"Emo," what does the word mean nowadays? It was a term that used mean something very specific to a small group of people, now it has become really hard to define for lots of people. The word has taken over every form of speech: "He is emo," "he listens to emo," "he wears emo shirts," "he even talks emo."
So, is Jimmy Eat World emo? The answer depends on whom you ask. The band says no, most fans probably say yes. For good or for bad, Jimmy Eat World released the first breakthrough emo record with 2001's Bleed America. The album asserted what should be expected of a J.E.W album, infectious, driving, and (big surprise) emotional. More importantly, it laid out the blue print for what would be expected of a pop-punk/emo record (we are looking at you Fall Out Boy).
Their new release, Chase This Light, is a continuation of their defining album. It was easy to forget their modestly successful 2004 release, Futures which was described as sounding darker and unmotivated. Chase This Lightis rarely as dark as Futures, even in its sadder moments, due to an unabashedly melodic nature of the tunes (ten minutes into the album and it will be apparent lead-singer/songwriter Jim Adkins is still a melody idiot savant of sorts). The album is an emo sing-a-long with a smile (something these sullen kids need to do a little bit more), so much so that it allows you to forget about the ineptitude of the lyrics.
So, is Jimmy Eat World emo? The answer depends on whom you ask. The band says no, most fans probably say yes. For good or for bad, Jimmy Eat World released the first breakthrough emo record with 2001's Bleed America. The album asserted what should be expected of a J.E.W album, infectious, driving, and (big surprise) emotional. More importantly, it laid out the blue print for what would be expected of a pop-punk/emo record (we are looking at you Fall Out Boy).Their new release, Chase This Light, is a continuation of their defining album. It was easy to forget their modestly successful 2004 release, Futures which was described as sounding darker and unmotivated. Chase This Lightis rarely as dark as Futures, even in its sadder moments, due to an unabashedly melodic nature of the tunes (ten minutes into the album and it will be apparent lead-singer/songwriter Jim Adkins is still a melody idiot savant of sorts). The album is an emo sing-a-long with a smile (something these sullen kids need to do a little bit more), so much so that it allows you to forget about the ineptitude of the lyrics.
