Jimmy Eat World may not be the hottest or most glam band around, but one thing’s for sure – every time they roll around with a new album, it’s a must listen. Jimmy Eat World albums often have a 2 or 3-year gap between each release, and Invented is no different.

Probably hoping to recapture the success of their highest charted and most recent album, Chase This Light, which debuted at 5th place on The Billboard 200, the alt rockers reunited with Mark Trombino, who previously worked with them on their breakout hit Bleed American.

With the band’s history stretching back all the way to 1993, teenagers and young adults who have grown up listening to Jimmy Eat World will find their latest album nostalgic.

In the 21st century of rapidly changing music styles and bands, it’s indeed a marvel that Jimmy Eat World has endured 17 years in the business to remain as solid and close as they are.

It hasn’t been all a bed of roses though, as they very nearly slipped into the depths of obscurity when they decided to record Bleed American, without the help of a record label.

Taking day jobs to help pay for their jamming and recording sessions, the band suddenly found themselves courted by record labels fighting to sign them on. DreamWorks Records won out in the end and Bleed American, the album that propelled them to mainstream consciousness, was released and the rest is history.

Invented starts off with “Heart Is Hard to Find”, an upbeat bittersweet song, with backing vocals from fellow Arizona indie folk singer and songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews (she also backs “Heart Is Hard to Find”, “Movielike”, “Coffee and Cigarettes”, “Cut”, and “Invented”). Lead vocalist Jim Adkins’ mellow voice accompanied by tinkling bells and optimistic violins leaks out the honest heartbreaking emotion in the track.

Most of the 12 songs are the default pop rock love ballads typical of all of Jimmy Eat World’s previous albums, but the standout hits are definitely “Movielike” and “Littlething”.

Movielike starts off with a mild acoustic guitar and thudding drums, before adding an electric guitar to the mix, for a more rock-ish feel. Andrews’ refreshingly sweet child-like backing vocals soften the edge of the number, a well-needed injection that cleanses the aural palate and makes this a classic hit.

An addictively melodic keyboard characterizes “Littlething”, sounding out clearly among the gritty electric guitar strums. Violins and an mourning 80s-sounding electric guitar solo complete the set, gradually building up with an intensity and urgency with frantic violins and pounding drums, before deflating with a depressing yet hopeful ending.

Having been around for 17 years, yet managing to remain current and tweaking and reinventing their sound every few years, it’s not a stretch to believe Jimmy Eat World will still be here for years to come.

Despite the presence of a few unmemorable and bland tracks like title track “Invented” and “Evidence”, Invented is still a very good album that fans will love, but isn’t going to convert anyone who’s not already listening to them..

Artiste: Jimmy Eat World
Album: Invented
Rating: ★★✭✩✩
Language: English
Genre: Pop Punk
Record Label: Interscope Records
Release Date: 28 September 2010

Track list:

  1. Heart Is Hard to Find
  2. My Best Theory
  3. Evidence
  4. Higher Devotion
  5. Movielike
  6. Coffee and Cigarettes
  7. Stop
  8. Littlething
  9. Cut
  10. Action Needs an Audience
  11. Invented
  12. Mixtape