Jimmy Eat World – Chase This Light

With every Jimmy Eat World release that hits the streets, you’re never exactly sure what to expect. On every CD they’ve changed a bit while consistently remaining true to their form. Yes, some old school fans shook off every release since Bleed American, happy to just replay Static Prevails and Clarity until they melt in their CD players, others are continually energized with every new release, savoring the anticipation and the wonder of what will come. Chase This Light is no different and after the release of their first single, Big Casino, expectations were high.

The song captures everything about Jimmy Eat World that needs to be captured within a song: angular guitars with a dream-like quality, emotional and intelligent lyrics and vocals that soar to new heights. If the remaining ten tracks on Chase This Light followed that pattern, then the album would be an easy contender for record of the year.

Jimmy Eat World had different ideas though and instead of following the same pattern of the lead single and opening track, Chase This Light sees Jimmy Eat World progressing once again while still maintaining their signature sound. It may throw the listener off a bit during their first listen, but upon a replay, the album builds and grows in momentum and the sheer beauty of the release begins to shine through and despite it’s variety, it still becomes a contender for record of the year.

While very few sparkling singles in it, the album is easily of one Jimmy Eat World‘s most complete ones. The songs work together in a way that brings the album together more than ever. There’s a definite diversity amongst the songs, from the danceable tracks that give a nod to Bleed American like Feeling Lucky and the surprisingly political Electable (Give It Up) to the five minute acoustic and string balladGotta Be Somebody’s Blues, and yet they’re able to lead into one another without a moment’s rest. Firefight tugs at your heartstrings as one of the best songs on the record and the choruses on Let It Happen and Always Be never leave your mind as Carry You sounds like return to what made them so popular with Clarity/Static Prevails.

The record is held together with a sense of unity from the polished guitar work and Jim Adkins’ perfect vocals – and I mean perfect. With every song he changes them up a bit from the emo-rock delivery of Let It Happen and Big Casino to the epic Dizzy and Firefight and the almost Blaqk Audio similarity of Gotta Be Somebody’s Blues. His vocals are as diverse as the music while never treading too far off as to become out of place. Add in the backup vocals, seamlessly placed “woahs” and occasional contrasting vocals of Amy Ross lightly scattered in the background and the record is near perfection.

Yes, it took a few listens for it to truly sink in, but now there’s no doubt in my mind that Chase This Light is Jimmy Eat World‘s crowning achievement, and with a history such as theirs, that’s definitely saying something.