Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle” is a quintessential emo anthem. It’s even seen a recent spike in activity, owing to Taylor Swift’s Apple Music ad, but Integrity Blues, the band’s most recent album, shows a significant departure from Jimmy’s pop-punk roots. Integrity Blues is nearly unrecognizable, leaving behind angsty alternative sounds for experimentation in vibrant synth beats.
The change is noticeable right away from the album opener, “You With Me.” The more die-hard Jimmy Eat World fans will find comfort in the thrumming bass and snappy drums, but it undoubtedly ushers in a new era for Jimmy Eat World, featuring a graceful choir and harp-esque guitar riffs. It’s bright and cheery, but masks more haunted lyrics. Frontman Jim Adkins’ ponders over a failed relationship, crooning out the question, “What makes our love so hard to be?/ Is it you or is it you with me?”.
The middle of the album takes on a darker tone, and while the earlier tracks danced with more playful melodies, songs like “Pretty Grids” and “Pass the Baby” feature heavier synth beats and lyrics like, “If it gets too ugly/ Well, that’s our industry/ We feed and feed.” These songs are simultaneously jarring and seamlessly integrated, a sharp contrast from floaty songs like “Sure and Certain” and “It Matters.” The way Adkins’ vocals melt away into even the edgier guitar riffs make it clear they belong on this album. Adkins is a phenomenal singer, but his vocals aren’t the highlight of the album. Rather, his voice blends seamlessly into the backing instrumentals, managing to strike a balance where neither the vocals nor the instrumentals dominate.
Listening to Integrity Blues is a sensory experience, and it’s an album that’s able to evoke feelings of nostalgia without using lyrics as an expository crutch. Even before Adkins begins to sing, the backing instrumentals have already begun to tell the story of the track. Even without knowing the name of “The End is Beautiful,” the piano and plucky guitar bring to mind bittersweet goodbyes (though one can’t help but question if the inclusion of the various G-notes throughout the song is a nod to the other quintessential emo anthem a la MCR). In “Through,” the plodding guitar riff feels like the bubbling obstinacy of adolescence.
From there, it’s a smooth ride to the denouement. The title song, “Integrity Blues” is somber and sad, driven by solemn trumpets and organs, with the overall message of, “A fool/ Just wants and wants and wants and wants/ It’s all what you do when no one is there/ It’s all what you do when no one cares.” It plays like an orchestral piece, and Adkins delivers his gospel with the resigned conviction of a broken man. It’s poignant and troubled, but it’s right at home on Integrity Blues.
Integrity Blues is a beautifully evocative album, composed of music you feel just as much as you hear. The album itself plays like a movie with each track reading like a scene; each song has a distinct story yet somehow they all come together to tell one cohesive narrative. Integrity Blues diverts stylistically from their past, shaking Jimmy Eat World free from the burden of their one hit wonder with the perfect balance of lightness and gritty realness, Jimmy Eat World takes their listeners on a near spiritual journey.
Voice’s Choices: “You Are Free,” “Through,” and “Integrity Blues”
