Once again we take a look at another rock band, but this time we leave Fall Out Boy and enter the domain of Jimmy Eat World with their newest album; Damage. Now I personally love Jimmy Eat World, so when I heard that Jimmy Eat World was coming out with another album, I immediately wondered what the album was going to be like. Would Damage be much more like their old work and be edgier, or as fresh as say Futures or Invented? Fans of Jimmy Eat World, young and old, fear not, for Damage is one of the best albums by the group and presents itself in a way that all Jimmy Eat World fans will enjoy. With songs ranging from sweet and moving to bold and energetic, Damage is yet another great album by a great band.
Track 1: Appreciation
Appreciation is the first track on the album, and it sounds like something that could've been straight from their last album or Chase This Light. With Jim Adkins' vocals, Appreciation sounds almost arena-rock like and could be a big song to play live. It's perfect for the entire audience to sing together with Adkins belting out how they build and they box and that they carry on. The song brings such a, dare I say, appreciation for the future. You might go through some heat breaks here and then. but you will go on and you will live your life. Don't let yourself down; you have Jimmy Eat World.
Track 2: Damage
Damage isn't just the best song on the album, it's one of the greatest songs by Jimmy Eat World. Damage provides a very interesting and poignant question; are having high and unreasonable expectations for someone else damaging the both of you? Is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting to become the best damaging your whole life? Why are we living a lie where we keep damaging one another? Well, I'm sure the song means something like that. Even if Damage wasn't about anything, it just sounds so beautiful. Beautiful would be one word to describe this album. Damage as an album is full of pretty songs, but Damage as a song takes the rest of the album by storm.
Track 3: Lean
Lean here is presented metaphorically, obviously. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out. It would be pretty funny, though, if Jim Adkins had to lean on somebody all the time, but that isn't the case. Lean is like an alternative rock version of Lean On Me. Once again, it doesn't take a genius to figure that out. Lean comes off as somewhat of an unfortunate tale as the story of this man who pleads for this person to trust him like he trusts them. Try as he might, he is neglected, but you know what? He keeps on trying. Nice touch, Jimmy Eat World, not a bad song at all.
Track 4: Book Of Love
Gee, ain't that a cheesy title? So I went from reviewing a song on an album called The Game of Love to a Book Of Love. Well Book Of Love may have a cheesy title, but the song itself doesn't come off as too cheesy. Book Of Love is more like a ballad of someone's life. Perhaps cataloged into a book? Maybe the person described is a story character. Honestly, Book Of Love is more ok. However, it does set up the next song nicely.
Track 5: I Will Steal You Back
Oh boy is this a good one. I know I called Damage the best song on the album, but I Will Steal You Back comes at an extremely close second. I Will Steal You Back is a perfectly energetic jam that seems fitting coming from a new album. Obviously I Will Steal You Back is direct, however I feel as if the track has another meaning attached. It's a calling card to the fans. Fans who might've lost faith in Jimmy Eat World. It's not like Jimmy Eat World went on a hiatus; their last album was in 2010, but any fan who left them before upon hearing this will immediately become enthralled with Jimmy Eat World once again. It's an amazing song that never ceases its amazingness. What more do I need to say other than amazing!
Track 6: Please Say No
Please Say No is a slower song played on an acoustic guitar (mostly) accompanied by soft vocals. Normally a song that starts this way would seem boring, or even worse one of those four chord songs that drunk party guys only know how to play to get laid. However, I much prefer Please Say No over those songs any day. There aren't too many songs like this where the lead singer says that we shouldn't be together. That's something you rarely hear. A sympathetic and down to earth ballad where the singer wants to stay away from the person. There are songs like these that amaze me. You hear so many love songs that are about everything love can offer, but rarely do you hear love songs where the people aren't in love. Where the people hardly even look at each other as acquaintances. Perhaps Please Say No could be about distance between two lovers, but I feel that the two people in question here have no connection at all. Just that they know each other and don't want to be around one another.
Track 7: How'd You Have Me
How'd You Have Me is a question I'm sure many people will ask after a break up. "I'm too awesome, how did someone like you ever get to be with someone like me?" Is what that sounds like. However, Jimmy Eat World turns this around by saying how his ex got to have him, but he didn't get to have anything else in the world other than his ex. "How did someone like you get me, but I in return was only able to get you?" Is more what the song is about. At the same time you make them seem like they got ripped off and you got ripped off at the same time. Brilliant.
Track 8: No, Never
The start of No, Never sounds like the entrance a final boss would have. If that's the case, then No, Never is probably a final boss that is only moderately upset. But let me just state that I'm not a huge fan of emo, which is strange because I love Jimmy Eat World. Emo has always been looked down upon by being portrayed by ridiculous looking individuals whining incessantly about everything and all along becoming more and more punchable. Why do I bring this up? Because I wanted to bring up the point that Jimmy Eat World can be emo, and when they are, they aren't preachy whining kids dressed in all black trying to scream how bad they have it in life. What Jimmy Eat World does so well is make emo tolerable and not absurdly pretentious. This is best presented in Damage in the song No, Never, which sounds so close to the point where it could become whinny pretentious garbage, but strays far away from that path and brings a more listenable and enjoyable experience.
Track 9: Byebyelove
Byebyelove is like an even softer version of Please Say No. However, the title might be even cheesier than Book Of Love. The chorus doesn't help that much, as it's mostly just a lame way to end a relationship. Just by saying bye bye? You did so well ending this relationship on previous songs, and it just seems like the odd one out on the album. However, Jimmy Eat World does make up for it with a very powerful and moving bridge. Though it doesn't change much, it stays consistent enough to bring everything together. The bridge alone makes the song worth it for me. But in the end, Byebyelove is just more or less ok compared to the rest of the songs on Damage.
Track 10: You Were Good
You Were Good is just one of those harsh but real and straightforward titles that tells you everything you need to know about the rest of the song. You Were Good works like an opposite of Good Riddance. Instead of hoping that the one you've broken up with had the time of their life, you're saying I enjoyed our time together, but we just weren't going to work out in the end. The times may've seemed like they were meant to last, we just didn't have anything that would make us last... You Were Good. Fantastic ending to an album for a band that constantly earns my respect. I love this song, I love this album, and I love Jimmy Eat World.
Damage may not be the album that more hardcore fans of old Jimmy Eat World were expecting, but Damage does bring fans of Jimmy Eat World and alternative rock a satisfying album that'll last for a long time. I can expect a lot of these songs to be played on alternative rock stations in the future and I'm sure that Damage will acquire quite a following. Though at times Damage might've dragged on or even gone a bit too far, or maybe some songs should've gone even further, I really enjoyed this album. Some parts are beautiful, some parts are melancholic. However I can say that Jimmy Eat World did steal me back and I am once again glad to be listening to their awesome music.
Verdict: Damage might not be the greatest Jimmy Eat World album, but I'm sure all fans of alternative rock and Jimmy Eat World will find something to fall in love with on this album. Final Score: 8/10.
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