Jimmy Eat World – Clarity
Intro
- How did it compare to their catalog (if applicable)?
—-PicklePopper > I don't feel confident in stating I Jimmy Eat World's catalog well. My familiarity is limited to only a few songs on their following release Bleed American. Clarity's tracks seem more experimental and somber when compared to the radio friendly songs in the Bleed American. It was quite a pleasant surprise.
- Short answer: was it good? (In one to two sentences)
—-PicklePopper >Yes, it was a good album. It doesn't make it into my greatest albums of all time list, but it was very enjoyable to listen to.
Song Discussion
- Favorite song (why)?
—-PicklePopper >“Your New Aesthetic” – While I understand this was entirely intentional, I appreciate the band taking a risk with this one. The sound is more aggressive and chaotic than most of the other tracks on the album, yet it remains accessible without losing its purpose. I also appreciated the hook—it’s catchy and stuck with me long after the album ended. I ultimately chose this based on how many times I thought I could listen to it without getting tired of it.
- Least favorite, or what could be removed without much effect (why)?
—-PicklePopper >While there are no bad songs on this album, I'd say the one that left the least impact on me was “Ten”. By no means was it a bad song, but the rest were much stronger and memorable to me. * Slow cooker — better on second listen
—-PicklePopper >“Goodby Sky Harbor” actually took me 4 listens before it made any sense to me. At first, it felt like the instrumental part was repeated for far too long, without enough variation to keep it interesting. After really sitting with it and giving it a chance and learning the book it was based off of, it really started to make sense and meant a ton to me. If we were talking importance and not favorites in the favorites prompt, it would have been this one.
- What was your favorite lyric?
—-PicklePopper >“The West coast has been traumatized And I think I'm the only one still alive”
Album Discussion
- Notable moments — what moments in the album did you find interesting?
—-PicklePopper >The beginning was so bold to take as an opener to an album. I loved it though. Same with the ending, I was surprised by their choice in going for a 16 minute song in an album full of shorter songs. I was even more surprised when most of it was instrumental. * What kind of mood/vibe is the album — how did it feel? >It's an odd mixture of different emotions. Energetic at times, and somber at others. —-PicklePopper > * Is this a list of songs, or made as a single coherent piece?
—-PicklePopper >Definitely a list of songs. There is a central theme they are all playing at, but this is not an album that demands to be played in it's entirety to get the full enjoyment. There are plenty of songs that are fun singles.
Final Thoughts on the Album
- Rate the album on a scale of 6/6
—-PicklePopper
5/6
This album blends love, heartbreak, and personal reflection into a cohesive and emotional experience. The instrumentation is top-notch, and several tracks are irresistibly catchy. There really isn’t a single bad song here. That said, I found myself wanting more from the lyrics. While the music often reaches emotional highs, the lyrics don’t always rise to meet them. Many lines feel overly simple or are repeated too often, which lessens their impact. It’s not that the lyrics are bad—they just don’t carry the same depth as the music backing them. Still, the vocal performance is excellent, and the band plays with real skill and feeling. I just can’t help but feel there was room for more lyrical substance to elevate the experience. Fortunately for Clarity, interesting instrumentation reigns supreme — earning Jimmy Eat World's Clarity a well-deserved 5/6. I'm grateful for the experience it gave me.
- Would you recommend this album?
—-PicklePopper >Absolutely. I don't see a world where anyone remotely interested in alternative rock, or emo wouldn't find some enjoyment in this. * What type of person would you recommend it to?
—-PicklePopper
Clarity definitely aims at younger demographics and the issues that are prevalent at those ages. It would also be a great album for anybody going through complicated relationship issues, or are trying to get over one.
- How would you rate its accessibility? (on a scale of 6/6)
—-PicklePopper
5/6
This album is mainstream adjacent. It has a broad appeal, while still sounding interesting. This is something I could show to a co-worker, or my mom and expect them to have at least a handful of experiences with it.