Jimmy Eat World is glad to explore
The band prefers songs that grow on listeners over hooky songs.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Happy again.
That’s the collective sentiment among the members of alt-rock act Jimmy Eat World, which recently released its sixth studio effort “Chase This Light.”
“We just really wanted to make a record that was full of energy and fun,” said drummer Zach Lind, calling from his Arizona home. “I think that was pretty much our experience making the record. We had a great time, and it was generally fueled by lots of pingpong and beer.”
Extracurricular activities aside, the recording of “Chase This Light” was a markedly different experience for the quartet than the creative process it went through to write and record its previous album, 2004’s “Futures.”
At that time, the band was coming off its breakthrough 2001 self-titled album (originally released as “Bleed American” but changed after 9/11), with pressure from label personnel hoping for another platinum album.
“I think there is an element of truth to that to a certain degree,” Lind said. “I think when we made ‘Futures,’ we just wanted to make a record that we were proud of. In a way we had to learn how to be a different kind of band. Or rather, we had to learn to be a band in a completely different context.”
Lind elaborates that before its self-titled effort, the band was comfortable recording and touring under the mainstream radar.
However, things changed quickly with more demands and label interest invading the Jimmy Eat World circle. It’s no wonder uncertainty and darkness define the material on “Futures,” which is certified gold.
This leads us to “Chase This Light.” Now, Jimmy Eat World — which plays Friday at the House of Blues — is happy exploring its alt-rock side.
Still, the one thing missing from the new album – as well as “Futures” – is that easily accessible pop-rock hit like its prior ubiquitous 2002 single “The Middle.”
While new tracks “Big Casino” and “Carry You” are toe-tappers, Lind said the band is more content with creating material that grows on listeners than hooky songs that appeal to tweeners.
“I think ‘Chase This Light’ is the most melodic record we’ve done in terms of just great vocal melodies from top to bottom, but it doesn’t have that one song that will go nuts at radio” Lind said. “And I think we pretty quickly came to terms with the fact that we will never have that again.
“In the end, those kinds of songs are great and really exposed our music to a lot of people, but they can easily be a double-edged sword. It’s kind of something that we’re not necessarily preoccupied with chasing.”
Perhaps the real question is whether the big hit single is what Jimmy Eat World fans want?
“I’m not sure,” Lind said. “I don’t think fans care whether songs are hits or not. I think fans listen to the music and just decide if they like it or not. We just hope at some point they check out our music and decide for themselves.”