Invented

Jimmy Eat World | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 28, 2010)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: David Geffen Company
• ASIN: B003VTMKZA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,143 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Jimmy Eat World - Invented

Recorded in Tempe, Arizona at the band's Unit 2 studio, Jimmy Eat World reunited with Mark Trombino, the producer on the band's breakthrough album, Bleed American, and their seminal earlier albums, Static Prevails and Clarity. "We're very excited about Invented," said lead singer and guitarist Jim Adkins, "It was great reconnecting and creating an album with Mark Trombino, we can't wait for our fans to hear it." Fans will get their first taste of Invented when the first single "My Best Theory" hits the airwaves in August. Jimmy Eat World has a stellar history across Modern Rock radio with five top 10 hits.

Invented marks the band's first studio album since 2007's Chase This Light which landed Jimmy Eat World's highest chart position of their career at #5 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. Jimmy Eat World's last release may have been three years ago but they've been busy. The boys took a break from the recording of Invented to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of their influential album, Clarity with a sold out national tour.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

109 of 121 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Don't believe the 5 star reviews, September 29, 2010

By 

Jeff C. NY - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Invented (Audio CD)

I wasn't planning on writing a review for this album but after seeing all of these 5 star reviews, I had to chime in. This is not a 5 star album. In general people who write reviews are one of two types: people who hate whatever it is they are reviewing and can't wait to tell everyone how much they hate it and others who are huge super subjective followers of a band who would basically praise anything their favorite band puts out regardless of how good or bad it is.

I would like to preface my review by saying that I happen to be a big Jimmy Eat World fan and Bleed American is one of my favorite albums of all time but I don't let my love for their past releases cloud my judgment on this or any future releases. Jimmy Eat World has a formula when they make an album and they stick to that here as they do in all of their releases. They usually try to mix up the album with some harder songs and some slower songs and then close with a long slow ballad. The problem with invented is that the hard songs aren't as rocking, the soft songs aren't as captivating, and the ballad is basically a sub-par version of 23. I mention all of this because when reviewing an album, knowing what the band has done in the past and is capable of, definitely will be a basis and measuring stick for the new album. After knowing how totally amazing Bleed American is, I honestly don't see how anyone could give this album 5 stars. Is it as good as Bleed American or even Futures? No way. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I really don't see any way this album is as good as their previous works.

Forgetting for a moment my gripes with this album being over rated....its really not a bad record, it's just not anything we haven't heard before. I like alot of the songs here, but most songs on the album have songs on previous Jimmy Eat World albums which sound very similar but are better. I must admit that Invented does grow on you but never to the point where I would say its a great effort; and if you have to force yourself to like something, then you probably don't really like it to begin with.

I don't intend to cause a dispute or anger anyone who really loves this album but in my opinion, it just doesn't come close to Bleed American and should be rated as such. It has its moments and is not by any means a bad album, but nothing stands out or makes it special. I'm still a big Jimmy Eat World fan but that doesn't mean I have to love everything they make. I still look forward to whatever they do in the Futures.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Coffee and Mountain Dew, September 28, 2010

By 

Rudy Palma "The Writing Fiend" (NJ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Invented (Audio CD)

It is hard not to consider the boys - well, men - of Jimmy Eat World the Grand Poobahs of the emo world. It was upon their 90s work that emo entered the mainstream stratosphere and propelled them, as well as many other bands that followed, to commercial success and critical respect.

The genre is decidedly youth-aimed, and these guys are very much in their 30s by now, despite their youthful appearance, and that fact of life informs the thematic maturity that colors much of "Invented," standing in contrast to their previous releases.

Their signature sound - heady, large, angst-ridden, screechy, over-the-top, soul-searching, highly caffeinated - remains intact, making "Invented" a mix of sonic continuation and lyrical growth.

The tracks swell and surge with raw intensity, melding catharsis with well-chiseled songcraft. "Heart is Hard to Find" is an ideal example with its detailed, even dizzying soundscapes and Jim Adkins' unrestrained, passionate vocal delivery. The surging "My Best Theory" alone sears with enough power to ward off the band's younger competition from usurping their place on the shelf. The same goes for the repressed, ready-to-boil-over "Higher Devotion."

"Movielike" is radio-friendly all over - ear candy at its most absolute. It is catchy, raw and endlessly listenable.

"Cut" is one of the best wallowing ballads the band has crafted. Jim Adkins wraps his voice around each word with dramatic luster. It is grandiose and thoroughly compelling.

"Action Needs an Audience" and "Coffee and Cigarettes" are less impressive than other tracks yet fly by with awesome, hard guitars and interesting, nuanced arrangements, rubbing against the surrounding material with flair.

The sprawling, ponderous title track twists and jerks in many directions amid its seven-plus minutes of passionate (but not treacly) declarations of true, though, imperfect love. It is weighed down a bit by heavy-handed production, but "Mixtape" provides a stirring, extremely strong wrap-up for the album with its compelling hook swirling over it like slowly receding ocean waves - "you don't get to walk away, walk away now, it's too late you can't walk away, walk away now."

"Invented" shows Jimmy Eat World in rare form - old enough to have increased grit and substance, but young enough to still pack the heat and energy of their early days.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sincere & Catchy: Jimmy Eat World Returns Strong with Invented, September 28, 2010

By 

Michael Yovkovich - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Invented (Audio CD)

It's been three year's since Mesa, Arizona rockers Jimmy Eat World released their last album "Chase This Light," and their latest offering showcases another step in the maturation process of this tight knit quartet. With Mark Trombino returning to produce the album, the sound is slick and the production value is very similar to the band's breakthrough album "Bleed American." The album plays out as such:

1. Heart Is Hard To Find- 8/10

Perhaps the most different sounding song Jimmy Eat World has started an album off with in the last decade. When compared to past openers "Bleed American," "Futures" and "Big Casino," one will immediately notice this song isn't all that radio friendly, but in all honesty, it doesn't need to be. Jimmy Eat World bucks their former trend by crafting a heartfelt, sincere midtempo number that opens the album in a strong fashion.

2. My Best Theory- 8/10

The best description I can give of this song is if you mixed Chase This Light's "Here It Goes" with Futures'"Pain," the result would be this searing rock track. Unique in many ways, this song is already rocketing up the alternative radio charts, proving that Jimmy Eat World still has plenty of mainstream shelf life left.

3. Evidence- 7/10

This midtempo number is solid, but repetitive. When it gets close to going from a good track to a great track, it seems to fall just flat, but multiple listens may prove otherwise with this 80's-like track.

4. Higher Devotion- 6/10

The verses are fine, the chorus that drowns Jim Adkins' vocals out is not. Cut this song into parts and its not that bad, but overall, this digitally infused midtempo track is the weakest on the album.

5. Movielike- 9/10

This midtempo gem has everything listeners of Jimmy Eat World have come to love about the band. Sincere lyrics, great backing vocals, retro guitar riffs resonating in the background, and an extremely catchy hook. If Hot AC radio formats pick up this track for airplay, it could become a major hit. Either way, expect this to end up on some movie soundtrack in the near term.

6. Coffee & Cigarettes- 8/10

It took many listens to warm up to this song, as once again, Jim Adkins' vocals are barely audible throughout the majority of this song as he is drowned out by background vocals. The difference for this song though is that it is extremely catchy and builds up to a powerful chorus.

7. Stop- 7/10

Available previously in a very similar form on import releases of Chase This Light, this reviewer would have preferred an entirely new song than this already heard track. It's not that this midtempo number isn't good, it's just that the space taken up for this track could have been better utilized.

8. Littlething- 10/10

Similar to Movielike, this song has it all. The emotion pours through Jim Adkins' vocals moreso on this track than perhaps any other on the album. An orchestra in the background helps build the epic feel of this amazingly done tune that blends 80's pop with modern rock.

9. Cut- 10/10

The song starts of with a slow beat and builds to a beautifully done chorus. Once again, haunting backing vocals present throughout accompanied by searing guitar riffs that sneak in and out ever so gracefully. Add in some amazing lyrics and an emotional delivery, and what you have is a classic Jimmy Eat World ballad.

10. Action Needs An Audience- 8/10

It's refreshing to see guitarist and former original lead vocalist Tom Linton handle the lead vocals on this quick and catchy rock tune. While not as memorable as his last turn on lead vocals ("Blister" from the Clarity album), this track fits nicely with the rest of the album and helps balance out a lot of midtempo numbers that populate the latter half of the album.

11. Invented- 8/10

This song has the potential to really grow on someone after multiple listens. A slow building ballad that takes a long time to get to get to the big finish, it can almost be split into two parts. A haunting first half sprinkled with nicely done background vocals paired with an epic climax make this a memorable track.

12. Mixtape- 10/10

No one knows how to close out an album like Jimmy Eat World. With past gems like "23," "Dizzy," "My Sundown," and "Goodbye Sky Harbor" to live up to, their latest album closer fits right in with these other classics and holds its own as an entirely unique and original closer. A slow beginning leads into a simple, yet emotionally powerful guitar solo that ends with an all across the board epic closing.

Bands like Jimmy Eat World are few and far between in today's ever changing music scene. The band has had every chance over the years to sell-out for radio airplay on the pop formats, and they should be applauded for refusing to do so. Jimmy Eat World has showcased the ability to keep evolving with the times in ways many bands are unable to, and the release of "Invented" proves once again that this band deserves to be known for much more than its emo trailblazer tag.