Jimmy Eat World - Invented
Rating
RIYL
Sleeping at LastThe Get Up Kids
Anberlin
Release Date
09/28/2010
Label
InterscopeTracklist
1. "Heart Is Hard to Find"2. "My Best Theory"
3. "Evidence"
4. "Higher Devotion"
5. "Movielike"
6. "Coffee and Cigarettes"
7. "Stop"
8. "Littlething"
9. "Cut"
10. "Action Needs an Audience"
11. "Invented"
12. "Mixtape"
Users Rating |
Your RatingCreate an account or log in to rate this album |
Recent Ratings |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It isn’t necessary to explain why Jimmy Eat World is one of the most important bands of our time, but I’m going to do it anyway: They’ve sold almost two million albums. After getting dropped by a major label, they self-financed Bleed American which became a smash hit and (for better or for worse) introduced emo to the mainstream world. “The Middle” and “Pain” both hit number one on the charts. Clarity is often cited as one of the, if not the, most important album of the 1990s, and every album they’ve released since have been incredibly popular. With a track record like this, full of critical and commercial success, why would a review of their new album even be necessary? Because their previous full-length Chase This Light was completely forgettable. So while a band so well revered is sure to cause a stir whenever they release something new, their last release showed us that the band is very capable of being mediocre. So is their seventh full-length Invented a triumphant return to form or is the band taking the next step towards complete forgettability?
Fortunately, this album takes a step back towards Jimmy Eat World’s past and takes its cues from the more mature songs on Clarity and Bleed American. The reckless emotional abandon and heart-on-sleeve sentimentality is mostly gone and replaced with a cool demeanor focused on subtle melodies and layers instead of raw feeling. But the excitement that has departed from their music has been replaced with depth, and for the most part, it works really well. Thanks to the return of frequent collaborator and producer Mark Trombino, this album is completely covered from head to toe in lush sound, and the focus has been moved from giant pop-rock hooks to densely layered and subtly written melodies that might take a while to bore into your head, but will eventually find a home to live forever.
Folky opener “Heart is Hard to Find” might have an understated chorus that lacks the exuberant punch of “The Middle” or “Work”, but there are so many beautiful harmonies and layers that what you think you love about Jimmy Eat World will be turned on its head. “Evidence” has some tender guitars and harmonies, but breaks into a huge Switchfoot-style riff towards the end of the song, showing that JEW still knows how to successfully utilize the loud-soft dynamic. The band sounds like old Sleeping at Last on “Littlething” with a beautiful, simple twinkling piano constantly playing over an emotional chord progression, making some truly beautiful music in the process.
These songs committed to a meticulous, lush and well crafted sound might be fully turning over a new sonic leaf for Jimmy Eat World, but there is plenty for old fans as well. “Stop” gives us some dreamy guitars and the earnest vocal stylings of Jim Adkins reminiscent of Jimmy Eat World’s most heartbreaking moments. “Coffee and Cigarettes” and “Action Needs an Audience” are two heavy power-pop tunes in the vein of (although not quite as good as) “Blister” or “A Praise Chorus”, with the former marking the return of sadly-only-sometimes vocalist Tom Lind. The title track is an epic song that reaches a huge climax where Atkins finally reaches full emotional range, and closer “Mixtapes” easily ranks as one of Jimmy Eat World’s best songs, utilizing simplicity, restraint and an awesome crescendo to take the listener on an emotional journey as good as (or even better than) “Goodbye Sky Harbor” or “23”.
As great as some of the songs on the album are, Invented has a really hard time overcoming its bad with good. Put frankly, “My Best Theory”, “Higher Devotions” and “Movielike” just aren’t very good. Whether these songs sound mechanical and cold, squander and waste good ideas, or just meander around to nowhere, they mostly aren’t worthy of the Jimmy Eat World legacy. Also, this album has some major pacing issues. The worst songs on the album are all on the front half, and the longest songs are all on the second half, making this album more of a chore to listen to than it has to be. The aforementioned understated and subtle melodies, while great to listen to on headphones, make the album not as catchy and charismatic as we’re used to. I hope that fans are detail oriented enough to pay close attention, but I get the feeling many will give up on Invented far too easily, not wanting to have to work to enjoy something so deep.
As a giant Jimmy Eat World fan from the way back, I really do miss the raw emotions and awkward, youthful exuberance that made the band so great in the first place, but there is so much going on with Invented that I can’t help but like it. I have some definite complaints: there are a few clunkers, it’s not something that instantly grabs you and demands your attention, the band has abandoned any traces of emo, and the album has so much subtlety that it can only really be truly appreciated on headphones. But despite these I can already tell that I’ll be listening for a while and discovering new facets of this musical diamond for a long time to come. It’s not a classic like Clarity or Futures, but it’s a heck of a lot better than Chase This Light. The instinct might be to dismiss it on first or second listen, but please, give it a chance: it’s certainly worthy of the illustrious Jimmy Eat World legacy.
--Stephen Harris
Comments
Illinois
can't wait to hear this album
last.fm/user/tragedyl0ve
twitter.com/1000cleverlines
1000cleverlines.tumblr.com
Fishers, Indiana
I'm excited. Better than Chase This Light, you say? (Not hard. :P)
Top Albums: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 || Tumblr | Twitter
Clarity most important album of the 90's?
No.
I grew up hating on JEW but after I gave the band a second chance back in '04 I can honestly say I'm a big fan now, and can't wait to hear the new songs, oh and I don't think Chase This Light is THAT bad.
Green Brook, NJ
Chase This Light's first half was awesome. "Big Casino" and "Let it Happen" are 2 of the best JEW songs ever and stand on their own quite nicely next to anything else they've ever done. It's really unfairly bashed. But I heard the new single for this album and I thought it was garbage, so I'm a little weary about how this is one is going to sound.
Dubuque
I still think this is so/so. I've listened to it probably 10 times now.
Facebook / MySpace
View Chris Conlan's profile on LinkedIn
Alabama
I'm seeing these guys tomorrow in Atlanta and am beyond stoked. They have been one of my favorite bands for a long time and I can't wait to hear this. Btw, I rather enjoyed Chase This Light. To each his own.
Green Brook, NJ
pretty sure this new album sucks. just listened to it all the way through. wow.
Washington, DC
Give it a few more listens. The second half especially really grew on me.
"Standing still is where we've gone wrong" - The dingees
www.twitter.com/stephenharris09
http://www.last.fm/user/tunemyheart
Alabama
I listened to it and honestly didn't enjoy it but they played a good bit of it live and I liked it so I went back to give it a shot. It's grown on me.
Fishers, Indiana
Just got around to listening to the album. It's listenable, but there are some real stinkers-- I'm looking at you, Coffee and Cigs.
Top Albums: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 || Tumblr | Twitter
Kansas
ya that song is like.....wtf...i've listened to it probably 4 times...i'll keep listening and get back to this review...
http://rateyourmusic.com/~benny06
Minnesota
Yeah, my thoughts as well.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Kansas
boring.
http://rateyourmusic.com/~benny06