Great album in its own right. (Chase This Light - Jimmy Eat World)

Member Name: Martirya

Product:	Chase This Light - Jimmy Eat World
Date:	11/11/07 (46 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some catchy melodies and one liners, fast pace and good composition

Disadvantages: Similar to past efforts and for fans, predicatable

I would not necessarily call them my favourite band, but Jimmy Eat World are definitely up there. So whilst I may write with some bias, its very easy for me to be honest about this album.
Jimmy eat World return with their tried and tested method of heart on sleeve rock and to be fair, they haven't grown much since their previous release, but make no hesitations this is a great album. The problem we have is that they've already released this album twice before in Bleed American and Futures.

Big Casino there current single is a borderline anthem as far as Jimmy Eat World songs go, its fast pace and smart lyrics definitely sell it, however its been done before. The copious amounts of guitar expand the sound making it a great surround sound song. it's a traditional Jimmy Eat World song and a great song, but listening to it you can't help wondering if they've done this before.
Let it happen follows the same pace, its muted breaks helping slow it down. Theres a lot of anger in it and maybe some sarcasm, the quick chorus alliterations definitely make this one of my favourite songs on the album. "say whatever you wan't 'cos I can laugh it off" really is the songs theme and it's a great saying!

Like she'll always be - starts interesting it almost looks as if Jimmy Eat World could be experimenting a bit more but it goes back to there traditional method of writing. Similar vocal melodies to older records.
Other highlights include Carry you, which is reminiscent of kill (Futures) soft acoustics overdubbed with effects and choral voices. Electables pop punkier chorus and guitar riff is fun if not a little empty in comparison to other songs. Gotta be some bodies blues is a very sombre serious song that is done very well - it's a lot darker in some respects than other songs on the album. Album closer is a stadium song, its bold but rather flat in terms of breadth of sound.

And the album continues like this, I could write the same thing for every song but unfortunately this is an album of recycled tracks with over emotion filled words.
The cover art is rather uninspiring and simple - which is disapointing in a world with so many strong designers and artists - it is nothing in comparison to the work on Storm Thorgeson, noticably albums with successful art work go on to be successful albums.

For Jimmy Eat World fans this is definitely an essential purchase - for those that love Jimmy Eat Worlds sounds and lyrics and even those only just getting into them It is still a great album but as far as developing and growing as a band they haven't gone very far in the past years. Its still one of my favourite albums of the year - but it has not surprised me and in some respects there is something very disappointing about that.

Summary: Its just not a stand out album, for a band that has product some real anthems for fans.