When Jimmy Eat World Provided Some Clarity

It took me 21 years to walk across the United States, and yes, I can still hear the butterflies. 

You know how there are certain artists, songs, and/or albums that stick with you for life? There’s just something about the first time you hear them that never leaves you. 1999’s Clarity by Jimmy Eat World is one of those for me.

In the rural midwest, my only exposure was to the 30 songs the local “alternative” radio station cycled through, classic rock, oldies, and country. The only saving grace to my ignorance was MTV, when they still played music videos. That’s where I discovered Jimmy Eat World, when they took 2001 by storm with Bleed American.

I had found a new favorite band.

One unseasonably hot Fall day, I stopped by my favorite record store, and in the “New Arrivals“ section of used CDs I saw an unfamiliar Jimmy Eat World album. Still my favorite band a year later, I snagged it and was on my way to meet up with some friends.

With the sunroof open and the windows down in my red Mazda MX-6, I popped in Clarity. Didn’t even take 3 tracks for this to become my new favorite record. I was 30 minutes late because I couldn’t stop driving around until I soaked up the every last note.

While it may not have been loaded with catchy and flashy tunes like Bleed American, this album changed my musical taste forever. I started paying attention to lyrics, melodies, layers, and overall composition. You probably think I’m crazy and hyperbolizing a late 90’s Alternative/Emo album, but for me, Clarity felt like my first “indie“ album.

I recently got the itch for some tunes from my younger days, so I whipped up a playlist. And it was, a most excellent playlist. Still, as soon as “Lucky Denver Mint“ came on, I switched over to Clarity and was instantly taken back to that hot day cruising around town without a care in the world.

One reason I love Music for Nomes is that it provides an outlet to discuss music that inspires us. It’s important to embrace how we got here, and Clarity is the first in a long line of music that brought me to where I am.

The one that took me back, "Lucky Denver Mint"

The one where half of my lyrical quote came from, "For Me This Is Heaven"