Next up in the series of 'Spinning some vinyl I got for Christmas' comes Bleed America by Jimmy Eat World, one of my all-time favourites.
Initially released in July 2001, this 2008 re-release keeps the original title and track names. After 9/11, the band renamed it 'Jimmy Eat World' and changed the title track to 'Salt Sweat Sugar' (which I thought was better). I'm glad this version sticks to the original title, though I still prefer the alternate for the first track.
I didn't know much about the band before hearing the title track, but the opening guitar hooked me, and by the end, I knew I had to buy the album. 'A Praise Chorus' keeps the energy going, leading into the band's biggest hit 'The Middle', for a brilliant start.
Then comes the beautiful 'Your House', before 'Sweetness' hits hard with its heavy guitars and high-energy "Sing it back (whoa oh-oh-oh-oh)" - I've seen crowds lose it to this track at The Krazyhouse in Liverpool, absolute limbs.
Next is 'Hear You Me', which I've got on my shortlist to be played at my funeral (a bit morbid for a review?). It's a beautiful tribute to two friends who died in a car crash. 'If You Don't' tackles regret over lost love and resonates with the Emo crowd I used to work with. Then, 'Get It Faster' employs the slow, slow, fast formula to significant effect. It is a creepy song, and I love it.
The weakest track is 'Cautioners,' but it's still decent. It suffers because it comes just before one of my favourite tracks, 'Authority Song.' The album ends with 'My Sundown,' a haunting track that the Internet postulates could be about giving up on life, quitting alcohol, or leaving the past behind - I'm hoping for the latter.
This album is rightly regarded as one of the most influential of the early 00s pop/Emo era. I've been streaming it consistently over the years, and now I can enjoy it on vinyl - loud!
I picked up this copy for about £30 on Amazon, though it took ages to arrive from the US thanks to customs - I guess they love Emo, too!
Tracks to try: 'Bleed America', 'A Praise Chorus', 'The Middle', 'Sweetness', 'Hear You Me', 'Get It Faster’, ‘Authority Song’.
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