Jimmy Eat World

Jimmy Eat World - Work

I couldn't stop myself from writing about this or sharing it. If this song is not 10 times bigger than "The Middle" I would be awfully surprised. I really hate "The Middle". This song, on the other hand, is absolutely amazing pop genius.

The song starts with an arpeggiated guitar setting the mood and a solid drum beat. As the rest of the band comes in, it's apparent that something is building. Normally bands will build up to the chorus and slam it over your head so hard it blisters by the end.

When the band gives you that half chorus before they go into the "oh-oh's", it is audio sugar. Audio chocolate. Whatever your preferable sweet is. You crave more of it. And more of it. It doesn't come too hard or too soft. Just perfect.

There is nothing about this song that is wrong, except that they use an ordinarily overused chord progression in the chorus (1-5-6-4 for those keeping score) and use it so well that it sounds like they shouldn't be allowed to do that.

The guitar solo is just right. The drums are just right. The little breaks the band makes here or there are just right. The vocal harmonies are dead on. The song is mixed like it needs to be. The lyrics are specific enough, yet vague enough for each listener to make their own decision about what the song is about or what it means to them. Did I mention the "Oh-oh's" yet? The less is more mantra fits speaks for them.

"Can we take a ride? And get out of this place while we still have time."

I think Jim Adkins acheived his idea of a perfect pop song. He did it for me.

Song of the year.

Bear Vs. Shark / Rogue Wave

Bear Vs. Shark - Ma Jolie

Trip-le-et. Never before have we heard such excessive use of the musical triplelet. It's cool though, because Bear Vs. Shark lays down a sweet groove for the verse. The best part of this song is the bad ass drum fills that you two-handed slap your steering wheel to during the chorus of the song while those passersby look at you funny. That chorus also has the much overlooked yell/wail that seems out of control like the drumming. Luckily, the guitars and bass hold down the fort with some sweet harmonies that counter that control/out of control feeling the rest of the song has.

After all the air drumming has left you exhausted, we come to the end of the song where the band pulls it all together into a nice exhale. In general, the transitions in this song are absolutely horrendous (e.g. after chorus into 2nd verse, and after 2nd chorus into the outro), but they are so endearing. This song has that right mix of seriousness, self depreciation, and silliness that just hits the spot.

If I had heard this song in 2003 when it was released, it would have been in my top 5 for the year, no doubt.


Rogue Wave - Every Moment

Simon and Garfunkel decided to have a baby with Death Cab For Cutie and name it Rogue Wave. Sweet melodies drop inbetween acoustic riffing under the near march-like tom tom tolls, while strange synthesizers make their way in and out of the song, all of which seem to work together. There is no fat in this song (obviously -- it's only 2:14 long). The song moves from one section to the next only stopping for the vocal break or to move seamlessly between time signatures. It has that tight hook that just stays in your head that makes you remember crave for those two minutes again-- "I used to think about you and me forever".