A classic revisited.
Back in 1996 Jimmy Eat World were raw and fuzzy; much heavier riffs and a lot of emotive screaming mark this album from later releases. Listening to this debut album again, just over ten years after its release brings home the amount of time that's passed; not only were they far less radio friendly in those days, but it's incredible how much younger they sound vocally. This was a brilliant debut release, aggressive and fast paced with punk influenced rhythms and riffs but really melodic and catchy; like many other bands around at the time like The Get Up Kids and even Nada Surf to an extent, they combined emotional pop with fuzzy guitars to create a heady mix that was really easy to connect to.
"Static Prevails" is definitely of a certain time, but it still holds its own today, the melodies sound as uplifting and emotionally charged as they did the first time round and the added edge of the heavy guitars and sometimes sweeping epic length instrumental sections makes it a really compulsive and satisfying listening experience. What they do so well is evident on tracks like 'Digits'; beginning with a gentle, melancholy guitar riff that seems like it's not going anywhere, meandering along slowly until suddenly at two and a half minutes you're woken up with a slap as it bursts to life with a brilliant pop tune, fast, heavy and so bouncy you can't help singing along.
Jimmy construct this mix so well, they produce brilliantly formed pop tunes with sing along choruses and on this album every one is a winner; tracks like the classic album opener 'Thinking, that's all', an instantly memorable tune with punchy chugga riffs and staccato rhythms; 'Rockstar' which is a master class in how to write an anthem and 'Seventeen' which is full on heavy emo. Then you have the quieter moments; Jimmy have always had a softer side to their sound, in fact at times it almost verges on cheese. 'Episode IV' is one of these tracks; slow rhythms, crooned vocals, the kind of track that gets played at the end of the night for couples to dance to, but for some reason its brilliant. In the context of the album they manage to pull off all manner of cheesiness. This track sums them all up; it's quiet fuzz and honest lyrics don't make you cringe, but bring goose bumps out on your skin.
Ten years on is this album still worth a listen? The answer has to be a definite yes. If you're a fan you will probably want this for the two extra tracks included here but even if you're just curious about Jimmy's origins you could do far worse than investing in this rerelease.