Jimmy Eat World/Jebediah split EP
(Big Wheel)
Ah, the split EP. In these days of low-cost compact discs and Napster and MP3, the split seems a thing of the past, a relic from a time when if two bands got together, they could just scrape enough dough to record and release a seven-inch record, giving them both some exposure and getting some a little unique in the process. Trouble is, the majority of them weren’t very good. This shared disc (which only consumes 27 minutes) isn’t going to do a whole to change the batting average of the split EP.
The treat here is Jimmy Eat World, who deliver three slices of emo-core spiced with melodic sweep, especially on the disc-opening “The Most Beautiful Things”, which suggests U2 if they had their heads screwed on straight. The other two tracks, “No Sensitivity” and “Cautioners” change up the attack with some Promise Ring-like pop and an atmospheric gurgle. Fine stuff.
Jebidiah also have three tracks, the first of which, “Animal” is taken from their “Of Someday Shambles” CD. Unfortunately, the story here is much the same as it is on that album. All the elements of emo-core except for the emotion. The singer’s voice can get downright annoying, as well, which brings up the other problem with split records: If one of the groups is clearly better than the other, it’s a serious deterrent. Jimmy Eat World fans, proceed with caution.
Stinkweeds, 2000
Showing posts with label Jebadiah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jebadiah. Show all posts
7.3.08
Jebadiah
Of Someday Shambles
(Big Wheel)
This Australian quartet’s music will be familiar to fans of bands like Jets to Brazil, Jawbreaker and The Get Up Kids, who were on an emo-package-tour that went across the USA this year. That’s the good news. The bad news is that most of said music is a little too-familiar and a little too drawn out and a little too-lacking in the lyrical department.
The best songs on Of Someday Shambles, like “Please Leave”, have polished hooks, the guitars ring like guitars should, but ironically, the thing that undermines many of the tunes---and by extension, the entire disc---is a lack of passion. For a group working with the tools of emo-core, that’s a pretty serious problem to have. Even when Jeb decides to get angry and lay into one, as they do on “Happier Sad”, they end up more concered with sounding emotional than actually expressing any true and lasting emotion. Even taken at face value, the lyrics run into the same problem: Jebediah are plenty concerned with heart-rending personal to and fro, but they can’t seem to put that across in their composistions. And everyone knows, if you are having trouble saying something, taking longer to do it isn’t gonna help, and most of this disc swamps whatever forward momentum it has under needless repetition of choruses and verses.
And after all, when you take the emo out of emo-core, you’re left with core. And that is Of Someday Shambles: the listener is left holding an apple that’s already been eaten. How good is that?
Stinkweeds, 2000
(Big Wheel)
This Australian quartet’s music will be familiar to fans of bands like Jets to Brazil, Jawbreaker and The Get Up Kids, who were on an emo-package-tour that went across the USA this year. That’s the good news. The bad news is that most of said music is a little too-familiar and a little too drawn out and a little too-lacking in the lyrical department.
The best songs on Of Someday Shambles, like “Please Leave”, have polished hooks, the guitars ring like guitars should, but ironically, the thing that undermines many of the tunes---and by extension, the entire disc---is a lack of passion. For a group working with the tools of emo-core, that’s a pretty serious problem to have. Even when Jeb decides to get angry and lay into one, as they do on “Happier Sad”, they end up more concered with sounding emotional than actually expressing any true and lasting emotion. Even taken at face value, the lyrics run into the same problem: Jebediah are plenty concerned with heart-rending personal to and fro, but they can’t seem to put that across in their composistions. And everyone knows, if you are having trouble saying something, taking longer to do it isn’t gonna help, and most of this disc swamps whatever forward momentum it has under needless repetition of choruses and verses.
And after all, when you take the emo out of emo-core, you’re left with core. And that is Of Someday Shambles: the listener is left holding an apple that’s already been eaten. How good is that?
Stinkweeds, 2000
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