Review Summary: Jimmy Eat World show their ambitious brilliance on the expansive, sprawling "Clarity".
'Clarity' was Jimmy Eat World's first album on a major label, and this is not by any stretch of the imagination a bad thing. The first impression that you get of 'Clarity' is one of intelligence. The album feel solid, well-thought-out, and everything seems to fall well into place. Indeed, on this album, Jimmy Eat World deliver in spades.
Opener "Table For Glasses" is harmonious yet epic, with excellent vocal harmonies by singers Jim Adkins and Tom Linton. Gentle chimes and beautiful cello meshes perfectly with the track, and you will find yourself warmed by its unpretentious emotion.
"Lucky Denver Mint" opens with crisp, robotic drumming from Zach Lind, and what follows is a rare thing - a radio-friendly, poppy anthem that retains an edge - the chorus "You're not bigger than this / Not better / Why can't you learn?" is quite simply brilliant.
"Your New Aesthetic" shows the raw-boned punk influence that is ever-present in Jimmy Eat World's music, and it decries commercial radio, with scathing lyrics such as "Imitate and water down" set to chugging guitars and discordant noise.
"Believe In What You Want" has bouncing, choppy guitar stabs punctuating the verses, but it is the chorus where the song really shines - Adkins and Linton once again show their excellent knack for vocal harmonies, while growling yet mellow guitars provide a backdrop to the lyrics. A real standout.
"A Sunday" is in the same vein as "Table For Glasses", with more earnest emotion shining through and a quiet beauty which permeates the entire song. It is an easy song to leave on repeat and let penetrate your heart and mind.
"Crush" is a galloping punk anthem - Jim Adkins's vocals skate over the squalling guitars without seeming out of place, and the guitars, although hard, have glittering parts which only add to the quality of the song.
"12.23.95" is the weakest song on the album - although clean and gentle, it does not have the brilliance which is so present in the songs before it. However, it is still a good song, but it pales in comparison to its compatriots.
"Ten" is part of a triple-punch of astonishing songs which will leave you breathless. It sparkles with heartfelt lyrics and lush guitar.
The second part of the power trio is "Just Watch The Fireworks" - a sprawling, majestic piece of emotional music which begins steadily before morphing into a melodious rush that will tug at your heart strings.
The final song of the three is "For Me This Is Heaven", which once again shines with beauty and musical talent, with brilliant, sincere lyrics in the chorus - "Can you still feel the butterflies?" is a line which could mean a number of things, and it resonates in your mind long after listening to it.
"Blister" is an excellent punk rocker, with Linton taking over vocal duties, and his more muscular style very much suits the distorted guitars of the song, with a sing along chorus that will take you by surprise ("And how long will it take me / To walk across the United States / All alone?").
"Clarity" is without a doubt one of, if not the finest song on the album. A bruising, clattering intro heralds the beginning of a mind-blowing, hard-rocking, emotionally charged masterpiece which will no doubt be played time and time again.
"Goodbye Sky Harbor" is the epitaph of the album, inspired by the John Irving novel, 'A Prayer For Owen Meany' - it begins as an uptempo jaunt, but slowly develops into a dreamy pop song that unfolds over sixteen minutes, and is great for every one of them.
"Clarity" is an exceptionally well-made album of quite outstanding quality, and is probably the best record that Jimmy Eat World will ever make.
