Jimmy Eat World is different. Yes, their sound is anything but at this point. This is because they, almost single handedly, spawned an entire generation of artists searching for what Jimmy Eat World has always had, heart. Seventeen years and seven albums into their career, Jimmy Eat World proves they still have what it takes to create an intricate and introspective rock record.

The differences between Invented and most other Jimmy Eat World records is noticeable from the first seconds of “Heart Is Hard To Find.” There is no explosion of sound, no pulsing guitars, no singalong chorus, yet there is a song worth listening to over and over again. Over an acoustic guitar Jim Adkins sings carefully about trying to find the best in complicated situations. The song really takes off once the waves of instrumentation kick in and surround Jim’s voice. “My Best Theory,” the first single, is exactly what fans have come to expect. A driving lead guitar riff followed by Zach Lind’s always solid drumming kickstart the song. The chorus is huge and begging to be screamed at the top of your lungs, something fans will have no problem with.

“Evidence” has already proven to be a rocker live (I was lucky enough to see a show at Starland Ballroom over the weekend). “Higher Devotion” is considerably more electronic than the bulk of the band’s catalog but it isn’t a bad thing at all. The chorus is buoyed by a tight vocal harmony featuring Courtney Marie Andrews, who appears on the album five times and is joining the band on their current tour. As “Higher Devotion” fades out the best one-two punch on the record begins with “Movielike.”  Adkins laments the loss of a lover over a beautifully crafted soundscape. The pain in his voice is apparent as he croons “This time believe it // Believe me // This time you’d better believe it // You know I’m gone.”  

Jimmy Eat World already has incredible encores, filled with tracks like “The Middle,” “Pain,” and “Sweetness.” With “Coffee And Cigarettes,” they are soon to become exponentially better. The song is a flat out rocker; complete with the catchiest chorus on the record and lyrics that everyone can relate to.  “When I finally finished school // It was the first thing that I did // What every townie kid dreams of // I packed and started west.”  Everyone has dreamed about getting out of their town and starting a much more fulfilling life somewhere, anywhere else. This song perfectly captures that feeling in only a way Jimmy Eat World can.

There’s a certain amount of skill involved with writing the perfect “screw you”. Jim Adkins has it down to a science and “Stop” is proof. “Don’t have to be the prettiest // If you have the mind and willingness // No one stops a girl who knows what she’s got.”  Not exactly the nicest collection of lines on the record but some most emotionally charged and the band knows how to create the perfect platform for them.

Jimmy Eat World has a history of crafting epic album closers (“Goodbye Sky Harbor,” “23,” “Dizzy”) and Invented does not disappoint.  In fact, it contains back to back closer worthy track with the title track and then “Mixtape.” The two feel as if they could just be part one and part two of the same song with slow burning guitar riffs and introspective lyrics. Fans will surely be pleased.

Jimmy Eat World has made a career out of creating perfect little moments within entire records. They consistently take the time to add small flourishes that a lesser band would leave out. Invented is, without question, one of their most powerful records to date. Borrowing parts from both Clarity and Futures so successfully that it’s astonishing. If they continue to grow like they have been it’s a solid bet that the best is still yet to come. Count me amongst those eagerly waiting.

****/*****

*This review was composed by Dan Beach