It is possible that Jimmy Eat World is not just one of the greatest bands of our generation, but also one of the greatest bands of all time. This might be a hefty statement to make, to be sure, but one which their strong discography wholeheartedly supports. Therefore many fans looked forward to their first album in three years, Chase This Light, with nothing short of anticipation and excitement.
Upon first listen, it is striking how poppy the record is overall. After leaning toward a rock sound with Futures, as well as incorporating a brooding ambiance on the Stay on my Side Tonight EP, admittedly the album’s fresh sound will catch many listeners by surprise. While much of it can be traced back to the Bleed American era, some of it is even more pop-friendly than that. The production is glossy with a radio sheen— a far cry from the rawness of Clarity — yet it fits their new sensibilities here. On the other hand, the lyrics, while again well-written, never conjure the impact past releases did.
Surprisingly, the two strongest songs are the first and the last. Probably their best opener to date, “Big Casino” is a near flawless song, and my favorite single of the year. Easily the heaviest song on the record, it features a huge chorus, tight drumming and several memorable one-liners. It’s hard not to get pumped up after hearing it played.
On the other side, “Dizzy” ends things on almost as strong a note. The big production — incorporating a string section and piano — lends the track an epic feel, and the lyrics are some of the best on the disc. All of this makes “Dizzy” the “emotional” song of the record, and, though it never hits as hard as “Hear You Me” or “23,” it is quickly becoming a fan favorite.
“Let it Happen” is another standout song off of the album. While not as fast paced as “Big Casino,” the slower verses work well as a transition to the swelling chorus, which is another example of lead singer/guitarist Jim Adkins’ vocal talent. Meanwhile, the opening handclaps on “Here it Goes” immediately call out attention, setting the stage for a “dancy” song unlike any the band has ever written.
“Always Be” and “Carry You” show the band’s skill with mid-tempo numbers. The former is an underdog love song yet still projects an uplifting feel, while the latter incorporates acoustic guitar and includes a different approach from Adkins on the chorus, who stretches out a few of the key words. “Chase This Light” is the slowest song on the album — again led by an acoustic — and is proof the band is not just good at writing rock songs.
“Electable (Give it Up)” is more upbeat, backed by a catchy chorus of gang-led “oh-ohs,” and hints at political undertones. “Firefight” is another good song, even though it may take a couple of listens to get into. It features a combination of a slow verse and an up-tempo chorus, and one of its highlights is the harmonizing between Adkins and guitarist/singer Tom Linton.
“Gotta Be Somebody’s Blues” is the dark horse of the release. Sounding like it is from the Futures sessions, it features eerie strings amid low-key vocals from Adkins, making it the most atmospheric track on the record. Also a little out of place is “Feeling Lucky,” which feels like a b-side from Bleed American. While there’s no question it’s a fun song, a different one (i.e. “Be Sensible”) would probably have been a more deserving choice for the final track listing instead.
Despite the fact that it may need a few spins to grow on eager fans, Chase This Light is another fine effort from Arizona’s Jimmy Eat World. It is only further proof that 20 years from now, this band will be looked at as one of the most influential bands of today’s music scene, and many of their current fans will still be listening to them as well. Because even when Jimmy Eat World isn’t at their best — Chase This Light never fully matches the power of their big three records — it is still better than 99% of anything else released this year — a testament to how good this band truly is.
