Title:Clarity By: Jimmy Eat World Released by: Capitol Released on: 1999 Rating (out of 10): 6 Date: 06/28/2001
Clarity Isn't The Issue
Emo is another weakly defined genre (possibly more ambiguous than "alternative" or "college rock") that basically tries to describe "heartfelt guitar rock." I have also read lengthy discussions stating that bands like Jimmy Eat World are killing emo, which is short for Emotional hardcore.
Bands like The Deftones supposedly started the emo genre genre, and all of the Jimmy Eat Worlds are just disgracing the label. Others are part of the new crowd that sees At The Drive-In as emo, and Jimmy Eat World as sell-outs. Then there is Jimmy Eat World, who don't want to be placed anywhere near the label.
Before I say anything else, let us put genre behind us. Call the music whatever you will; the label is meaningless. Call it "punk-pop," call it "loud love songs," it doesn't really matter.
The focus of the album, as the title suggests, is "Clarity," as if the band intentionally went into each track, to make it as clear as possible. They played with the lyrics to try to express every song in the most understandable way. The songs are all about love, and are written from the viewpoint of a confused person with a secret crush, trying with all his might to say exactly the right thing so everyone will understand what he is trying to say. And in a way, we do.
"Crush" contains the line "Smile/Say goodnight/Say goodnight in a breath/Simple discourse breaks you clean in half."
"Ten" claims "The feelings change so fast/Safety scares them away/I can't bring myself to say it's my own advice I need. . .Our weakness is the same."
Yes, I think these songs are about me. And they are. Not only that, they probably say it better than I could say it myself. Chances are, you know someone who needs this right now. This is some of the most emotionally charged music being made. It is entirely heartfelt. This isn't Goo Goo Dolls-style whimpering, nor does it dumb down emotions and confusion to become commercially successful, though it is a tad adolescent.
As clear as its lyrics are, "clarity" isn't necessarily the issue. What Jimmy Eat World makes up for in emotion still needs work in the form department. Where it excels in melancholia, it stops short in songwriting. Its composition seems a bit too textbook, and doesn't really hold together.
Take the semi-hit single "Lucky Denver Mint" that appeared on the Never Been Kissed soundtrack. It is immediately catchy, rather successful lyrically, but then stops. This could be said of "Your New Aesthetic," "Believe What You Want," "Blister," as well as a few other tracks. They start out very promising, but fall short. It's almost annoying in the sense that they could have really gone somewhere, and they just didn't take it to the next level compositionally. This may also explain the Never Been Kissed appeal.
Clarity seems to be written as an open journal, and succeeds in that sense. As if the listener should let each track unfold itself. The meaning should be only yours. This is implied in the opening track, "Table For Glasses." The lyrics state:
It happened too fast to make sense of it
To make it last
Not asking of me anything
Saying nothing about what it means
Without anybody telling me how I should feel
Lead my skeptic sight.
If this is double entendre for a confusing relationship, as well as a suggestion for reading Clarity, it falls short.
Clarity is a worthy effort, and promising. However, viewing the album as "Table For Glasses" suggests too much. These songs are admittedly emotional, and successful in their portrayal. However, tracks like "12.23.95" take away from that promise of finding meaning in the album for yourself. And though the second half of the album is quite listenable, even beautiful in parts, it isn't memorable.
In some places, Jimmy Eat World seem to get a little too enchanted by drum-loops and digital play, and it gets the best of them.
I argue that Clarity shouldn't be viewed under the pretense of "let this album take you where it takes you." That can be said for any great work. I also argue that one of the best things Clarity has going for it is atmosphere. This album lifts you up, lets you know someone feels the same way as you do. It drifts to different sounds, and almost lulls you to sleep.
Rather than the first track being the thesis for Clarity, it would be more appropriate to view the last track as such. "Goodbye Sky Harbor," one of the strongest tracks on the album, is almost the microcosm of the album: emotional sound, emotional lyrics, effective use of electronica, and hopeful lyrics. It goes on for 16-plus minutes, fewer than 3 of which include lyrics. The rest is a digital feast of drum-loops, vocal overdubs, repetitious guitar, and none of it gets boring. It is 16 minutes of beautiful, hypnotic guitar-bridge that unfolds through new vocal dubs, organ, and drum loops, and into a conclusion of sounds sampled from the song itself and sequenced electronic beats.
I doubt Jimmy Eat World planned "Goodbye Sky Harbor" to be one of the best tracks, or the microcosm of Clarity, but it is. It emphasizes the fact that Jimmy Eat World spend too much time in the studio. Yet the album is rather hypnotic. It creates an amazing atmosphere that would be ideal for driving down a dark, deserted highway.
I'm not a big fan of the meticulous song. But when done properly, these songs are truly amazing. Much like Yo La Tengo's recent "Night Falls on Hoboken," somehow, 16 minutes doesn't seem too much, in fact, you wish it went on longer.
It is this closing track that keeps me most hopeful. Clarity isn't the issue, boys; you are as clear as can be. The emotion is still the strong point, as it should be. "Goodbye Sky Harbor" makes this album. If only every song on this album could be as full as this is. Not length-wise, but content-wise. Don't become too preoccupied with digital effects, don't stop short with repetitive hooks. Let each track graciously unfold and become a work of its own. Don't go by the textbook. The modern-rock textbook is boring. You've got melancholia working for you, as well as honesty. Just focus on the songwriting.
