My take is Invented, and Damage are ok. Then IB/Surviving are really good, and dare I say return to form records.
Clarity, Futures and Integrity Blues are my top 3. Invented and Damage are my bottom 2. The rest can flip flop in their rankings depending on my mood.
My top three are Futures, Bleed American and Integrity Blues. Chase This Light/Clarity fall in just after them.
It's hard for me to rank Surviving because it feels like a culmination of everything that just works about Jimmy Eat World—a roaring celebration of every album up to that point. Its not standout or exceptional by any means, but its good enough that I can't comfortably put it in between any two album's because it takes what's great about those and runs with it. I hope they try and experiment a bit more sonically with the next record because I think they've just about perfected their formula by now, even down to the mixing(I don't know of many other bands that have such a consistent, damn near perfect drum and guitar sound?), and they're far too talented to stay within those lines forever!
Futures>Clarity>Bleed American>Integrity Blues>Surviving>Chase This Light>Invented>Static Prevails>Damage I really disliked Damage when it came out, and it hasn't grown on me since then.
clarity > futures > chase this light > bleed american > surviving > static prevails > invented > integrity blues > damage
bleed american > clarity > chase this light > futures > integrity blues > damage > surviving > static prevails > invented
Clarity > Futures > Integrity Blues > Bleed American > Chase This Light > Surviving > Static Prevails > Invented > Damage
Futures Clarity Bleed American Jimmy Eat World will forever mean so much to me. I haven't fallen completely in love with their last few albums, but growing up and listening to them has so many memories. I can't believe I haven't seen them live yet.
Just re-listened to Chase This Light and Distraction strikes me as such a curious choice of a final song. Futures>>Bleed American>Integrity Blues>>Chase This Light>Clarity>>Surviving>>>>>Damage I need to give Invented and Static Prevails another re-listen, didn't feel comfortable ranking them as they weren't as fresh in the mind as the other seven. Btw, Damage is a fine record (Appreciation and I Will Steal You Back are both excellent), but it's just not on the same level as the others.
I usually stay away from ratings but I’ll play along. Clarity (my favorite album of all time) Futures Static Prevails Bleed American Invented Surviving Chase This Light Integrity Blues Damage Self titled
Fine I’m bored Futures Clarity Integrity Blues Bleed American Damage Chase This Light Surviving Invented I said surviving was at the bottom but I think I like it more than invented, at least I’d much rather listen to it in full. Like em all at least somewhat but those top 4 are what define the band to me
My rankings as of right now. Top 2 are pretty secure. The rest can move around a bit. Even the ones towards the bottom I like a decent amount. Futures Chase This Light Surviving (Might have a slight bump right now because it's still pretty new for me) Integrity Blues Bleed American Invented Damage Clarity (Yes I'm not as big of a fan of this record as most. Sorry)
Futures Chase This Light Bleed American Surviving Clarity Integrity Blues Damage Invented Static Prevails I totally get that some people were hoping for more ambition on Surviving, but I just adore that album, even still. It's such a tight and consistent collection of jams, and the lyrical themes really resonated with me. Clarity is probably a "better" record, but I don't play it anywhere near as often.
I love when I get to All The Way. The intro comes in and I feel like "yeah, this is rockin' " if that makes sense.