After being dropped by Capitol, Jimmy Eat World returned in 2001 with their most consistent and accessible album to date. Recorded entirely on the band's dime before they had a new record deal, Bleed American features compelling lyrics, driving guitar work, and insanely catchy melodies. Left to their own devices during the recording process, it wouldn't have been surprising if the band had turned out another layered, sprawling album akin to their previous full-length masterwork, Clarity. Perhaps sensing that they wouldn't be able to top their previous work when it came to spacy emo, Bleed American heads in a new direction. There are no 16-minute songs here, just straight-ahead rock & roll, performed with punk energy and alt-rock smarts. The title track sets the tone for the album with its blistering guitar attack and aggressive vocals. 'A Praise Chorus' and 'The Middle' improve upon that formula, maintaining the forceful instrumentation but toying with the lyrical themes. 'A Praise Chorus' uses the most basic of rock emotions for lyrical inspiration, 'I wanna fall in love tonight,' while lifting lyrics from Tommy James' 'Crimson and Clover,' They Might Be Giants' 'Don't Let's Start,' and Mötley Crüe's 'Kick Start My Heart,' among others. When used in a song about the comfort and trappings of nostalgia, this borrowing comes off more like a well-placed tribute than stealing. 'The Middle' offers a pep talk about self-acceptance and fitting in, and one of the most memorable guitar riffs this side of Angus Young. Bleed American's quieter moments recall some of the band's signature instrumentation from their previous work. Gentle keyboards, bells, and stirring background vocals from former that dog. member Rachel Haden enhance the understated beauty of ballads like 'Hear You Me' and 'Cautioneers.' Haden's most enjoyable contribution, however, is to the up-tempo rocker 'The Authority Song.' On the surface a song about a song (John Mellencamp's 'Authority Song'), it also name drops the Beatles' 'What Goes On.' The numerous references to other bands and other songs reveal that although Jimmy Eat World is a critically acclaimed and incredibly talented band, the members are really just rock fans themselves. If they maintain this level of quality, however, don't be surprised if the next generation of ambitious rockers start writing songs that pay tribute to Jimmy Eat World.

I'm not alone 'cause the TV's on yeah
I'm not crazy 'cause I take the right pills everyday
And rest, clean your conscience
Clear your thoughts with Speyside with your grain
Clean your conscience, clear your thoughts with Speyside
Salt, sweat, sugar on the asphalt
Our hearts littering the topsoil
Tune in and we can get the last call
Our lives, our coal
Salt, sweat, sugar on the asphalt
Our hearts littering the topsoil
Sign up, the picket line or the parade
Our lives
I'm not alone 'cause the TV's on yeah
I'm not crazy 'cause I take the right pills everyday
And rest, clean your conscience,
Clear your thoughts with Speyside with your grain
Clean your conscience, clear your thoughts with Speyside
Salt, sweat, sugar on the asphalt
Our hearts littering the topsoil
Tune in and we can get the last call
Our lives, our coal
Salt, sweat, sugar on the asphalt
Our-our hearts, yeah, littering the topsoil
Sign up, the picket line or the parade
Our lives
Greed from my arm
Won't they give it a rest now?
(Give it a rest now, now, now, now)
Salt, sweat, sugar on the asphalt
Our hearts littering the topsoil
Tune in and we can get the last call
Salt, sweat, sugar on the asphalt
Our hearts littering the topsoil
Sign up, the picket line or the parade

Bleed American is found on the album Bleed American.

MTV Road Rules: Don't Make Me Pull This Thing Over, Vol. 1