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Band: Jimmy Eat World Rating: ***/***** Track picks: Big Casino, Let It Happen, Dizzy When Jimmy Eat World released their introspective and dark "Futures" in 2004 as a follow-up to the dance floor anthem-laden "Bleed American", the band took a step backwards in the commerical realm of alternative rock music. Jimmy Eat World will perhaps always be known by "The Middle" and "Sweetness", both off of the 2002 release. The band's catalog dates back to 1996, when they released their first full-length, the relatively unknown "Static Prevails". Their fifth full-length, "Chase This Light", attempts to venture away from the emo tendencies that engulfed "Futures", which only went gold. This release is more upbeat, and has shedded the undertones that made "Futures" so great. This release is decidedly average, and an obvious attempt to recapture the platinum magic of "Bleed American". This album is light and fun, still as infectious and catchy, but is missing something. The record seems plastic; it is toned down in many aspects, making for a less interesting piece than previous works. Jim Adkins, the band's frontman, shows little emotion at all, barely rarely his voice. Besides the vocals being subdued, the drumming from Zach Lind is reminiscent of a drum machine, and Tom Linton does not belt out soaring guitar riffs (think "Bleed American" or "Pain"). When this album feels like it is let loose, it succeeds. The album's opener, "Big Casino", is a soaring anthem that Jimmy Eat World has become so good at creating. Afterwards, the album feels like a caged lion--it wants to break out into something bigger, but is held back by record company standards and the desire to re-create older albums. The disc does have it's bright spots. "Let It Happen" is a catchy jam, showcasing Jimmy Eat World at their finest: bouncing guitars, emo vocals, and sing-a-long choruses. "Dizzy" is the most emotional the band manage to get on the album, concluding the album in impressive fashion. For each bright spot, however, there is a moment where the album feels forced. "Feeling Lucky" is basically filler; at 2:33 it is the shortest Jimmy Eat World song, and perhaps the shallowest. Many of the tracks are marginal; they are palatable, but nothing that will change the face of alternative and emo music. While some consider "Futures" a step back in the band's career, due to it's inaccesiblity, "Chase This Light" may be a step even further back due to it's lack of creativity. |
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