I think that if it came out a few years later, like around the time Futures came out, then I think it would be more top tier. Like for me, I’ve always liked BA, but I never appreciated it the way do now. It took until Invented era for me to truly connect with it. The album just seemed a bit too mature for me as a 14 year old when it came out compared to everything else I was all about at the time. Whereas, I was 17 when Futures came out, in a major transition period in my life where I was forced to grow up, so it was an instant connection for me. Those few years made a huge difference for me.
I think it depends on ages. I think there are still a lot of older fans for whom Bleed and Clarity are the peak, Futures was a step down, and everything after wasn’t as good. Then I think there are a lot of fans who came of age around Futures/Chase This Light who holds those albums most dearly. And I definitely know some people for whom Invented was the big one.
I recall on rock radio stations around the time Bleed American (the single) came out, the Smooth Criminal cover by AAF was really big at that time and every time it came on the radio, I'd turn up my dads car radio. I remember exactly where we were the driving when I just heard loud distorted guitars kick on the radio and I instinctively thought "this is that Smooth Criminal song!" and turned it up. About 10 seconds later I was like "No, this is... better". That was my debut to Bleed American and Jimmy Eat World. They were immediately on my radar and have become one of my top 5 bands of all time because of this album introducing them to me.
When they were going to have their tour last year I thought maybe we’d see the Surviving bsides show up on either some streaming service or as a deluxe rerelease. Now that they threw their energies into the concert film series, probably some writing and demoing, and maybe the lapse in time, I think focusing on the tour and a new album sometime (well) after would be my guess. They had posted studio pictures though.
Bleed American was the one that got me into them and Futures was the one that made me fall in love with them.
Happy birthday to what is somehow only the fourth-best record by this band in my estimation. AND IT HAS THAT ONE SONG. FOURTH-BEST.
Futures was the first one I heard in full (definitely knew the big songs off Bleed) and it just completely knocked me on my ass.
"The Middle" was certainly my introduction to the band. That song was inescapable. I think I went a few years thinking they were a one hit wonder (i know I was young and dumb) because of that song. I genuinely can't remember when I officially got into them, but Bleed American was the first record of their's that I listened to front to back. A stone cold classic.
I also went a while thinking they were a one hit wonder, then I delved into their discography when I got into emo music and realized they are a great band. I discovered them years before I got into emo music which is funny.
I remember hearing JEW the first time from a VH1 top 20 video countdown for The Middle. I didn’t like it (I was probably 8 or 9 , I liked Creed/other “grunge” rock bands at the time lol) I thought it was corny or adult/contemporary rock for old people lol. I remember also thinking they were a huge one hit wonder band that places like VH1 would plug and then die after a while. Little did I know about their history coming up in the emo scene which I eventually would get into. Then I remember hearing “Sweetness” and being blown away. After that I heard “Work” and thinking again it sounded like adult rock lol. At 28 now, I totally understand the band. they aren’t my favorite band, and I like songs on each album, but it’s funny how kids brains work lol
Bleed American and The Middle were always cool, but Sweetness is was really did it for me. What an anthemic song.
I had heard Lucky Denver Mint, but the demo of Sweetness is the one I heard first and I’d agree that was the moment I knew I needed to find more from the band. The Middle is a great song and both are so good for different reasons.
Had never heard of Jimmy Eat World until I saw them live opening for Weezer and Tenacious D in 2001. I was blown away by their performance (in particular Get it Faster) and went out the next day and bought Clarity and Bleed American.
I grew up listening to oldies and Christian music. In middle school I discovered 3 albums, all that the same time, that changed me life. Blue album, Dookie and Bleed American.
I didn't really ever get into them until I booked them to play our spring concert. I knew the Middle and stuff but when we signed the contract I got approval to buy allllllll of their music on the school credit card and that was my real launching off point.