LonghornMan's Full Review: Split by Jimmy Eat World/Jebediah
The Jimmy Eat World & Jebediah six track split EP was released in August of 2000 on the independent label Big Wheel Recreation. After Jimmy Eat World lost their record deal with Capitol they released this EP and Singles before signing a deal to record. The EP is made up of three tracks from Jimmy Eat World and three tracks from the Australian band, Jebediah. Up to this point, Jebediah, who incidentally named their band after the founding father of the Simpson’s hometown of Springfield, had experienced far better luck than most fledgling bands. They played only twelve shows before winning a band contest that secured them a record deal. They were signed by Mushroom, a subsidiary of Sony Music, to a recording contract without so much as a garage demo. Apparently, their live performance was so impressive that record company representatives signed them with no hesitation.
After hooking up with Jebediah for this split EP, Jimmy Eat World experienced a great deal of good fortune as well. They spent their own personal money recording Bleed American and were signed by Grand Royal. The only reason I can see for Capitol dropping them in the first place is lack of mass appeal and poor record sales. Clarity was the album that introduced me to the musical styling of Jimmy Eat World. I never heard any of their music before one of my buddies gave me Clarity for my birthday. When it was first release, I bought Bleed American. I was impressed, but the commercial bells and whistles that originally drew me to the songs wore thin after listening to the album many times and having to hear a few of the tracks on the radio everywhere I went. It wasn’t like Clarity, which I could listen to over and over again without getting sick of it.
When I saw this EP in a record store in Chicago, I had to have it. Could this be the Jimmy Eat World I knew and loved? Who the h-e-double hockey sticks is Jebediah? My thirst for the knowledge of these baffling questions would soon be answered when I popped the CD in. I was pleased to discover that I had obtained the lost ark of Jimmy Eat World material for which I had been searching.
This split EP is divided so that the first three tracks of the EP are performed by Jimmy Eat World and the last three tracks are presented by Jebediah.
Jimmy Eats World kicks off the EP with The Most Beautiful Things. This seems to be a song about a woman who says very beautiful things and those that know her want to truly understand the meaning of her musings. It’s a medium paced song that works very well. It’s definitely a track worth listening to. The guitar is soothing and sets the mood of the song perfectly.
Track two is titled No Sensitivity, but I’m surprised that they didn’t call it "I’m Takin’ My Kisses Back" due to the extremely repetitive chorus that repeats, yes, you guessed it, “I’m takin’ my kisses back ohh ohh, I’m takin’ my kisses back from you.” Though the chorus is repetitive, to me, it does nothing but enhance the song and give it a truly emo sound. This is due largely in part to the fact that it is sung with an emotionally charged perfection that keeps it from coming off as cheesy. The song starts out slowly and morphs into an emotionally charged track.
The song Cautioners closes Jimmy Eat World's set on this EP. Yes, this is the same song from Bleed American, but it is slowed down and drawn out just a bit more than the one that appears on the LP. The singing is a bit more emotional and less polished than the Bleed American version making it much more heartfelt. Fans of Jimmy Eat World who loved the older stuff in addition to Bleed American will especially enjoy this one.
The fourth track starts off Jebediah's series of three songs with Animal. Lyrically this song is nothing less than poetic. “I’m inseparable when I’m heat, It’s my animal,” is the chorus and it fits nicely with this up-tempo song. The only problem is that musically it doesn’t come off much more than a little better average emo track. This is especially true if you listen to it in the order of the CD. It comes after Cautioners which is truly a hard act to follow.
Jebediah's second offering on the EP is The Less Trusted Pain Remover. This is a relatively bland medium paced song that will probably fade into emo obscurity. It’s spiced up in the chorus with high-pitched ooh hoo ooh ooh’s and that’s really all that saves it from being less than memorable and bland.
The EP closes with Harpoon. While EP’s and LP’s alike are notorious for ending in weak tracks, Jebediah chooses to break form and end with an extremely strong song. The lead singer, Kevin Mitchell’s nasal voice fits this song tighter than retro T-shirt with red piping. The lyrics are well crafted and tell the story of a guy who loves a girl, but does not believe there is any hope for their relationship. The guy describes how this break up is piercing his heart like a harpoon. Out of nowhere the song’s plot twists like an O. Henry short story and the guy begs for her to come back. It’s a great song that covers the gambit of emotions that take place during those all to familiar break up and get back together situations. This is easily Jebediah's best track on the EP.
I really enjoyed this EP, but wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to those who are only impressed or enamored with Jimmy Eat World’s radio friendly tracks from Bleed American. Where Bleed American does more to showcase their abilities as a mainstream rock band, this EP reminds listeners of the highly talented band that engineered the emo masterpiece, Clarity. Die-hard Jimmy Eat World fans will most definitely want to obtain this EP. Listeners who don’t think they can look past Bleed American might as well forget about this one. Anyone who wants to hear quality emo music will enjoy this one.
I haven’t gotten around to picking up any other work by Jebediah, but I plan to do so. They are very reminiscent of Jimmy Eat World's earlier work in that they are an extremely talented emo band whose music looms just inches away from pop stardom without striving for fame and acclaim. Sure, you won’t hear them on the radio, but who wants to hear them on the top nine at 9:00 going up against Seether anyway? They have two LP’s, Slighl Odway and Of Someday Shambles and an EP, Twitch available in addition to this split EP.
I think that one of the reasons that I enjoyed this EP so much was that it was like attending a concert where your favorite band is headlining and you expect nothing from the forthcoming opening band. Then, all of a sudden, you are stunned and dumbfounded by the musical delights to which you’re being treated. It was definitely a quality musical journey that I encourage others to embark on.
Pertinent Information
Tracks Jimmy Eat World
1) The Most Beautiful Things 3:52
2) No Sensitivity 3:41
3) Cautioners 3:49
Jebediah
4) Animal
5) The Less Trusted Pain Remover
6) Harpoon
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