On the heels of their self-titled EP in late 1998,
Jimmy Eat World
released their breakthrough album
Clarity
in 1999 and took up the mantle of
emo
poster boys. Deftly produced by
Mark Trombino
and the band,
mixes introspective balladry with power-chord
punk rock
, elements of
chamber pop
, and subtle doses of
electronica
to create a remarkably unique album. The only single to garner radio play, the hard-edged yet poppy
"Lucky Denver Mint,"
was also featured on the soundtrack to the
Drew Barrymore
film
Never Been Kissed
, and while the album reached an audience that far surpassed
's previous efforts, it was by no means a commercial smash hit. The band's
punk
influences are evident on
"Your New Aesthetic,"
which decries the commercialization of radio as effectively as any song since
Elvis Costello
's
"Radio, Radio."
The other songs are more personal and poignant. Using string ensembles, drum loops, chimes, piano, vibraphones, and tight vocal harmonies to create intricately layered songs,
alternates between hypnotic and
hard rock
, often in the same song. The snarl of
"Blister"
and
"Crush"
are counterbalanced by the understated beauty of
"Table for Glasses"
"On a Sunday."
However, most of the tracks mix both ends of the emotional spectrum with dramatic effects. The sweeping
"Goodbye Sky Harbor,"
which clocks in at an epic sixteen-minutes-and-eleven seconds, starts off as an up-tempo romp, but evolves into an expansive piece of
dream pop
that includes vocal loops, several layers of delicate electric guitars, bells, and a drum machine. Heartfelt, yearning vocals from
Jim Adkins
Tom Linton
tie the songs on
together and set them apart from other
post-grunge
rock
acts. Neither vocalist is afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve, but both pull it off without sounding wimpy or overly forlorn. They are also versatile enough to belt out the more aggressive tunes.
Trombino
also deserves praise for helping to brilliantly balance excellent songwriting and traditional
elements with adventurous production and unique instrumentation. ~ Mark Vanderhoff