Jimmy Eat World: Invented

Best known for their 2001 self titled album which brought ‘The Middle’ and ‘Sweetness’ - tunes which still grace discos and playlists across the world today - Jimmy Eat World are the state-side experts when it comes to constructing heartfelt, melancholy -drenched hope ballads. Their seventh studio album bears few surprises or progression but I wasn’t at all surprised to find that I fell in love with it on first listen.

Invented is inventive in the most unmistakably Jimmy Eat World of ways. The emotion behind every song is flawless, the lyrics and structures are varied and original and, as always, it’s difficult to find a fault in anything they do – minus the fact that it sounds like everything else they’ve done in the last 10 years. Futures (2004), Chase this Light (2007) and their newest effort this year could certainly merge into one album. This, however, is where they succeed every time, as their current attitude to song writing cannot disappoint.

Melodies throughout are as crisp as expected, tattooing themselves into the mind and you’ll soon find yourself relentlessly humming the likes of lead single ‘My Best Theory’ and NYC inspired ‘Movielike.’ With the simplest lyrics and make up, ‘Coffee and Cigarettes’ is a real highlight and is as perfect as they come - made unique by the vocal contribution of folk singer Courtney Marie Andrews. ‘Action Needs an Audience’ sees the foursome trying something a little heavier, although it fails to be anywhere near as good as their attempt to do the same with Futures’ ‘Nothing wrong.’

Fans of the band may see ‘Cut’ is Invented’s take on earlier ballads ‘23’, ‘Hear You Me’ or Clarity’s ‘Table for Glasses’ and it’s a beautiful example of what they can create a decade on. Front man Jim Adkins has always provided immaculate vocals but with every new album seems to find a little extra something to add – his best is heard this time round in the serene seven minute long title track. They’ve always struck me as being like the quiet and faultlessly nice guy the pretty girl overlooks for the jock and, with lyrics like ‘Any dick can pull up in a suit, but only I know what really moves you’ and the admittance of ‘Stop’s ‘if you want to make me baby, stop ‘coz you have’, this concept works as well as ever. Jimmy Eat World are simply incapable of writing bad songs.

With all the heartache and wonder, strings and keys and the abundance of melody and hurt, it may all sound worthy of being the theme tune for trashy American teen dramas. Which it is and has been – four songs from Futures have been featured in the series One Tree Hill. But that’s what works and it works so well. Judging by the strength their past few albums, there’s really no end in sight.

Ten of Jimmy Eat World’s best:

‘Lucky Denver Mint’ (Clarity, 1999)

‘Just Watch the Fireworks’ (Clarity, 1999)

‘Salt Sweet Sugar’ (Bleed American, 2001)

‘If You Don’t, Don’t’ (Bleed American, 2001)

‘Kill’ (Futures, 2004)

‘Pain’ (Futures, 2004)

‘Always Be’ (Chase this Light, 2007)

‘Dizzy’ (Chase this Light, 2007)

‘Coffee and Cigarettes’ (Invented, 2010)

‘Cut’ (Invented, 2010)