Wow, I can’t believe I’m reviewing another genre-defining pop-punk album that is almost as old as I am. That’s right…Bleed American is celebrating its 25th year in existence, and Jimmy Eat World is going on tour in honor of this legendary album, one of Loudwire’s top 10 pop-punk albums of all time! Let’s break down the highlights of the album that provided comfort and joy to the world at a time when the nation was healing and people needed it most!
Bleed American
The title track and opener of the album is a perfectly edgy and raw look at how many of us deal with pain, whether its with pills (or whiskey) or simply telling ourselves we aren’t crazy. The riffs are catchy, the chorus gets in your head and the song really sets the tone for the remaining themes of angst and self-acceptance in the rest of the album!
A Praise Chorus
This song is really the gem of the album in my opinion. The song really captures the anxiety of your early 20s over the choices you make that shape your future in a fun, fast-paced way with killer drums and an even better bridge. The energy of this song is unmatched!
Here You Me
This song has had a special place in my heart since I was like 8 years old. It’s just so BEAUTIFUL, and is a very heartfelt tribute the band wrote for two avid fans who died in a car crash in 1997. The lyrics, “May angels lead you in,” we can apply to anyone special in our lives whom we miss or hold dear to our hearts, and this is the perfect soundtrack whenever we are feeling sentimental (as us emos often are).
My Sundown
“My Sundown” is a gorgeous, poignant closer for the album that hits home on another level. The lyrics “You’ll show them your progress, you’ll take your time but no one cares” is just…so true for SO many of us. The struggle for self-improvement while trying to battle our own inner demons while feeling that you have no support system on the outside is a reality so many of us have had to face at one time or another, and is truly probably the biggest struggle any of us will face in our lives, whether you identify as an emo or not. The realism of this song is unmatched and I can’t praise Jimmy Eat World enough for drawing attention to this issue and sympathizing with us for it, providing us an incredible anthem of solace in doing so.
Sweetness
Is there anybody that doesn’t know what comes next after the singing the iconic intro…”If you’re listening?…”. Answer: “WHOA OH OH OH OH”- one of the most infectious hooks in pop-punk history).
This song bleeds the one of the central themes of the entire album, the longing for validation, and does so in the punkiest, most energetic and coolest way guitars can do it. It’s a classic for a reason, giving all of us a emos another amazing anthem that makes us feel like we belong.
The Middle
Ah…one of the greatest emo anthems of our time, and for good reason. While “The Middle” offers rather simple lyrics about reassuring oneself during periods of insecurity, the catchy, upbeat chorus just consumes you and the music video captures teenage angst unlike any other, contributing to the complete domination this song has over many other emo tracks. This song really captures the way the emo explosion made self-acceptance fun and cool at a time when so many of us were plagued with the insecurities of growing up, and for that, “The Middle” will remain a classic in our hearts forever.
An album with the longevity that will lift you up whether you’re dealing with teenage struggles or facing the harsh realities of being an adult, check out the rest of the Bleed American album here!
Till Next Time,
XOXO,
Meagan