Jimmy Eat World Review: Chase This

By: Michelle Lyons

Posted: 11/29/07

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:

Gotta love how it's somehow all on me All the petty scenes And all the pretty things Say whatever you want 'Cause I can laugh it off.

The song makes me smile. Give it to me, I can take it, and I'll laugh amidst it all. This is the kind of attitude you can expect from Jimmy Eat World. They're not afraid to say it like it is. Most of the songs on this album are relationship oriented. Track 9, the title track, "Chase this Light" is about a transformation. The subject is suddenly able to feel alive and able again, there is a light of hope in the distance, and he's going for it. It sings:

Because tonight, the world turned in me. Because right now, I don't dare to breathe. Oh, babe, I know, it's alive and somewhere for us to find tonight, Chase this light with me.

There's often a partner in crime, a relationship involved. You feel like you're there with him, you want to find it. He sucks me in every time.

I could go on for pages about why each track is meaningful and sounds great. You've got to take my word for it and give it a listen. You'll be hooked. If you like alternative rock music, you'll love Jimmy Eat World. Give their new CD, "Chase This Light" a listen.