Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American

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The Mesa, Arizona-based emo band Jimmy Eat World is made up of childhood friends singers/guitarists Jim Adkins and Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind. They first collaborated in junior high school as a Metallica cover band, thankfully they got over that. They then issued their debut seven-inch on the Wooden Blue Records label in 1994, soon followed by a self-titled LP. With major buzz surrounding the group the major labels came sniffing around and the band settled on Capitol for their sophomore album. In 1996 the band released Static Prevails followed by a five-track EP issued on the Fueled by Ramen label. The band then released their second Capitol effort, 1999's Clarity. Both albums on Capitol where largely ignored by the label. "With our experience at Capitol we felt we weren't paid a lot of attention to. We felt like Jan Brady in a way." guitarist Zach Lind told the LA Times. The band was dropped from Capitol on August 1999 and instead of shopping for a new label, went about making a new record financed by themselves. They began work with longtime producer/collaborator Mark Trombino (Blink-182, Knapsack). Before the album was even finished it was already stirring up quite a buzz, which was so strong that it grabbed the interest of the powerful G.A.S. agency, run by Gary Gersh (the guy that signed Nirvana to Geffen) and also represents the likes of the Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, Tenacious D, and the Foo Fighters. It also garnered the attention of several major labels, including ironically enough Capitol. The band eventually signed with G.A.S and DreamWorks.

The record starts off with the rocking title track, and first single "Bleed American." The song kick starts the album with driving drums and crunching, squealing guitars. The song's first verse begins with "I'm not alone because the TV's on/ I'm not crazy because I take the right pills." hinting at someone who maybe a little "off". The song is probably the least representative of the entire album which kind of makes it an odd choice as the lead off single.

"A Praise Chorus" doesn't let up, it's a pure power pop gem. The song powers along with Adkins using a vocal stutter step reminiscent of David Bowie on "Changes" or maybe Steven Tyler on "Jadded". The song details the longing for good old rock and roll, and emphasizes it later in the track when Adkins sings the lyric "so come on Davey sing me something that I know" at which point Davey Von Bohlen, lead singer of emo band The Promise Ring, comes in repeatedly singing "crimson and clover" before Adkins goes on to sing lyrics that include bands ranging from Bad Company to Motley Crue to Madness, and They Might Be Giants. "The Middle" is a "don`t worry about it, everything will work out" themed tune, tinged with some new wave influences.

"Your House" slows things down with some acoustic guitar accompanied with some organ, the song is sappy and sweet, but still manages to work out great. "Sweetness" intro reminds me of something from a cheesy 80's band before it erupts with guitars and pounding drums. This song provides more power pop to sing along with.

"Here You Me" slows things down considerably once again. Originally penned for Adkins'-pop side project Go Big Casino, features acoustic guitars, spars piano pops, and light drums. The song feels like an eulogy with the chorus of "may angels lead you in, here you me my friends, on sleepless roads the sleepless go" the song, takes it up a notch about half way through when Rachel Haden's (from That Dog and The Rentals) angelic voice chimes in and brings the song to a conclusion. Easily one of the top tracks on the record. Haden's voice also pops up on "If you don't, don't" and "Cautioners" the former being another mid tempo pop track and the later being a little bit more experimental track.

The "Authority Song" revives the view of rock and roll as saving grace, the song reinforces the overall retro feel of the entire album. As the title suggests, it's an homage to the John Mellencamp tune of the same name; the riff that threads the song is borrowed from Mellencamp's "Hurts So Good." Personally I hate John Mellencamp, but I love this song, which harkens back to the pop of the 50's and 60's, including handclaps and the beautiful vocal harmonies at the end of the chorus "honesty or mystery, tell me I'm not scared anymore/say anything you want/ I'm not scared anymore/ I've got no secret but this/I don't seem obvious do I?" the last bit sung over and over accompanied by a female voice that isn't credited anywhere in the linear note, but I assume it's Haden again. "My Sundown" is another song penned for Go Big Casino, and is a slower contemplative track, that does a good job of closing out the record.

You'd think that after parting ways with a major label, the band would have taken the chance to indulge in the experimentation that went on with there final Capitol release Clarity. However oddly enough, left to do as they please, the band made their most straight-up pop record to date, and they did a damn good job of it too. If your looking for something new to listen to and are tired of everything you've been hearing on the radio, give this band a shot, you won`t be disappointed in anyway.


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They first collaborated in junior high school as a Metallica cover band, thankfully they got over that. They then issued their debut seven-inch on the Wooden Blue Records label in 1994, soon followed by a self-titled LP. With major buzz surrounding the group the major labels came sniffing around and the band settled on Capitol for their sophomore album. In 1996 the band released Static Prevails followed by a five-track EP issued on the Fueled by Ramen label. The band then released their second Capitol effort, 1999's Clarity. Both albums on Capitol where largely ignored by the label. "With our experience at Capitol we felt we weren't paid a lot of attention to. We felt like Jan Brady in a way." guitarist Zach Lind told the LA Times. The band was dropped from Capitol on August 1999 and instead of shopping for a new label, went about making a new record financed by themselves. They began work with longtime producer/collaborator Mark Trombino (Blink-182, Knapsack). Before the album was even finished it was already stirring up quite a buzz, which was so strong that it grabbed the interest of the powerful G.A.S. agency, run by Gary Gersh (the guy that signed Nirvana to Geffen) and also represents the likes of the Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, Tenacious D, and the Foo Fighters. It also garnered the attention of several major labels, including ironically enough Capitol. The band eventually signed with G.A.S and DreamWorks. The record starts off with the rocking title track, and first single "Bleed American." The song kick starts the album with driving drums and crunching, squealing guitars. The song's first verse begins with "I'm not alone because the TV's on/ I'm not crazy because I take the right pills." hinting at someone who maybe a little "off". The song is probably the least representative of the entire album which kind of makes it an odd choice as the lead off single. "A Praise Chorus" doesn't let up, it's a pure power pop gem. The song powers along with Adkins using a vocal stutter step reminiscent of David Bowie on "Changes" or maybe Steven Tyler on "Jadded". The song details the longing for good old rock and roll, and emphasizes it later in the track when Adkins sings the lyric "so come on Davey sing me something that I know" at which point Davey Von Bohlen, lead singer of emo band The Promise Ring, comes in repeatedly singing "crimson and clover" before Adkins goes on to sing lyrics that include bands ranging from Bad Company to Motley Crue to Madness, and They Might Be Giants. "The Middle" is a "don`t worry about it, everything will work out" themed tune, tinged with some new wave influences. "Your House" slows things down with some acoustic guitar accompanied with some organ, the song is sappy and sweet, but still manages to work out great. "Sweetness" intro reminds me of something from a cheesy 80's band before it erupts with guitars and pounding drums. This song provides more power pop to sing along with. "Here You Me" slows things down considerably once again. Originally penned for Adkins'-pop side project Go Big Casino, features acoustic guitars, spars piano pops, and light drums. The song feels like an eulogy with the chorus of "may angels lead you in, here you me my friends, on sleepless roads the sleepless go" the song, takes it up a notch about half way through when Rachel Haden's (from That Dog and The Rentals) angelic voice chimes in and brings the song to a conclusion. Easily one of the top tracks on the record. Haden's voice also pops up on "If you don't, don't" and "Cautioners" the former being another mid tempo pop track and the later being a little bit more experimental track. The "Authority Song" revives the view of rock and roll as saving grace, the song reinforces the overall retro feel of the entire album. As the title suggests, it's an homage to the John Mellencamp tune of the same name; the riff that threads the song is borrowed from Mellencamp's "Hurts So Good." Personally I hate John Mellencamp, but I love this song, which harkens back to the pop of the 50's and 60's, including handclaps and the beautiful vocal harmonies at the end of the chorus "honesty or mystery, tell me I'm not scared anymore/say anything you want/ I'm not scared anymore/ I've got no secret but this/I don't seem obvious do I?" the last bit sung over and over accompanied by a female voice that isn't credited anywhere in the linear note, but I assume it's Haden again. "My Sundown" is another song penned for Go Big Casino, and is a slower contemplative track, that does a good job of closing out the record. You'd think that after parting ways with a major label, the band would have taken the chance to indulge in the experimentation that went on with there final Capitol release Clarity. However oddly enough, left to do as they please, the band made their most straight-up pop record to date, and they did a damn good job of it too. If your looking for something new to listen to and are tired of everything you've been hearing on the radio, give this band a shot, you won`t be disappointed in anyway.