Jimmy Eat World Review: Chase This
Michelle Lyons
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Opinion
When it comes to music I'm a chameleon. I like a little bit of everything. I'll try it all once. My heart always finds its way back to one genre though… rock/pop. That sound that can't quite be just rock or just pop, but a constantly shifting balance of both, you might hear it called alternative rock. That's where my home is. One of my favorite artists is Jimmy Eat World. I was given the treat of a newly released album last month. I think it's worth a listen and I'll tell you why.
Jimmy Eat World has humble roots. The band was formed in Mesa, Arizona in 1993. Singer/guitarist Jim Adkins and drummer Zach Lind, who had been friends since kindergarten, joined forces with guitarist Tom Linton and bass player Mitch Porter to try their hand at music. In its early years, the band emulated the style of their punk-rock influences, eventually recording and releasing three singles and a full-length on local label Wooden Blue Records.
The name Jimmy Eat World did not refer to lead singer Jim Adkins. Tom Linton's younger siblings, Ed and Jimmy, fought constantly when they were younger. Jimmy, who was stronger and heavier, would usually win. In one instance, Ed, as revenge, drew a picture with crayons of Jimmy shoving the entire world into his gaping mouth with the caption, "Jimmy eat world."
The band has released three other albums aside from their latest release, "Chase This Light." "Clarity," "Bleed American," and "Futures" are also excellent albums in their own right. I can't pick a favorite, but I have to say the latest is certainly competing to be the greatest. The album is not a far departure from what Jimmy Eat World fans are used to, however it still takes on a distinct sound. Eleven tracks take the listener on a slew of emotions: longing, disappointment, desperation, regret, pain, and relief. I could go on. Some songs leave you wondering, others make you want to get up and do something constructive. Some songs might mellow you, others motivate you. You can't help but tap your foot or wiggle your sides along with the beat. There are a few tracks that stand out for me. The second, "Let It Happen" chants:
Jimmy Eat World has humble roots. The band was formed in Mesa, Arizona in 1993. Singer/guitarist Jim Adkins and drummer Zach Lind, who had been friends since kindergarten, joined forces with guitarist Tom Linton and bass player Mitch Porter to try their hand at music. In its early years, the band emulated the style of their punk-rock influences, eventually recording and releasing three singles and a full-length on local label Wooden Blue Records.
The name Jimmy Eat World did not refer to lead singer Jim Adkins. Tom Linton's younger siblings, Ed and Jimmy, fought constantly when they were younger. Jimmy, who was stronger and heavier, would usually win. In one instance, Ed, as revenge, drew a picture with crayons of Jimmy shoving the entire world into his gaping mouth with the caption, "Jimmy eat world."
The band has released three other albums aside from their latest release, "Chase This Light." "Clarity," "Bleed American," and "Futures" are also excellent albums in their own right. I can't pick a favorite, but I have to say the latest is certainly competing to be the greatest. The album is not a far departure from what Jimmy Eat World fans are used to, however it still takes on a distinct sound. Eleven tracks take the listener on a slew of emotions: longing, disappointment, desperation, regret, pain, and relief. I could go on. Some songs leave you wondering, others make you want to get up and do something constructive. Some songs might mellow you, others motivate you. You can't help but tap your foot or wiggle your sides along with the beat. There are a few tracks that stand out for me. The second, "Let It Happen" chants:
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