There are very few bands who can stir the emotions of a listener like Jimmy Eat World can. Their style of songwriting might not be as instant and catchy as bands such as The Get Up Kids, but they stand with them at the forefront of the current emo scene. This then is ‘Clarity’, Jimmy Eat World‘s third studio album, which was released in 1999. What is instantly noticeable from the album is that it is an advancement on the sound the band produced in 96’s ‘Static Prevails’.
Album opener ‘Table For Glasses’ is a good indication of what is to follow. It is a fairly slow-paced number that, as you would expect, is packed full of emotion. It also emphasizes the superb songwriting ability of the band, something that is apparent throughout the album. ‘Lucky Denver Mint’, by comparison, is a faster song that features a very poppy chorus of “You’re not bigger than this, not better. Why can’t you learnâ€. (The band showcase these poppy elements more substantially on their latest release ‘Bleed American’.) ‘Your New Aesthetic’ turns the tempo up another notch, being one of the punkier tracks on the album. It also has some nice vocal interplay in its chorus. ‘Believe In What You Want’ has a great guitar riff in the verse and a very melodic chorus.
‘A Sunday’ is one of the standout tracks on the album and reaffirms the point that the band can stir emotions in the listener. It is beautifully crafted and dripping in emotion, with cello and violin woven around the guitars. ‘Crush’ is another punky number and also a very good song. ‘12.23.95′ is an unusual, Christmas themed song that features an artificial drumbeat. It turns out to be a surprisingly effective effort. ‘Ten’ on the other hand is simply mellow and melodic. ‘Just Watch The Fireworks‘ is another standout track, clocking in at seven minutes long. It is a rollercoaster of a song, slow and melodic in places, heavier in others, and aided by additional instruments such as the piano, cello and violin.
‘For Me This Is Heaven’ is another track when you can almost feel the emotion of the band. It shows the lyrical strength of the band with image-laden lines such as “The first star I see may not be a starâ€. ‘Blister’ picks up the pace again in impressive style. Title track ‘Clarity’ follows a slow verse, fast chorus template, but is anything but predictable. Closing song ‘Goodbye Sky Harbor’ is ambitious to say the least, being over sixteen minutes long. It starts out strongly but loses its way a little. Jimmy Eat World may be a superb band, but a sixteen-minute song proves to be beyond even them.
‘Clarity’ will not win over everybody on its first listen. However, I strongly advise everyone to give it a chance as it has so much hidden depth and beauty. Better than ‘Static Prevails’? Definitely. Better than ‘Bleed American’? Probably. A classic? Without a shadow of a doubt!
Mark