Jimmy Eat World has been a band for 17 years and was integral in inspiring an entire generation of musicians.

Their latest offering, “Invented,” proves to be a fitting title, as the band continues to retool their trademark sound while retaining the “emo” lyricism that made them such an important act for their generation. The crunchy post-grunge guitars are still there, but a darker sheen is cast over this collection of songs than in the past. This makes it clear that this is not quite the same group that sang “The Middle.”

The record gets off to a folksy start, as the tune “Heart Is Hard to Find” is ushered in by jangling guitars – a nearly bluegrass flavor. The song even features the stomp-clap rhythms that serve to complete the Johnny Cash effect. Jim Adkins’ unique and distinctive vocals make certain that listeners are indeed hearing Jimmy Eat World and not the latest from Mumford and Sons.

The next song is the single “My Best Theory,” sounding anything but unique with a buzzing guitar riff that gives way to a medium paced, 80s-tinged pop song. Lyrically, the song is a plodding commentary on the greatness of self, a theme that seems to be getting a bit old. In fact, it becomes quickly apparent as the record goes on that this is the general direction the band is starting to head into.

It’s not that the band has lost its vitality, as “Evidence” proves. Beefy guitars are driven hard into the mix, providing enough crunchy distortion to satisfy fans of “Blue Album”-era Weezer. Unfortunately, the song is so unimaginative it will hardly stand out on the record, and at nearly 5 minutes, is so repetitive and lengthy most people will tune it out.

Jimmy Eat World redeems themselves with “Higher Devotion,” an indie-flavored tune with double-octave vocals and an infectious, semi-dance beat. It’s a relatively unexplored style of song for this band, so it comes as a welcome surprise. After all, what’s a record called “Invented” without the invention?

“Movielike” is song that is more typical to the band’s sound, and “Coffee and Cigarettes” continues that, though it catches the band sounding again like Weezer at times, particularly channeling the fellow early-90s sound.

This gives way to the most affecting song on the record, the bittersweet “Stop,” which features pretty female background vocals from Rachel Haden. Jimmy Eat World doesn’t censor themselves on this one, with Adkins singing the tale of a “combination of strong and lust.” The emo background of this band comes out, especially in the lyrics that say “You wanna make me mad? Stop ’cause I am.” Though the words come across as juvenile, the band’s musicianship puts a more mature layer over the song to help accentuate that this is a real, honest piece.

There doesn’t seem to be too much of that raw emotion throughout this record. The pop sounds of “Bleed American,” a previous album which featured the hit “The Middle,” are subdued here with a more layered, moodier luster; and the lyrical themes seem best suited for cloudier, overcast days. Jimmy Eat World retools their sound here, and it works in some ways but doesn’t in others, making for a frustrating listen.