) has come up with since their shimmering 1999 album Clarity. That album didn't get a lot of promotion because it wasn't pushed by Capitol Records, so the band shopped around for another record label. They finally found a home with DreamWorks Records.
When Bleed American was finally unveiled July 25, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the album. I wasn't disappointed one bit, except for a few re-recordings. They were different from the demos, but I guess I will have to get used to them.
The album kicks off with the single "Bleed American" which just plain rocks. It's a good opener for the record considering it has the same title as the album and starts off strong. "Praise Chorus" is another track that has a rocking anthem beat. My favorite part of this song is when the words "crimson and clover" are sung repeatedly and Adkins goes on to sing lyrics that contain titles of songs by Bad Company, Motley Crue, Madness, and They Might Be Giants.
There are two great, simple, pop rock, somewhat sugarcoated songs on this record: "The Middle" and "The Authority Song". The former has a catchy chorus and there's a nice, whirly guitar solo. As for "The Authority Song", I instantly fell in love with it. It has an infectious beat to it, the "why" part sung between the verses is quite captivating, and it's also very reminiscent of John Mellencamp's "Hurts So Good". Ironically enough, Mellencamp also has a song entitled "Authority Song". When listening to that song, I envision people getting up on tables at '50s-style diners and just dancing to it while the jukebox blares. Hell, I'd join, too, and I don't even like to dance.
"Sweetness" is another tune I loved even before I heard it on this album (I first heard it when I saw Jimmy Eat World back in October). Words can't describe it since I always find myself singing along to the "Whoa" part that's between every other line or so. I was somewhat surprised that the moody song "Get it Faster" was on this album. The intro drags out a bit, with a scary sound and an accompanying deep thumping sound. Then it delves into a moody, hard melody with a great metallic guitar solo that sounds like the one in Def Leppard's "Photograph". Although it may seem like Bleed American has more of a hard rock feel to it when compared to Clarity, there are two songs that boast smooth, flowing melodies. One of them is "If You Don't, Don't" and the other is "Hear You Me". "If You Don't, Don't" is the type of song that just drags out, although in a good way since the harmonies lay over one another. As for "Hear You Me", there's a certain feeling that comes over me sending chills up my spine. That track reminds me a lot of Jimmy Eat World's song from Clarity, "Just Watch the Fireworks".
This album may not seem as deep lyrically and musically as Clarity, but I do have a feeling this album will give Jimmy Eat World all the attention they deserve. It seems to have been working so far, since Bleed American was the main CD review in a recent issue of Rolling Stone magazine.
Link To:http://entertainment.thetriangle.org/2001/08/03/jimmyeat.html