Jimmy Eat World - Integrity Blues (October 21, 2016) Album • Page 171

You probably have the most unique JEW ranking of anyone I've ever met, haha

 

Thanks lol. I have to go with what I prefer to listen to or am more drawn to, and what makes me feel good, rather than what I think is objectively more accomplished for the band. I know S/T isn't as sophisticated or varied as Invented (though there still is a lot of great creative energy that went into it), but that can't take away from the fact that I'd just rather listen to S/T than Invented when given the choice. It's a gut thing.

Edit: It's like horror films. I know they're usually not very accomplished films but you know, I'd rather watch a trashy horror than Citizen Kane. 1994 S/T is just easy for me to enjoy, without being groundbreaking. I acknowledge that CTL and Invented are probably better though, by most metrics.

 

Ha, I get that! Futures will always top my list largely because of nostalgia, so it's not like there's an exact science to ranking albums. I just don't think I've ever seen someone put self-titled anywhere other than at the bottom--if they rank it at all, which they usually don't.

 

Out of curiosity, was Damage the first JEW album you'd ever heard? Cause if not I'm surprised you hold it so high. I mean, I love the record but it's definitely not their best.

I'm mostly surprised to see Static above IB and CTL though.. and really anything to be honest. Guess it just goes to show what a great catalog these guys have haha. Love seeing the varied opinions..

 

I mean, I can see legitimate arguments for almost any of them being number one. Damage included. That's just a very personal, hard-hitting record if you hear it at the right time.

 

y'all must be trippin

 

You're not wrong. I just don't know what it is about "Damage" that doesn't draw me back in like their other stuff. I really love the lyrical content and I don't dislike any of the songs.. I actually loved it right off the first listen. But for some reason it's the one I come back to the least.

I think I need to give it another full spin. It's been a while..

 

idk i've lived with the new one for a month now and it's v special

 

I think for a lot of people it's the production. It sounds pretty great on vinyl and there's really nothing "wrong" with it, but hearing that album alongside their others, it just doesn't sound as good. There's also not that one standout track that's almost unanimously recognized as one of their best, so it doesn't have the same kind of anchor that Futures or Chase This Light or even Invented has.

 

Nope. The first JEW album I heard was Bleed American in 2001. Damage's lyrics just really connected with me on a level that none of their other albums have. I got so sucked into the album's narrative that it left a pretty significant imprint on me. I know I'm in the minority on that though. Prior to Damage, I would always say that Futures was my favourite album of all time (and prior to the release of Futures I would say that Clarity was my favourite album of all time, and prior to hearing Clarity I would say Bleed American... you get the picture).

 

No I meant about Bleed American at #6 lol

How does that occur

 

Yeah Damage is incredibly consistent in that every song is pretty good, but none are outstanding. But the album winds up being more effective than the sum of its parts because of how the songs work together lyrically.

 

Love to rank albums twenty times in a week

 

next one is scheduled for october 27th right after i eat lunch

be there or be square

 

Damage has come around in me again recently, probably more so than it ever has before. The production doesn't bother me and it never has. I think it makes the album pretty unique in their discography. However, the songwriting is a lot more simplistic on that album. It isn't as layered and grandiose as their other albums. The stripped down nature of the songwriting and production of Damage really benefits the lyrical content on that album, but I really wouldn't be surprised to see it low on any lists because it's not their most captivating album. It's really cool to see it high up on some lists though. Definitely a good album.

 

tbh i too was surprised. i blame this site for my opinion about chase this light shifting so much over the past year. when it came out i thought it was "bleed american 2: less good"

 

Yeah, I personally never had a problem with the production up front but it could totally be a subconscious factor. Agreed that it sounds great on vinyl. My standout tracks were always "You Were Good," "Please Say No," and "How'd You Have Me."

From 2010-2013 I practically listened to nothing but JEW. That's when I really got into them, and they connected with me through a lot during that time period. After I played out "Damage," I really didn't listen to JEW again until this year, aside from maybe a few tracks here and there. I feel like "Damage" was the closing of that period of my life and their entire discography was attached to too much that I just couldn't listen to any of it for a while (also because it was all I played for like 3 years!)

"Damage" might still feel played out to me is what I'm saying.. but I haven't given it another fair shot yet. Too wrapped up in the new record at the moment haha

 

MBDTF <Late Registration<808's <Pablo <CD <Yeezus <Graduation

 

Totally understandable. "Please Say No" is one of my favorite JEW songs lyrically. Lots of great writing on that record.

But I do have to heavily disagree with you calling "The End Is Beautiful" a "poor man's Please Say No" hahaha

 

Jimmy Eat World


















Kanye West

 

i really don't find the transition in PTB to be all that seamless or perfect as most others seem to think. i still love that song, just pointing something out.

 

Damage is amaaaazing. Lyrics are fantastic. Not a single bad song on that album, and the triple punch of the opening of the album is among the best in their discography (then Book of Love comes in with the sprinkles on top). Invented is also pretty amazing-- a lot of the songs remind me of the Stay On My Side Tonight EP. Evidence, Movielike, Littlething, and the title track are some of my most played JEW tracks. For those who havent heard either album in awhile, I recommend listening to it again.

As for this album, I've listened to it a good amount of times to realize it's better for late night listens with headphones with cool air surrounding you. I like it a lot and I need many more listens because this band deserves that-- but i cant say i like it as much as Invented or Damage, but maybe a little more than Chase This Light.

 

Haha. Well I just think they're similar. Soft, acoustic, emotional songs with a chorus that repeats one line over and over. Please Say No is one of my favourite Jimmy Eat World songs (those damn lyrics) so it was always going to be tough to beat.

 

The front half of Damage is imo some of the best work they've done, but between the flat production (not bad, just not dynamic enough to make my heart flutter the way their other work does) and a few clunkers near the end (ByeByeLove is probably my least favorite JEW song ever.) it moves Damage down the list.

There are also a few songs on Damage that are really hampered by the mix - I Will Steal You Back and How'd You Have Me are both wonderful songs but still sound messy to me. I would love to hear how these songs would sound produced and mixed differently.

 

I think if Damage was mixed by Justin Meldal-Johnsen then it could actually be a fan favourite album. No way of knowing though. The album certainly has catchy songs, they just don't have the punch of their other works.

How'd You Have Me fucking rules.