This album is just on a different level compared to the other Jimmy albums, which considering the strength of their discography is saying something! Justin Meldal-Johnsen’s production really does wonders for the album, especially in the bass department, and it really enhances the overall sound and feel of the album and pulls you in. Then there’s the lyrics, again, Jim’s best to date with a level of introspection and framing that is incredibly poignant.
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You Are Free, The End is Beautiful and Pol Roger are all perfect example of this. I’ve already mentioned that as someone who has struggled with their sexuality for a long time, listening to You Are Free for the first time was over whelming. Especially the lines, "Amazing the effort we put in / Amazing the emotional bridges, tunnels, roads, and ways / We go around what's one step from our face". And, " Everyone has their opinions / But I'm the one that's gotta walk it / So much fear to get over / And so much pain to get past / Wish there was an easy way through / Wish there was a way to learn it all / And have my bright new shiny tools / Without the cost attached". The anthemic nature of the lyrics are then all encapsulated and enhanced by the swelling guitars and drums (I really love the drumming on this track, especially before the chorus).
You are Free is then followed by The End is Beautiful and having really immersed myself in this album for this discussion these two one after another had me on the verge of tears. “I was taped up to fight / I had my speech ready / Then like only you can, you stole the air out from me” is another line that gets me and perfectly articulates that experience of being frustrated with someone but you both realising that the anger is useless. The really stripped back instrumentation of this track really lets Jim’s vocals shine as well, there’s so much pain and yet acceptance in his delivery.
Jims vocals are just great on this album, he doesn’t have the strongest voice or a massive range but he pours such emotion into his delivery on every song. There are three moments that really stuck out to me, the first being the one I’ve mentioned a few times now from Pol Roger, “I'd say get on and close the bedpost curtains / Pretend the ground is fire / I know that'd make you smile” with the wistfulness in the delivery, you can almost hear the smile. Pol Roger is also just an incredible closer, I like the explanation someone gave a while back about it being about long distance relationships, which with the bands lifestyle you’ve got to imagine is a really personal one for Jim. I think there’s also a running theme in it of being ok by yourself, which I’m maybe reading too much into but it’s a theme I relate to. Then the title track has probably his strongest vocal performance to date and again lyrically it’s just so poignant and encapsulates the theme of the album that was summarised in the letter that Jim published when announcing the album. The final one is actually earlier on the album on Pretty Grids the line “There's a chance I meet your eyes if I move in”, for want of better words, there’s a real swagger and smoulder to his delivery of that line, which given I think he said the song is about the start of a relationship when everything is new and exciting fits really well. The bridge on Pretty Grids is amazing and the bass line after if is so good!
The bass on Pass the Baby is so good as well but in general it’s kind of a weird one for me. Jim has apparently said it's about the unintended effects of manipulation and it coming back to bite you. Lyrically I can't see that but musically I completely get it, the song does a complete 180 coming in with that end break down section which is unreal live. It flows nicely into Get Right which is a solid rocker and bridge really elevates it. I also relate to the theme of being so set on this ideal future/goal that you don’t focus on the here and now. Through is also another great rocker with a great solo and a welcome burst of energy after the emotional wrangling that was You Are Free and The End is Beautiful.
The first three songs are probably the weakest of the album, You With Me I actually really do like, the choir opening (I’m not sure if that’s the correct term so feel free to correct me) is beautiful. Sure and Certain and It Matters both just don’t click with me for some reason, I think it’s that even despite the heart breaking lyrics of It Matters, they both just feel flat compared to the other songs? Plus, I definitely overplayed Sure and Certain before Integrity Blues came out and was bitter it was an encore song when I saw them live during this tour.
Integrity Blues is just such a personally resonant album, it came out about a month after I had finished my Masters, was unemployed and feeling directionless and without any real purpose which just left me in a really bad place and I really needed this album. Which is why I don’t expect to like Surviving as much, but I am still looking to forward to it!
Integrity Blues is taken from Jimmy Eat World’s, Integrity Blues Acoustic EP.
Jimmy Eat World is an American rock band from Mesa, Arizona that formed in 1993. The band is composed of vocalist and lead guitarist Jim Adkins, rhythm guitarist and vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind.
