There have been countless albums, in so many genres, that have attempted to capture the essence of a breakup, particularly from the perspective of a person who is on the wrong side of it. I'm fairly convinced no one has ever written a better, more authentic, more accurate one than Jimmy Eat World did with Damage. I was of the same persuasion that Clarity and Futures would always stand as this band's paramount achievements, but I've now begun to ponder whether this might be better. The crushing inconclusiveness and deafening silence that accompanies lost love in adulthood has probably never been more powerfully represented than in this closing track. As someone who experienced this same continuum of sadness, I would argue that most anthems of heartbreak (even by top-notch, veteran songwriters) capture a more juvenile, primitive, and raw sense of loss. In 2013, Jimmy Eat World and Josh Ritter both released albums that truly rendered it as it is - sobering, cold, and leading to a long road of profound uncertainty and ambivalence.
You couldn't have said that any better, I agree with you. Back in the summer of 2012, I jammed out to Clarity so many times, I didn't have to listen to it, because the melodies were practically imbedded in thought. Then when Damage came out, I immediately bought it the release week, listened to every song and then relistened again and again. I fell in love with this breakup album. It was perfect. When I think of Jimmy Eat World, you either think of "Bleed American", "Futures", or "Clarity", but as time went on and when Jimmy Eat World pops into my head, I always caught myself thinking of that darn umbrella with the yellow ray of light beaming down. I can easily name this my top JEW album of all-time, which is kinda scary.
This is a more profound and well-written RUclips comment than I ever knew to expect. Very well done. 2:20 always hits hard - like driving down the highway, alone, letting the Damage settle in.
I love how the guitar and vocal track feel like they were recorded in a pretty low-fi setting with lower quality microphones, but the low drone of the strings in the background seem very high quality and studio recorded. It's a bizarre juxtaposition of sounds, but I love how the strings grow and grow over the melody.
I heard that Jimmy Eat World had described this album as "an adult breakup album". As someone who recently ended a 6-year relationship that was supposed to end in marriage, I am stunned by the accuracy of that description. The ambiguity, the mixed feelings, the terrible fuzziness of true heartbreak. Nothing simple about it. Yeah it's sad, but baby, here we are.
I like the subtlety of the droning guitar effects (or maybe it's keys/synth) through the first 3:20 or so before it starts coming more to the forefront.
This song was recorded live from start to finish. Jim Adkins sang with a guitar for the initial recording and then Tom Linton overdubbed the organ while producer Alain Johannes played some extra guitar.
My big break up took place when Integrity Blues came out, so I was listening to that a lot. I'm still healing from it and this record helps in some odd way.
This song is moving, and summed up my thought process regarding my previous relationship in it's entirety to the point where I literally succumbed to tears on the treadmill.
First i didnt like this song, what a waste by putting LoFi songs in a CD.. But then... the lyrics choked me up! This song is sad, deep and painfull. One of my JEW favs
"You got a charm you wear around your neck, reminds you of him and I can see right through. Either you're just bad at cheating or there's something in your heart you wished I knew." Can JEW write lyrics or what? Guilty. Just switch the genders. And emotional cheating, not physical. Not proud of it, judge me, I don't care. May or may not work out, no guarantees in life, but I couldn't take your shit anymore and the heart wants what it wants...so I followed it. Still love you, though.
There have been countless albums, in so many genres, that have attempted to capture the essence of a breakup, particularly from the perspective of a person who is on the wrong side of it. I'm fairly convinced no one has ever written a better, more authentic, more accurate one than Jimmy Eat World did with Damage. I was of the same persuasion that Clarity and Futures would always stand as this band's paramount achievements, but I've now begun to ponder whether this might be better. The crushing inconclusiveness and deafening silence that accompanies lost love in adulthood has probably never been more powerfully represented than in this closing track. As someone who experienced this same continuum of sadness, I would argue that most anthems of heartbreak (even by top-notch, veteran songwriters) capture a more juvenile, primitive, and raw sense of loss. In 2013, Jimmy Eat World and Josh Ritter both released albums that truly rendered it as it is - sobering, cold, and leading to a long road of profound uncertainty and ambivalence.
Beautiful.
You couldn't have said that any better, I agree with you. Back in the summer of 2012, I jammed out to Clarity so many times, I didn't have to listen to it, because the melodies were practically imbedded in thought. Then when Damage came out, I immediately bought it the release week, listened to every song and then relistened again and again. I fell in love with this breakup album. It was perfect. When I think of Jimmy Eat World, you either think of "Bleed American", "Futures", or "Clarity", but as time went on and when Jimmy Eat World pops into my head, I always caught myself thinking of that darn umbrella with the yellow ray of light beaming down. I can easily name this my top JEW album of all-time, which is kinda scary.
This is a more profound and well-written RUclips comment than I ever knew to expect. Very well done. 2:20 always hits hard - like driving down the highway, alone, letting the Damage settle in.
So true.
This album is amazing. It hurts, it strikes and pinches your heart. It makes you cry and curse the fate.
I love how the guitar and vocal track feel like they were recorded in a pretty low-fi setting with lower quality microphones, but the low drone of the strings in the background seem very high quality and studio recorded. It's a bizarre juxtaposition of sounds, but I love how the strings grow and grow over the melody.
as if he is singing through the telephone...
I heard that Jimmy Eat World had described this album as "an adult breakup album".
As someone who recently ended a 6-year relationship that was supposed to end in marriage, I am stunned by the accuracy of that description. The ambiguity, the mixed feelings, the terrible fuzziness of true heartbreak. Nothing simple about it.
Yeah it's sad, but baby, here we are.
Yeah this song from Jimmy always chokes me up
I like the subtlety of the droning guitar effects (or maybe it's keys/synth) through the first 3:20 or so before it starts coming more to the forefront.
Best opening ever:
It could have been but never was
At least the way you thought it'd be when you grew up.
To me it almost sounds like it was recorded as a voice mail? Sort of an intimate, final goodbye over a distance.
This song was recorded live from start to finish. Jim Adkins sang with a guitar for the initial recording and then Tom Linton overdubbed the organ while producer Alain Johannes played some extra guitar.
This song . Heartbreakingly lovely . No one does this the way Jimmy can .
My big break up took place when Integrity Blues came out, so I was listening to that a lot. I'm still healing from it and this record helps in some odd way.
loving the whole album, good work guys
This song is moving, and summed up my thought process regarding my previous relationship in it's entirety to the point where I literally succumbed to tears on the treadmill.
That second verse hits hard. great tune.
wonderful...the best song from Damage, I WANNA HEAR THIS GIFT IN FRANCE!
First i didnt like this song, what a waste by putting LoFi songs in a CD..
But then... the lyrics choked me up! This song is sad, deep and painfull.
One of my JEW favs
This song hurts so good.
Reminds me of ten years ago :')
so glad this is on youtube
And the voice effect toward the end is really neat.
I Luv this song. I think it's the best song yet from this band.:D Soooo awesome:)
seeing them today
just back for my daily listening. :)
Reminds me of Here Comes A Regular by The Replacements
The only reason I've stopped listenning to this album is that it's way too hard for me to handle all the emotion it evokes
daily back for reading you post :P
kinda sad there's no big splashy dizzy/23 esque tune on the album this go round, but all in all, can't wait to pop into tower to pick up a copy
Agreed at the 2 min mark..wow! 2:20 tbexact.
Love that synth thing. More heart live but this sounds like a cassette tape or something...
I feel like I'm really going to ;like this album just realized I started from the last track though
"You got a charm you wear around your neck, reminds you of him and I can see right through. Either you're just bad at cheating or there's something in your heart you wished I knew." Can JEW write lyrics or what? Guilty. Just switch the genders. And emotional cheating, not physical. Not proud of it, judge me, I don't care. May or may not work out, no guarantees in life, but I couldn't take your shit anymore and the heart wants what it wants...so I followed it. Still love you, though.
Strong finish to the album, but I think the live version from the Crescent Ballroom show has a lot more heart than this!
A new comment shall arise every year
😇👧👺🤦♂