Jimmy Eat World are one of a number of bands who have become successful because of the way they can communicate personal feelings in such a way as to form a connection with the listener, on their breakthrough album "Bleed American"(later re-titled "Jimmy Eat World" after the events of 9/11 made them feel the original title may be offensive) they married this emotive style to some great pop/punk riffs and vocal hooks to make what a lot of fans feel is a classic album (the fact that "The Middle" appeared on endless compilations helped raise the bands profile to the mainstream rock audience also). This only serves to heighten the expectations for this follow up disc, which finds the band in similar territory both lyrically and musically for the most part.

Kicking off with "Futures" its clear that the band are not fans of the Bush administration with the opening line proclaiming "I always believed in futures, I hope for better, in November" shame that the American electorate didn't take this to heart. Its also clear that Adkins' personal relationships are still not running smoothly (unless he is writing from an observational point of view in which case he knows some pretty unhappy people!) lamenting that "I'll give you anything but you want pain" on "Just Tonight" and "just across the street, looks a mile to my feet" on "Kill".

This album is not just "Bleed American" part 2 though, and throughout the band do try and add some individual touches to some of the more generic/formulaic song.s, For instance "Drugs Or Me" could just be another ballad but throughout the track there is some dissonant feedback in the background of the mix giving you a reminder that there's something deeper going on here. As a band its clear that Jimmy Eat World bring together some varied influences with echoes of mid 80's U2 on a couple of tracks and lifting an entire intro from Doves (play "Polaris" and then Doves' "There Goes The Fear" and you'll see what I mean!) but they can still deliver the rock stuff when they get down to it, the drums and riffing in "Nothingwrong" and the first single "Pain" are as heavy as anything they've recorded to date.

In summary its fair to say that fans of the band will enjoy this new record and there may be enough single material to expose the band to the mainstream even further, personally I feel there is too much in this album that seems like filler ("Jen", "Night Drive") and this is especially disappointing when there has been a 3 year gap between records.

Let us know your views on 'Futures'

Track List

Futures
Just Tonight...
Work
Kill
The World You Love
Jen
Pain
Drugs or Me
Polaris
Nothingwrong
Night Drive
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Line  Up

Jim Adkins - Guitar/Vocals
Tom Linton - Guitar/Vocals
Mitch Porter - Bass
Zach Lind - Drums