Fans of the group’s most infectious pop-rock tunes might hail this as a “return to form”, while disciples of their moodier, atmospheric side (a la Futures or Integrity Blues) will inevitably see it as two steps backwards.

With a group as renowned as Jimmy Eat World, there’s always a tradeoff to be had. Their last effort floated in on shimmering acoustics and soaring, ethereal vocals, but Surviving cuts right to the chase with very down-to-earth electric chords and familiar, memorable song structures. Rather than riding the wave of critical success that was garnered by Integrity Blues, here Jimmy Eat World opts for something less glazed and polished. So where does Surviving land on that spectrum? Before I delve into that, it’s important to note that the band’s tenth full-length represents an interesting curve in their trajectory. In a recent interview with NME, frontman Jim Adkins described the band’s approach to making music in a way that neatly summarized my longstanding appreciation for their craft: “We’re not chasing anything, we’re not trying to present something that isn’t authentically what we’re into…what we’re presenting is at least coming from a place of honesty.” It’s precisely for this reason that even my least favorite Jimmy Eat World records still hold at least some personal value to me and, moreover, it’s why my favorite albums of theirs are absolute classics. If I can recall exactly where I was and who I was with the first time I ever spun a record, that’s what separates it from the thousands of others that have passed through my ears. Exactly what “it” is can change from person to person, but for me it’s an artist’s ability to write music that you can create memories to. Some may shroud this effect in mystique by referencing the “it” factor when describing one of their favorite bands. Their material is very catchy, sure, but that’s what wins over ears – not hearts. Any time that I try to pinpoint Jimmy Eat World’s core essence – or what has enabled them to hold my interest over the course of ten albums and twenty-five years – my answer typically comes back to the emotion behind their music.

Jimmy eat world albums in order