Surviving. This album runs the gamut of emotions for me. From loving a familiar sound and feel of one or three songs, to being blah on others and finally almost irrational anger about choices made with a couple of songs. Ok, really one choice that is just driving me crazy, but we'll get to that later.
The album starts off with two fairly energetic and solid Jimmy rock songs. SurvivingSurviving. This album runs the gamut of emotions for me. From loving a familiar sound and feel of one or three songs, to being blah on others and finally almost irrational anger about choices made with a couple of songs. Ok, really one choice that is just driving me crazy, but we'll get to that later.
The album starts off with two fairly energetic and solid Jimmy rock songs. Surviving and Criminal Energy had me feeling pretty optimistic. I don't think I'll ever love either song, but I won't feel like skipping or changing them when I hear them. It gave me a lot of excitement for the third track. Jimmy Eat World has put out some fantastic track three songs. Work from Futures, It Matters on Integrity Blues, the driving pop of Always Be from Chase This Light and of course the song that propelled them into the spotlight, the Middle from Bleed American. Delivery doesn't quite live up to the lofty expectations of previous albums. It is a decent song and certainly sounds Jimmy, but I don't believe it is anything memorable.
The album released with a video for the song 555. Is the video weird? Yes. But there are many weird videos for songs out there to watch on Youtube. My main problem is simply the song. It is certainly on the poppy side. Cool. I like poppy stuff, but to me it sounds like a bad Sting single off of a solo album. I'm going to end up skipping this song a lot. I simply don't enjoy the melody, especially in the chorus. It is certainly different for them, so kudos, but just not for me.
One Mil is a solid rock song. I'm a fan. I look forward to getting to know it better as I get into double digit listens.
All the Way (Stay) had the potential to be my favorite song on the record. It is very catchy. Crunchy, fun guitar riffs, a really good chorus melody and then the out of left field and completely uncalled for sax solo at the end. I really dislike it. I completely dislike it. I don't hate sax, but I prefer it in well written pieces with other horns. This solo just doesn't fit. Some people love it. I just can't. I'd love to find a version without it as the rest of the song is a Jimmy classic for me.
Diamond and Love Never are both solid songs. Love Never is a tidy package of a poprock song, coming in under three minutes.
The final two tracks are typical sounding Jimmy Eat World end of album songs. A bit darker and brooding in places. Congratulations finishes it up at over six minutes long with many musical changes, synths, soaring atmospheric guitars and some heavier guitar riffs. It makes me think of some of the great ending to certain King's X songs with strong musicianship, writing and riffs coming and going and swirling around.
Overall I like this album better than Damages and about the same as Invented. I feel it is a step down from Integrity Blues, but that album is simply one of their best. It is up there with Bleed American, Futures, and Clarity.
Surviving is a solid effort and I'm glad one of my all time favorite bands are still putting out great music after more than twenty years. Surviving indeed.… Expand
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