Jimmy Eat World Band • Page 343

So many good b-sides.

 

i listen to jimmy eat world every single night on my drive home from work. lately its been bleed american

 

Hey so I just listened to Big Casino and the "New Jersey Success Story" part jumped out to me. Band is from AZ so I checked Genius, and it says it's likely a Bruce Springsteen reference. Is there more to the lyric to that? Am I being dumb?

 

Big Casino by Jimmy Eat World - Songfacts

"The band's frontman Jim Adkins comments on this song on flaglive.com: "It is basically a loser's anthem. I picture a burnt out musician who moved to Vegas to work, but is holding on to the dream of a life that just gets farther away. The song is basically that character sitting down and telling an up-and-coming rocker 'how it is.'"

 

Futures, Chase this Light, Integrity blues. Bleed American.
Huge gap.
Invented, Damages. Clarity.

 

From a 2010 interview:

BE: I know you have to go, but I’ve always wanted to ask you about a line in “Big Casino.” What do you mean when you sing, “I’m a New Jersey success story?” Since you guys are from Arizona, I never got the reference.

JA: (Laughs) Right… I understand. That song was about someone who happened to be from New Jersey that for whatever reason, felt that they never got their shot in life. I used New Jersey because no one celebrates their hometown heroes like they do.

BE: That’s so true. You could see it happening with the Gaslight Anthem these days.

JA: Yep. It goes back to Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi too. They really rally behind their musical heroes over there. So I thought it was the perfect thing for “Big Casino.”

BE: That’s brilliant. Even though I didn’t know where you were coming from on that song, it didn’t take away from the impact. But knowing this fact now makes it even better. Thanks for doing the interview tonight.

JA: I’m glad I could clear that up. (Laughs) Thank you, too.

Jim Adkins interview, a chat with Jim Adkins, Jimmy Eats World, Invented

 

I can't believe My Enemy was left off Integrity Blues... I would kind of prefer it on the album instead of Get Right.

 

I would probably agree

 

Big Casino always really spoke to me... lyrically and sonically. Funny how it seems to really hit on something with others too...

"I'm the one who gets away. I'm a New Jersey success story."

 

Big casino is my girlfriends favorite jimmy eat world song by a lot. Personally, top 10 for me

 

Polaris is my favorite. It's insane how much that song means to me.

 

Def one of mine too... gets you in a mood for sure.

 

Thank you!

 

Not much gets me more hyped than hearing the opening chords to Big Casino.

 

As a New Jerseyan, I'll allow my favorite band to appropriate my state's culture for their art.

 

Only really getting into Jimmy Eat World now despite liking loads of bands that cite them as an inspiration, and listened to Clarity for the first time in full yesterday. It's pretty amazing. Favourite songs are definitely those slower ones with loads of harmonies like Table for Glasses/Ten/12.23.95 - what should I listen to next in their discography? Did Futures a while ago and really liked it but a huge sucker for these slow build-up songs with tons of vocal harmonies

 

I rediscovered Clarity a little while back, and thought Integrity Blues was the closest to that sound. Try this one.

 

Yeah there's clear parallels between Clarity and IB I think - maybe their most atmosphere-driven album since then. Though it still rips when required (Get Right, the second half of Pass the Baby, Through etc.)

 

I'm ready for a new album and single! This wait is hard.

 

My favorite JEW song rotates between like 8 different songs but today I’ll say “Just Tonight”

 

This was the song that got me into the band. Thank you, Burnout 3: Takedown for PS2 soundtrack.

 

Work, Kill, Let it Happen, Dizzy, A Praise Chorus.

Can't say those my 5 have changed much in the past several years though the top spot constantly changes.

 

I can't believe it was left off either. I wouldn't replace "Get Right" though because I wouldn't replace any songs on the album, but I feel like there was room for one more.

 

Big Casino is bottom tier JEW for me, straight cheese I just don’t get it

23, Polaris, If You Don’t Don’t, Here It Goes, Over

 

How good is the Futures title track?! Can't stop listening to it. Really should have got into this band about ten years earlier...