R.I.P. – Jimmy Eat World (1995 – 2007)

Jimmy Eat World - Chase This LightIt is my unfortunate place to inform you of the death of Jimmy Eat World.

Jimmy Eat World — formed in Mesa, Arizona in 1993 by singer/guitarist Jim Adkins, drummer Zach Lind, guitarist Tom Linton, and bass player Mitch Porter (who was eventually replaced by Rick Burch) — died today with the release of “Chase This Light.”

Aaron Martin, a long time Jimmy Eat World activist, was troubled and sadden at the news and release of their fifth studio album.

“I don’t even know how to take this. For years I’ve been pushing Jimmy Eat World onto people like a Detroit crack dealer. It’s just sad to see an 11 song follow-up to “Futures” two years after it’s release. I don’t know what I’m going to do now. I think I’m going to try to wipe 2007 from my mind and just pretend like Jim Atkins didn’t die, like Tom Linton still writes amazing guitar licks full of passion and energy. I guess I’ll just continue to listen to “Static Prevails” and “Clarity” and just pretend like good music can continually be written by bands, even though times change and artists progress.

“It’s just hard, you know? They seemed so alive the last time I heard them. I didn’t even see this coming. I never thought that they would join along side Blink 182 and Reliant K and start writing pop-rock with no emotion or true feelings. I expected this from them, but not Jimmy Eat World. You somehow always find the ones you love as invincible. Not truly capable of writing one-off lyrics and songs full of mediocre pop riffs.”

Aaron was later quoted as having giving “Chase This Light” a 4 out of 10 rating. Jimmy Eat World’s last words were “Hey! Hey!” followed by a gurgling sound that sounded similar to “ho ho ho!” They will be missed.

[ Note: Jimmy Eat World is not dead, just their ability to write musical albums equaling in quality and talent of previous releases.]

Written on October 16, 2007 at roughly 1:55 pm. And by roughly I mean at that exact time.

22 Comments

fretto October 18, 2007 at roughly 7:36 pm

what a disappointment.

James Collins October 22, 2007 at roughly 1:40 pm

I feel like “Chase This Light” was meant to get them more radio play. Really over produced and too cuddly for what I would expect from JEW. I am disappointed. But they aren’t dead to me… yet.

phil November 2, 2007 at roughly 9:55 am

wow… harshness! is an artist only as good as their last album? think body of work here. i agree that the most recent release is cavity-giving, sugar pop, but what grit do these guys have to sing about now? their problems haven’t gone away, they’ve just changed into topics that are not easily addressed with emo-anthems.

i don’t even agree with your final caveat. i think if some bad times (ala divorce) hit some of the lives of the band members, you would see a second coming of the earlier abilities. either that or they would be a guest on “Remember the 90’s”.

Aaron November 2, 2007 at roughly 10:27 am

Well, I actually meant they weren’t physically dead. I still think that as a band, they are dead. And it’s not about them not being emo enough for me. Their songs just suck, and it’s been a steady downhill progression since “Bleed American.”

erika November 7, 2007 at roughly 9:33 am

i was going to say that bleed american was pretty much as sugary-sweet as chase this light. i still heart JEW. aaron, just cut it to the left, and they’ll rock, then slide it to the right and they’ll roll. hello!

Aaron November 7, 2007 at roughly 5:01 pm

I don’t think “Bleed American” is even close to the deliberate radio friendly, Blink 182 pop rock jams that they crapped out for “Chase This Light.”

P.S. - Jimmy Eat World, you killed yourself with your constant 2 year breaks between albums…

erika November 12, 2007 at roughly 1:21 pm

Everything will be all right! All right! As David Crowder once asked Zach Lind circa 2003 for an article in a villainous magazine that shall remain nameless: “How do you feel about the fact that your songs are played in JC Penney?”

Aaron November 12, 2007 at roughly 1:55 pm

Villanous! Nameless! JC Penney!

nopictures2002 December 12, 2007 at roughly 12:59 pm

I have known the band since about 3 Months after the CD Clarity came out in 1999. And have since been a huge fan of the band!

My First Jimmy Eat World Experience was a small show that was packed in a place called the Green Room. There were 2 bands that opened for them on of the being Rueben’s Accomplice and the other one I don’t really remember I had travel 10 hours to see this show and I was not let down. After Rueben’s Accomplice was finished. Jimmy Eat World started setting up there stuff It took them a while because it was them and 2 rowdies helped. But Jim Was Tuning his guitar his guitar right in front of Me (Kyle) and my cousins Brolin, and Erich. We were front and center for the whole show! And man I was star struck just talking to him. Needless to say the show started and I was seriously rocked speechless!!! The sweat of front man Jim Adkins sweat was flying on us like the wet rainy seasons of the Amazon!!! And none of us cared because it was so rocking. I think this was every 16 year old kids dream and I lived it!

Following the show Zach Lind chucked out some drumsticks and Rick Burch talked to us for a few minutes. We asked him if he could get us some stuff and so he proceeded to the stage and grabbed some empty water bottles along with a dirty sweaty towel that Jim used all show. This was like gold to us and I still have that shiznit!!! Ha ha! No I’m not gay but man no one has ever been rocked like we were rocked that night! Ever since I have been there biggest fan and own everything they’ve recorded!!!

In my opinion Chase This Light, and Futures, are just as good as Bleed American was and I will stick with that!!! It’s just different but that’s good! I’m very sick of people that saying there CD’s aren’t like Clarity (for old fans) or (Bleed American for fans that started liking them once they made it big). Both of those CDs were different and they still were big of Bleed American. If you want another one of those Clarity or Bleed American go and buy one! Bands should make they’re CDs sound original otherwise you get sick of them!

Let me know if you agree or disagree! I feel like I’m taking Crazy Pills!

Aaron December 12, 2007 at roughly 4:43 pm

Actually nopictures2002, I didn’t say I wanted another copy of “Clarity” or “Bleed American” (or “Static Prevails”, which was their first, and best, major label release), I said that the quality was gone. My other comments have expounded on this opinion, and I do use the word opinion on purpose. If you like Jimmy Eat World and their new sugary sweet radio friendly MTV pop, keep it on loop in your stereo and enjoy. My opinion is that Jimmy Eat World has moved on from the level of quality song writing that was obvious in “Static Prevails” and “Clarity”, and to a certain point, “Bleed American”.

And I completely disagree.

Zach McNair December 20, 2007 at roughly 9:31 am

i was one of those who joined in the madness when “bleed american”/”jimmy eat world” came out… i enjoyed it for a few years. then “futures” kicked my ass. it was a much darker, harder project with lyrical content that would make people proud.

within the past year, i started stepping back. i purchased clarity and was blown away. their progression as a band was working very well for them, i thought. they were changing their style and it was working.

then recently, i bought “chase this light.” i must say, the general vibe i get with the album is that they just re-did all the poppy songs from the 3 previously mentioned albums. there’s nothing overly unique. while i wish there was, it just doesn’t seem like it, man. it may catch some play from me just because it’s new, but once the newness wears off, i will probably go back to listening to everything from clarity to futures.

i haven’t given up on them, but i want to.

perhaps JEW will snap back next year with a more kickass project that doesn’t use a gay feather as the cover….

noname December 27, 2007 at roughly 10:18 am

if you were a real jimmy eat world fan you would realize that people change, and bands are made up of people, therefore bands change, therefore their sound changes. go crawl in a hole and listen to clarity have fun.

Aaron December 27, 2007 at roughly 11:44 am

I don’t listen to people who don’t have the balls to even list a name. Hell, I’d even accept a fake name. GO back to Russia, commie, and leave me to my freely expressed opinions on something that is by definition a matter of personal taste.

Aaron December 27, 2007 at roughly 11:45 am

P.S. - If people change, am I allowed to change and stop liking a band or does that just apply to the people in bands?

NICK POILVY January 17, 2008 at roughly 7:32 pm

wtf bro y are you so anit chase this light when it was made for capitalism. It is songs for 12-15 years old girls. can you say MONEY IN THE BANK so you are a communist for being anti songs for 12-15 years old girls.

Aaron January 18, 2008 at roughly 8:07 am

I believe you meant to say “why are you so anti-Chase This Light? It’s a free-market, capitalistic society in America and it is obvious that Chase This Light was made for a specific market of 12-15 year old girls. Can you say ‘money in the bank?’ It’s obvious that you’re a communist for not wanting people to make music for 12-15 year old girls.”

To which I respond with, did you even read my blog post? I don’t care if Jimmy Eat World’s latest album appeals to adolescent girls who watch Dawson’s Creek reruns and think MTV is the best thing since the bread slicer. My posting was about their drop in quality of releases on a consistent level since Clarity. I don’t care about their money-making abilities. And in case you hadn’t noticed, I never mentioned money once.

And on two side notes, you obviously have no grasp of what Communism actually is, nor do you have any understanding of proper grammar, spelling, or syntax. Do me a favor and take a history class and an English class and then come back, diagram the sentences in your comment and repost it for me.

Alex March 26, 2008 at roughly 12:12 pm

So. Sure not everyone likes Chase this light. You needn’t. But the fact that they just wanna make money of it is just wrong. There was almost no promotion for the album and it sells worse than Futures or Bleed American. I was very disapointed with their new style for some weeks but the album grew on me. I don’t want to say that you have to listen to it till you like it (or puke :P) but just don’t give up the faith. They already said that their next album will be a little bit darker and not so pop oriented. This band just has so many faces and this “pop face” also belongs to them. And how can you say Here it goes does not want to make you dance! Jesus thats one fine song!

Aaron March 26, 2008 at roughly 1:57 pm

Good comment Alex. I will admit I have given “Chase This Light” some rotation and I still think that it’s the most sugary pop album Jimmy has ever written and that saddens me to no end.

(sung to “Here it Goes”…) As for “Here it Goes”, that song, that song, it makes me to shoot myself. Now, right now, paint the walls with my insides. It’s just to sugary sweet, makes me rot out my teeth. Nothing good for me. Ah oh ah oh ah ah…

camilo February 14, 2009 at roughly 6:07 pm

you’re just a jew non-fan jimmy eat world is the best band in the world
and they’re still alive

Aaron February 14, 2009 at roughly 8:22 pm

Sure thing, Camilo. And did you just call me a jew? As a point of fact, I am not Jewish, but they are an amazing people.

And where did I say I stopped liking their good stuff? I guarantee you aren’t ha;f the fan of Jimmy Eat World I am or have been in the past. Go back to listening to radio-friendly Blink 182 or whatever the hell else people with bad musical taste listen to these days.

Philip October 24, 2009 at roughly 9:59 pm

When will people stop calling music bad?
Look, clarity is literally my favorite album, but it doesn’t mean I automatically stop liking them if they write a more poppy album, and - here’s the key - insulting everyone that does.

Aaron October 24, 2009 at roughly 10:19 pm

Aren’t you ignoring the logical conclusion of your argument? If there is good music, then there has to be bad music. If you’re going to say that there is a standard of music you like, you can’t deny that there is a standard of music that you think is bad.

When would you stop liking a band’s new releases? After two bad albums? Three? Four? Five? Ten?

And, I hate to brake this to you, but this is my blog so I get to say when a band has gone soft and is only a shadow of their former selves. Music, bands, and people don’t exist in vacuums. They change, they get worse, they get better, they stay the same, or they stop. Period. The idea that you think no one can call music bad is preposterous. That’s the equivalent of me saying that there is a standard that music can dip below. You said that I can’t do that though, so why are you allowed to make absolute statements? Saying that there is no bad music is an absolute statement. Is there no bad music or am I just not allowed to call music bad?

Go ahead and comment. I won't make fun of you too much.