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I haven't posted any CD Reviews up here for a while... so I figured I may as well...
Whether or not you agree that Jimmy Eat World are an emo band (or even if 'emo' exists as a stand alone genre) there is no doubt that they have got the emo tag on this, their breakthrough album. But before I dive any further into the review, I'd better clear up the album title. It was originally released with the title 'Bleed American' but since it had only been out for a very short period when the September 11th attacks occurred, the album was re-released as a self titled album.
Anyway. Onto the important bit, the music. The album is kicked off with the chugging anthem 'Salt Sweat Sugar', a good start to the album in my opinion. Unfortunately this good start is not carried on. 'The Middle' has a similar chug-a-long style going, even if it is slightly weedier than its counterpart, but it does feature some nice uplifting lyrics. Other songs such as 'Your House' and 'Hear You Me' are cheesy 'rock' ballads. They're actually not terrible. But honestly, they do grate (no cheese pun intended, honest), and I must emphasize the cheesiness of them. Immense.
Basically, there are three types of song on this album. First up are the polished, catchy and comparatively heavy emotional rock tracks. The second type is the aforementioned cheesy ballads. And the third lies somewhere in between, with some good non-cheesy and non-heavy songs like 'The Authority Song' and closer 'My Sundown'. The only song I feel transcends this (and incidentally is probably my favourite) is 'Get It Faster' which opens with some experimental ambiance onto some heartfelt lines, then further onto the crunching chorus. It also displays some decent stop-start dynamics and a nice build.
So. It has emotion. It has catchy songs, heavy songs, cheesy songs and songs with pianos (seemingly a precursor for 'emo' albums nowadays). Pretty much everyone will like some songs on the album, but on the flipside I think most people will also find some tracks very annoying after a few listens. So the albums not perfect. But lets be honest. When they want to, Jimmy Eat World can rock.
7/10
More reviews by me @ www.unitepunk.tk (sorry for shameless plugginess)
Whether or not you agree that Jimmy Eat World are an emo band (or even if 'emo' exists as a stand alone genre) there is no doubt that they have got the emo tag on this, their breakthrough album. But before I dive any further into the review, I'd better clear up the album title. It was originally released with the title 'Bleed American' but since it had only been out for a very short period when the September 11th attacks occurred, the album was re-released as a self titled album.
Anyway. Onto the important bit, the music. The album is kicked off with the chugging anthem 'Salt Sweat Sugar', a good start to the album in my opinion. Unfortunately this good start is not carried on. 'The Middle' has a similar chug-a-long style going, even if it is slightly weedier than its counterpart, but it does feature some nice uplifting lyrics. Other songs such as 'Your House' and 'Hear You Me' are cheesy 'rock' ballads. They're actually not terrible. But honestly, they do grate (no cheese pun intended, honest), and I must emphasize the cheesiness of them. Immense.
Basically, there are three types of song on this album. First up are the polished, catchy and comparatively heavy emotional rock tracks. The second type is the aforementioned cheesy ballads. And the third lies somewhere in between, with some good non-cheesy and non-heavy songs like 'The Authority Song' and closer 'My Sundown'. The only song I feel transcends this (and incidentally is probably my favourite) is 'Get It Faster' which opens with some experimental ambiance onto some heartfelt lines, then further onto the crunching chorus. It also displays some decent stop-start dynamics and a nice build.
So. It has emotion. It has catchy songs, heavy songs, cheesy songs and songs with pianos (seemingly a precursor for 'emo' albums nowadays). Pretty much everyone will like some songs on the album, but on the flipside I think most people will also find some tracks very annoying after a few listens. So the albums not perfect. But lets be honest. When they want to, Jimmy Eat World can rock.
7/10
More reviews by me @ www.unitepunk.tk (sorry for shameless plugginess)
I think inevitably emo embraces some pop-punk sensibilities. I bought the CD not expecting it to be hugely amazing, just something heartfelt. It has a definite lack of snotty lyrics and vocals like your generic pop-punk, and (for the first type of songs I detailed in my review anyway) feels better produced and slightly beefier than generic pop-punk. Which is all good. But ultimately, yes, Bleed American is very pop-punk, with a fair few cheesy ballads as well.
I have yet to hear 'Clarity' (got a few MP3s, but can't find it for a decent price), but some of the songs look immense (I think the closer to the album is over 15 minutes long...?)
I have yet to hear 'Clarity' (got a few MP3s, but can't find it for a decent price), but some of the songs look immense (I think the closer to the album is over 15 minutes long...?)
Clarity is emo. Bleed American (I bought it as this) is pop punk.
I haven't posted any CD Reviews up here for a while... so I figured I may as well...
Whether or not you agree that Jimmy Eat World are an emo band (or even if 'emo' exists as a stand alone genre) there is no doubt that they have got the emo tag on this, their breakthrough album. But before I dive any further into the review, I'd better clear up the album title. It was originally released with the title 'Bleed American' but since it had only been out for a very short period when the September 11th attacks occurred, the album was re-released as a self titled album.
Anyway. Onto the important bit, the music. The album is kicked off with the chugging anthem 'Salt Sweat Sugar', a good start to the album in my opinion. Unfortunately this good start is not carried on. 'The Middle' has a similar chug-a-long style going, even if it is slightly weedier than its counterpart, but it does feature some nice uplifting lyrics. Other songs such as 'Your House' and 'Hear You Me' are cheesy 'rock' ballads. They're actually not terrible. But honestly, they do grate (no cheese pun intended, honest), and I must emphasize the cheesiness of them. Immense.
Basically, there are three types of song on this album. First up are the polished, catchy and comparatively heavy emotional rock tracks. The second type is the aforementioned cheesy ballads. And the third lies somewhere in between, with some good non-cheesy and non-heavy songs like 'The Authority Song' and closer 'My Sundown'. The only song I feel transcends this (and incidentally is probably my favourite) is 'Get It Faster' which opens with some experimental ambiance onto some heartfelt lines, then further onto the crunching chorus. It also displays some decent stop-start dynamics and a nice build.
So. It has emotion. It has catchy songs, heavy songs, cheesy songs and songs with pianos (seemingly a precursor for 'emo' albums nowadays). Pretty much everyone will like some songs on the album, but on the flipside I think most people will also find some tracks very annoying after a few listens. So the albums not perfect. But lets be honest. When they want to, Jimmy Eat World can rock.
7/10
More reviews by me @ www.unitepunk.tk (sorry for shameless plugginess)
Whether or not you agree that Jimmy Eat World are an emo band (or even if 'emo' exists as a stand alone genre) there is no doubt that they have got the emo tag on this, their breakthrough album. But before I dive any further into the review, I'd better clear up the album title. It was originally released with the title 'Bleed American' but since it had only been out for a very short period when the September 11th attacks occurred, the album was re-released as a self titled album.
Anyway. Onto the important bit, the music. The album is kicked off with the chugging anthem 'Salt Sweat Sugar', a good start to the album in my opinion. Unfortunately this good start is not carried on. 'The Middle' has a similar chug-a-long style going, even if it is slightly weedier than its counterpart, but it does feature some nice uplifting lyrics. Other songs such as 'Your House' and 'Hear You Me' are cheesy 'rock' ballads. They're actually not terrible. But honestly, they do grate (no cheese pun intended, honest), and I must emphasize the cheesiness of them. Immense.
Basically, there are three types of song on this album. First up are the polished, catchy and comparatively heavy emotional rock tracks. The second type is the aforementioned cheesy ballads. And the third lies somewhere in between, with some good non-cheesy and non-heavy songs like 'The Authority Song' and closer 'My Sundown'. The only song I feel transcends this (and incidentally is probably my favourite) is 'Get It Faster' which opens with some experimental ambiance onto some heartfelt lines, then further onto the crunching chorus. It also displays some decent stop-start dynamics and a nice build.
So. It has emotion. It has catchy songs, heavy songs, cheesy songs and songs with pianos (seemingly a precursor for 'emo' albums nowadays). Pretty much everyone will like some songs on the album, but on the flipside I think most people will also find some tracks very annoying after a few listens. So the albums not perfect. But lets be honest. When they want to, Jimmy Eat World can rock.
7/10
More reviews by me @ www.unitepunk.tk (sorry for shameless plugginess)