Owners of the previous albums, like
Clarity and
Bleed American will know what to expect on this album. Hard hitting riffs, emotional lyrics and all round unforgettable songs. But
Futures is a little heavier than the previous attempts, yet at the same time has some ground-breaking ballads. Can JEW reclaim their title as one of the best pop-punk/emo bands around?
Futures - 8/10
Amazing intro track. As soon as you hear the intro to this song, you will know what you are in for. This track is very pop-punky, and the lyrics are not JEW at all (I believe it's about the election). Nevertheless, this song is near perfect for an opening song, getting you hooked into the album for the more deeper songs.
Just Tonight... - 7/10
Brilliant follow-up to the opener. Featuring the same catchy hooks and fast drum beats you'd expect from Jimmy Eat World, the song delves into the feelings of a one night stand gone wrong. It seems to go by pretty quick, but this 3:26 is very impressive and has one hell of a bridge/solo to match.
Work - 7/10
A
damn catchy intro leading into a lovely electric ballad. A lot softer than the other 2 tracks, while keeping the same energy from them. This song will get stuck in your head, and you will be humming the melody for ages, and the solo is a nice extra as well. I don't think it needed it though, but it is quite good.
Kill - 6/10
Another slower song featuring the full band, and it's done well. But the song just lacks the energy of Work. I like the way they don't have a chorus, but it doesn't really make it that better to me. A nice song to listen to, but a skippable track as well.
The World You Love - 8/10
A great way to reclaim the downfall that the album was experiencing. Very personal lyrics, and brilliant music to match the mood. The song is quite grim, and is about the addiction to drugs, but JEW have managed to put a positive spin on the song. Very impressive and a great lead up to...
Pain - 9/10
F**king amazing. I love it. It has one of the catchiest (and simplist) riffs ever, and the drumming in the verses sounds very experimental. The song is clearly about drugs and what it does to relationships, and Jimmy Eat World spill their guts about the subject so well. One of the best title tracks of an album ever.
Drugs Or Me - 7/10
The follow-up to "Pain" in this 3 part story, this softer ballad expresses how hard it is to deal with drug addictions, especially in relationships. The music is very melodic and harmonious, and the vocal work is done so well. I think it is a little long though, which gets slightly boring. But the song itself is incredibly powerful if you listen carefully along with the other 2.
Polaris - 9/10
In the final part of the story, we see the person finally choosing drugs over his partner. Such an emotional song, the music is so wavey and light and the song is sung so smoothly. Overall this and the last 2 songs are such an impressive show of lyric-writing and music.
Nothingwrong - 9/10
After the ballad-esque songs, we hit into this. A powerful and raw song about how people who are "silent protesters" against the war on Iraq. I love this song. The energy in it is supreme and carries on until the end (Even when it just stops, you feel it kick in).
Night Drive - 9/10
In my opinion, this should've been the last song. It is beautiful in so many ways. The music is mellow and soft like a lot of the album, but carries a lot of energy with it. The lyrics are so complicated at times, but you get the picture of what's happening. This is the perfect outro song... which isn't the outro song.
23 - 7/10
OK, so this is a good outro track too. Dealing with the question "Why wait for the person you love to love you back?", the lyrics in this a lot blander than Night Drive, which is a bit disappointing. The music again is very typical JEW so you can picture it in your head. I think this could be a great song, but it's so laid-out in front of you it seems unfinished.
Shame - 8/10
I don't believe this wasn't on the album! It is an incredibly good song with amazing imagery in the lyrics and beautiful music. The guitar in the second verse is priceless! I do think it drags on a bit though for the message it sends out, which is a
shame. Geddit!?!?!!!? Oh well
When I Want - 6/10
So Jimmy Eat World cover a song from Jim Adkins side-project "Go Big Casino"? Strange. It isn't that much of an impressive song in my opinion. The music is quite boring and the lyrics are bland and, even though they are good, just aren't up to JEW standard. They should've put Jen on instead of this.
Overall this is an amazing album. From the powerful hooks of Futures, Just Tonight... and Nothingworse, to the ballads of The World You Love and 23, to the story-telling of Pain, Drugs Or Me and Polaris, this album offers everything old JEW lovers will expect, and what new fans will want to hear. Buy this album, it is certainly one of the most impressive of 2004
4/5 :D:D:D:D:upset:
Recommended tracks:- The World You Love
- Pain
- Polaris
- Nothingwrong
- Night Drive
Recommended for people who like:- The Early November - The Room's Too Cold
- Coheed And Cambria - Second Stage Turbine Blade
- Thursday - Full Collapse
- Matchbook Romance - Stories And Alibis
- Saves The Day - Stay What You Are
