Chase This Light

Jimmy Eat World

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 16, 2007)
• Original Release Date: October 16, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tiny Evil
• ASIN: B000VQW7OK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,803 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The rough edges have been shaved away, but there is something admirable about the way Jimmy Eat World recovers from 2004's dreary Futures album with a follow-up that displays all the confidence and vitality of its seminal early work. Executive-produced by Butch Vig (Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins), Chase This Light is packed with huge pop moments, galloping off with the exhilarating "Big Casino" and swiftly following it with the towering "Carry You," songs seemingly custom made for action-packed pick-up truck commercials. Clarity, the Arizona band's 1999 breakthrough, remains in a completely different class, but at least you get the sense that it's making the effort this time around, despite following what is clearly a more mainstream glow. --Aidin Vaziri

Product Description

Jimmy Eat World, one of rock's most lasting and loved icons, return with Chase This Light. The first album since 2004's Futures finds the band partnered with legendary producer Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins) overseeing as executive producer. Largely recorded in the band's own studio in Arizona, Chase This Light has a powerful optimism and, like 2001's beloved platinum break-through Jimmy Eat World (aka Bleed American), each song finds a way to compel the listener to keep coming back again and again to discover a new favorite.

Jimmy Eat World have the unique ability to be a bands-band as well as fans-band, marrying credibility with a tuneful accessibly that makes them a permanent fixture of the modern music scene. Jimmy Eat World never stop striving to make the best music of their career, Chase This Light proves this.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is where our diligence has led..., October 23, 2007

By	Mr. Censored (Maine) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

As they've plugged away for over a decade, crafting music that wears it's heart on it's sleeve so proudly that it's often mistaken for emo, Jimmy Eat World have managed to not only influence a new generation of bands, but also crank out classic after classic. From 1999's "Clarity" --which still goes by underappreciated to this day -- to 2004's groundbreaking, somewhat experimental "Futures," they have yet to miss a step, simultaneously tinkering and fine tuning their sound along the way. So it should come as no surprise that their sixth studio album, "Chase This Light" contains the standard Jimmy Eat World watermarks, such as huge choruses, clap-along verses and plenty of good-guy, let me be your boyfriend gushing from frontman Jim Adkins. But like it's predecessor, "Futures," they're doing their best to grow with their audience and create songs that are more universal and stand the test of time as more than just anthems for your High School prom. With "Chase This Light," they give us the best of both worlds. The sound that won audiences over with the breakthrough album, "Bleed American," is held intact here with songs such as "Carry You" and "Feeling Lucky," while the band explores other avenues later in the album. "Here It Goes" is an upbeat, almost dance-able throwback to the 80's (and no, not of the wretched Fall Out Boy type) that puts a spin on an album that might otherwise play like Jimmy Eat World on autopilot. Likewise, the creepy, crawly "Gotta Be Somebody's Blues" shows off a darker side of Jimmy Eat World that is rarely explored, and turns out to be one of the better songs of the album. To be truthful, there isn't a bad song on this disc, but the reason why it gets four stars instead of five is because on too many songs, they play it safe. They've shown they can go in new directions and make it work, so why bother churning out the same kind of songs we've heard already? In all honesty, a couple songs turn out sounding like "Bleed American" or "Futures" b-sides (not that they've ever recorded a bad b-side) and that's not a good sign. Even still, fans should be thrilled with this album and as usual, it's something that anyone from any walk of life should be able to pick up and appreciate in one way or another. It's just another good ol' Jimmy Eat World album, and that's okay.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jimmy Eat World Adds to Its Legacy with Chase This Light., December 7, 2007

By	Michael Yovkovich - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After breaking through with the smash single "The Middle" back in 2001, Mesa, AZ band Jimmy Eat World looked poised to become a household name for pop/rock fans across the country. After the success of subsequent singles "Sweetness" and "A Praise Chorus," along with several mainstream movies sampling the tearjerker ballad "Hear You Me," Jimmy Eat World's self-titled (previously named Bleed American but changed after the September 11th attacks) album went platinum. Instead of following up their smash cd with pop/rock songs, Jimmy Eat World released a darker album filled with alternative rock songs ("Pain" "Work") and searing emotional ballads ("23" "Kill"). The album, titled "Futures," fell short of its predecessor in sales, but managed to go gold and satisfy the growing masses of Jimmy Eat World fans.

With "Futures" in the rearview, Jimmy Eat World went back into the studio with no expectations of what the new album would sound like. Lead singer Jim Adkins' only goal was to create the very best album that his band could make at the time of the recording. After three years in between albums, the resultant "Chase This Light" made its way to stores in the Fall of 2007. The album comes across as a blend of the band's previous two albums, combining the catchy pop songs of its self-titled album with the uptempo rock songs on "Futures." The album plays out as such.

1. Big Casino- 9/10
A catchy opener and great choice for the lead single off the album. A smart blend of pop and rock that is oozing with machismo.

2. Let It Happen- 9/10
A rocking uptempo song with a sick yet simple chorus. One of the best on the cd.

3. Always Be- 9/10
The second single off the album, this track is a mid-tempo gem that showcases the band's unique instrumental blends.

4. Carry You- 10/10
The best song on the album, and most likely the third single off the album. Amazing lyrics that build up to a beautiful climax.
"Roll down the window, let the cold air come in,
Slap my face just to feel, to feel you somehow again"

5. Electable- 8/10
An uptempo rocking song with a sing-a-long chorus.

6. Gotta Be Somebody's Blues- 7/10
Not the best slow number Jimmy has created, but a solid tune nonetheless.

7. Feeling Lucky- 7/10
Another uptempo tune with a bit of a retro sound to it.

8. Here It Goes- 9/10
An amazingly catchy song that will lead you to visions of people rollerskating around a rink as a giant disco ball spins. Listen to the song and you'll know what I mean.

9. Chase This Light- 9/10
A beautiful ballad with emotional lyrics and a great drumbeat.
"Confetti Rainfall"- what a great line.

10. Firefight- 7/10
A mid-tempo solid number.

11. Dizzy- 10/10
Jimmy Eat World knows how to close an album out with style. This searing rock song is filled with solid lyrics and heartfelt emotion, and rivals "Carry You" for the honors of best song on the album.

With "Chase This Light," Jimmy Eat World proves once again that they are incapable of making a bad album. The light at the end of the tunnel for these Mesa rockers shines brighter with each effort, so here's to hoping that JEW continues to chase this light for many years to come.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Chase This Light: Nice Record, But is it the real Jimmy?, October 17, 2007

By	T. Key (America) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I say Jimmy Eat World, i think of textured guitars, yearning vocals, and driving ballads detailing unrequited love. Somewhere inbetween 2004's Futures and Chase This Light, the band lost a few of these factors. All that remains is the 3 minute pop/rock single, a catchy chorus or two, and an album that leaves you wanting just a hint more depth.

Chase This Light recalls the style of Bleed American with it's tight melodies and song structures, however, my least favorite songs from Bleed American(Authority Song, Your House) were more favorable than many of the cuts from "Chase". It seems the band took the sound of Static Prevails, Clarity, and Futures and discarded it for a record with more commercial appeal.

The lack of an actual hard-rock song dissapointed me as well. Every other Jimmy album had one: Static was filled with 'em; Clarity had Your New Aesthetic and Blister; Bleed Am. had the title track; Futures had NothingWrong. Chase's heaviest track would have to be Let It Happen, but that is taking the word 'heavy' to a whole new low.

With all my disappointment in the new record, I still gave it a 4/5. Why? Because the record is NOT BAD!!! It is a solid piece of candy-coated, rock-tastic, sugarplum goodness, and that is how it should be received. Jim's lyrics are enticing, catchy, beautiful and true. The instruments are layered quite nicely throughout (especially on 'Gotta Be Somebody's Blue's'), and the songs are great to listen to while on the road. I will always enjoy the music these guys create, no matter what path they decide to tread.