It seems as though Jimmy Eat World spent too much time “chasing the light” these last three years and not enough time writing good quality songs. The band’s new album, “Chase This Light,” isn’t completely lacking in the catchiness department, but it is definitely a safe album that doesn’t show a lot of growth.
Unlike the band’s 2001 commercial breakthrough “Bleed American,” which radiated heart and energy with polished, crisp notes of passion, “Chase This Light” is boring, with each track dragged down by thoughtless lyrics and predictable chord structures. Even more disappointingly, many songs on the album such as “Here it Goes” and “Chase This Light” ooze fabrication and drip painfully with whiny vocals accompanied by watered-down guitar.
The album almost becomes laughable at points when Jimmy Eat World abandons its hard lyrics and resorts to hooks composed of teenybopper chants like “Hey! Hey! Hey!” and panting choruses of “Ha, ha, ha.” Somewhere along the line, the band that once created uniquely crafted songs of substance became an amateurish, girly pop-punk band.
Despite the album’s many flaws, fans everywhere will be happy to know that the band hasn’t entirely abandoned the Jimmy Eat World sound. It just hasn’t embellished the music in any way, which leaves it simply mediocre.
Part of the problem is the unforgivable build-up of a climax that never comes. In other words, many of the songs simply tease the listener into believing that a grand rock-out, move-your-body, sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs chorus is building. However, before the song reaches its peak it winds down and slowly piddles to the end. Once again Jimmy Eat World fans are disappointed and left to turn to previous albums like “Futures” to get their Jimmy fix.
So the question at hand is, what happened to the exciting, fresh sounds of the band that had fans dancing in their cars and singing into hairbrushes across the nation? Maybe it was the fact that the band’s success stemmed so vibrantly from previous hit songs like “The Middle,” “Pain” and “Sweetness” that the guys felt their success was indestructible. Or maybe they misjudged the fact that as their fan base grows, maybe they should, too.
Regardless as to why this album doesn’t match up to past works, Jimmy Eat World fans still deserve songs that are comprised of more than just filler. Dedicated fans will more than likely be forgiving of “Chase this Light” and accept the step down with a “It’s not all bad” attitude. Others will simply skip through the songs and wonder why the once-pioneering group now sounds like every other band out there.
