This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.
Clarity is the third studio album by American rock band Jimmy Eat World. It was released on February 23, 1999, through Capitol Records, with which Jimmy Eat World clashed several times while recording their second studio album Static Prevails (1996). The band recorded a follow-up with producer Mark Trombino in May and June 1998, and were free to make it however they wanted without interference from Capitol. The recording sessions began at Sound City in Van Nuys, California, before moving to Clear Lake Audio in North Hollywood, California. Clarity, which is described as an emo, pop punk, and punk rock release, marked the beginning of frontman Jim Adkins' tenure as the band's main vocalist, taking over from guitarist Tom Linton. Following the release of Jimmy Eat World's self-titled second EP (1998), "Lucky Denver Mint" began airing on radio in January 1999. "Lucky Denver Mint" and "Blister" were released as singles in 1999; a music video was later made for the former, which was directed by Darren Doane. Jimmy Eat World went on a six-week tour of the United States, and appeared on that year's Warped Tour. In spite of promotion for "Lucky Denver Mint", Clarity was deemed a commercial failure, and Capitol dropped the band in August 1999. The band then toured Europe, and played three US shows before going on a break. Clarity was released worldwide in 2001, where it was promoted with "Lucky Denver Mint" and "Blister". The album has been re-released several times, and has been performed in its entirety by the band on multiple occasions. Clarity reached number 30 on the US Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, and peaked at number 47 in Germany. Despite receiving favorable reviews from music critics, many of whom praised the dynamic instrumentation, it was commercially overlooked upon release, but has since amassed cult status and further critical acclaim, and is lauded as one of the best emo albums of all time by publications such as Kerrang!, LA Weekly, and Rolling Stone. Some music critics have credited the album as a huge influence on later acts such as Something Corporate, the Wonder Years, and Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional.
Another ok album by Jimmy Eat World. Fine uptempo rock songs that are nice, but not remarkable. (I'll never get the necessity to make albums like these that long).
I was surprised to have a second Jimmy Eat World album suggested for this list. It was expectedly good and I did enjoy it. I wouldn’t take a second Jimmy Eat World slot for this on a list of 1001 albums - Bleed American fits the spot nicely - but I liked listening to this. Until Goodbye Sky Harbor overstayed its welcome by about 9 minutes. It was a bit much and really started to annoy me. Won’t be finishing out that song again any time soon.
Not as good as "Bleed American", but very nearly (helped by having a demo version of one of my favourite BA tracks) - and still absolutely a five star album for me. An interesting choice, thoroughly deserving of being nominated.
Sweetness is such a millennial banger my lord is this just the biggest throwback. The next edition of this book should feature at least one Jimmy record.
Pop Punk til I die
Some lesser known songs. A bit more emo than poprock. Good album non the less
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Lucky denver mint, Blister, Christmas card
March 29, 2025 HL: "Table For Glasses", "Lucky Denver Mint", "Your New Aesthetic", "Ten", "Just Watch the Fireworks", title track They have more songs besides "The Middle"? While listening to this, my brain drew comparisons to post-Britpop like Coldplay, Travis & Doves, but that's more the fault of the 1001 for not really giving heed to the emo subgenre, or my fault for not listening to much emo on my own. Initially I didn't think it had the chops to wow me over 70 minutes, but take out the 2 bonus tracks, and after realizing that "Goodbye Sky Harbor" is just a really long coda, I concluded it's pretty standard length for a CD release. Clarity has a really great 3 song run at the beginning, but doesn't lose too much momentum after that. It does the sugary, strings + glockenspiel stuff as well as the power-chord-chugging tunes. Perhaps credit is due to Trombino, the producer who also worked on the Drive Like Jehu & Rocket From the Crypt from the OG list, for making it all flow so nicely. In sum- lots to enjoy about the more melodic side of emo.
Emo punk
I love J-E-W but this is my least favorite of theirs. I didn't hate it, obviously, but it's a solid 3.5/5. Rounding down to 3 though due to it being somewhat repetitive.
I would rate this as pretty alright. 3 stars.
You know it’s gonna be fine when the synopsis begins with ‘though largely ignored upon its 1999 release’
Eh, this is ok? Doesn't really get up and go. A bit too "safe". Maybe Courtney Barnett yesterday was too much of a palate cleanser, because this voice just sounds TOO IN TUNE by comparison lol. 3/5 middle of the road.
This didn't not do a whole lot for me. I didn't dislike it but I found it a little too soft, and frankly bland.
Emo, punk rock, pop-punk. Ni fu ni fa.
The early Jimmy eat world before they hit the mainstream with all their classics. Clarity was a solid pre Y2K album with the alternative edginess and rock. It was an album that showed progression from the grunge of the 90s to the pop era of the 2000s. Jimmy eat world hit that perfect middle with bleed American but clarity was the stepping stone that was a little deeper and darker. Solid album. 7.4/10
This was really good. Great hooks, subtly creative arrangements, dreamy harmonies. Such a fun listen. My main critique would be that this really could have been edited down to be a much tighter/better album. Fave Songs: Lucky Denver Mint, Table for Glasses, Just Watch the Fireworks, Crush, Ten, Believe in What You Want
This didn’t come close to bleed American at any point but I still mostly enjoyed it until the last song went on for 16 minutes in the most annoying and repetitive way possible and left an incredibly sour taste in my mouth. I don’t remember the last time a final song ruined so much goodwill.
Quite whiny, but not bad
It’s CLEAR to me this is just ok
Usually a fan of Jimmy’s output, but this LP left me wanting pretty severely compared to their usual fare. The guitar never quite seemed to kick in, the tracks left mostly soft and uninspiring instrumentally. Couple this with uncharacteristically pleading, whiny, and repetitive vocal lines, and the whole thing was mostly unappealing to listen to. Not sure if this is a function of only having the expanded version to listen to, but this album was so uniformly bland that I don’t think any editorializing would’ve helped.
It suddenly has good musical intentions, good rhythms, but I feel like it never quite gets going once I've finished a song. I can't say it's great, but I can't say it's bad either; maybe it's just the musical approach or intention. Track 13 is the one that best defines the album.
It's incredibly tempting to rate this as 3-stars, because the middle-of-the-road stuff on here is absolutely, purely and comprehensively middle-of-the-road. However. The opening track (Table For Glasses) is excruciatingly awful. A snare drum every 3 seconds and a twiddly guitar accompanying a whiny dirge. Oh hey! Some dude's been given a glockenspiel! The upbeat stuff is, by way of relief, a joy in comparison, but when looked at outside the context of the juvenile emo-ish dirges, it's literally just OK. It is because of these dreadful over-long couple of tracks that this has to get dinged. Sorry. Bleed American is a way better album.
I'm tired of generic American 90's-00s Rock bands that all sound the same. So generic and dull. DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!!!! To be fair to them they did come before a legion of imitators which saves this from a One star.
I think I have the last Jimmy album a 4 or 5. This one feels like a more serious and underdeveloped album... Which is exactly what I don't want from them, sadly.