Music Review - JIMMY EAT WORLD - Futures

When Jimmy Eat World burst onto the popular music scene, I was instantly attracted to their sound. It was 2001, and the "emo" wave was beginning to get some big hits. Weezer had just returned from a long hiatus with The Green Album, and melodic punk/pop was making a comeback. Jimmy Eat World's Bleed American (the name Bleed American was rightfully removed 2 months after the albums release after the events of September 11th, and now the album is simply known as "Jimmy Eat World") ruled the radio in the fall of 2001 with the "on every radio station" "the Middle", "Bleed American", "A Praise Chorus", and the incredible bombastic "Sweetness." But really, every song on the album is a hit. The first 7 songs are all strong and could have been singles.

This is what they had to live up to with the release of Futures. The elements that ruled their last album are still here, but they don't exactly ring out as strong. The songs are melodic, driving rhythms, big choruses, but besides the opening track "Futures" and the first single "Pain," nothing stands out. The really memorable riffs are absent (except on Futures which contains the best guitar riff Jimmy Eat World has ever written!). The lyrics are not as catchy. It's definantly a step back, but to be fair, they couldn't top Bleed American. It's a good enough album, but it doesn't break any new ground

The Sneaky Cheetah's Grade: B-