The Scoop News 7.26.01

    Every year there literally thousands of new albums released to the public, of which only a fraction we here at The Scoop News actually look forward enough to snag on the first possible day it is available. In our minds, one of the most anticipated albums of the year is the latest work from the Arizona based band Jimmy Eat World, Bleed American. After fulfilling their contract with Capitol Records, these desert boys used the money they made off endless touring and recorded this new record on their own, with the help of producer Mark Trambino. The result is an amazing arrangement of music that not only grabbed manager John Silva's undivided attention, but also caught the ear of every major A&R executive in town and eventually landed them a deal with DreamWorks Records.

    Thanks to the Internet, this CD has been available to listen to for months, but I decided to be patient and not download any of the tracks prior to the release by the band. It wasn't an easy thing to do, but I was able to resist the temptation and only heard two songs, which happened to land on the radio during the weeks prior to July 24th. But that morning, I rushed down to the record store, laid down my cash, and got me my very own copy of Bleed American.

    I had to wait until after boarding my plane and take-off to press play, but believe you me, the wait was worth it! From the first song, the title track "Bleed American," through track 11, this record lived up to every ounce of hype surrounding it. Which is actually surprising, as in some way, shape or form, there is always some level of disappointment with such an anticipated piece of work. Remember Episode 1? If I were to nit pick and pick on the one flaw of the album, it's that there aren't more songs to listen to. And yes, it really is that good.

    As with the refinement of their sound between Static Prevails, their first full length release on Capitol, and Clarity, their second and final release with said label, Bleed American shows a similar evolution in the writing skills and maturity of Jimmy Eat World. While the music itself may be viewed by some as more simplistic because of the conciseness of the songs, the lyrical content is as amazing as ever and their ability to write better hooks has increased dramatically.

    With songs such as "Bleed American" and "Sweetness" already getting regular national and international airplay, this album is destined for great things. In time, don't be surprised if "Get It Faster" and "If You Don't, Don't" find their way into your home or car via the local radio waves as well. Personally speaking, my new favorite song off of this album is without a doubt "Hear You Me." The beauty and emotion captured in those 4 1?2 minutes floored me from the first listen and I just can't stop repeating the song now! Such good work.

    As said before, Bleed American is an album filled with an abundance of great songs, and with the help of a great management team and incredible label support in their back pocket, the sky will be the limit for Jimmy Eat World in the coming years. If you don't have the album yet, you should be sad right now and curl up into a ball of depression. Then your crybaby ass should get over it and find a way to a record store as quickly as possible where all your problems will be solved with the purchase of this record. And it will also make you more attractive. Okay, maybe not, but it will make your music collection that much better.

- J.P. Moriarty