Jimmy Eat World – Damage

Veterans of punk rock, Arizona boys Jimmy Eat World have recently finished recording their eighth studio album Damage, their first release with RCA Records. The ten-track album was recorded in Los Angeles with Queens of the Stone Age producer Alain Johannes, using both analogue tape and computers during production.

I Will Steal You Back, the first single from the album was released in mid-April and debuted at No. 37 on Billboard’s alternative songs chart. A moving and emotional track, the lead single is the band’s first record since Invented from 2010. Frontman Jim Adkins’ soothing vocals are heartwarming as he sings, “Here we go, we’ll take on so much pain to feel secure, to not feel anything.”

Adkins has described the album as an exploration of relationship break-ups from the perspective of an adult, which reflects the majority of these lyrics. Whilst 2010’s Invented drew inspiration from random photographs, it’s evident that Damage has been born out of heartbreak and the stages of grief one undergoes in the process.

Long time fans will notice the drastic difference in the sonic quality of the latest album compared with the previous one. The analogue tapes provide a sense of warmth that cannot be achieved through digital recording and there is a spontaneous and raw live feel to the record that comes from it being recorded in the producer’s home. Byebyelove in particular has a dirty, scuzzy sound and You Were Good is soaked with reverb, but it certainly works well. It sounds like Jimmy Eat World are ready to steal us back.

Gemma Whitfield

Damage is released on 11^th June 2013. For further information or to order the album visit Jimmy Eat World’s website here.

Watch the video for I Will Steal You Back here: