In the mid-2000s I became a big fan of the emo punkers Jimmy Eat World. I met the woman who would become my wife and she was all about their 2004 record Futures. We front-to-backed that album a bunch of times and went back and sifted through the earlier stuff, Bleed American, Clarity and Static Prevails.
By 2007, Jimmy Eat World were dropped from their label…so the band went back to their roots and self financed 2007’s Chase This Light. The same thing happened to the band after Clarity, and they self-financed their commercial breakthrough record, Bleed American!
Chase This Light wouldn’t sell the huge amounts of Bleed, but then the times were different, but Chase This Light would be their highest charting record. It is also one of my favourites from the band and era in modern rock.
I don’t know why I’ve been feeling nostalgic for the record lately, but I have been and recent;y put it back on my phone to listen to on the commute.
I think what kept this album from being a monster for the band was a lack of a bonafide modern rock hit. That said, it’s a pretty good listen all the way through with some strong cuts. The lead single is a song called “Big Casino” which did chart respectfully on the radio back in ’07/08.
The song takes it’s title from lead singer Jim Adkins side-project Go Big Casino.
Back in 2007, I asked bass player Rick Burch to tell me what the song is about.
“it’s about the old jaded guy trying to tell the young kids coming up ‘you gotta do it this way.’ But if he knew how to do it, then why didn’t he do it? Why is he the janitor at the place? Well if you knew how to why didn’t you do it? Why are you here? Why aren’t you on top?”
Also…I bought Bleed American from Urban Outfitters for $20 today…so that was a thing that happened.
Go with yourself.
