What kind of band is Jimmy Eat World? Some would say Pop-Rock, others Alternative, and still others Punk. But the truth is that this Mesa, Arizona, band is all of the above. Sure, they started out writing fast and furious Pop-Punk songs, but once they got a little more experience in the biz, they focused more on developing their songwriting and diversity of style.
This helped the band grow and also develop a huge following. That led to gold and platinum records, and a list of great songs as long as your arm. But now I have to narrow it down to a list of the top 40 Jimmy Eat World songs ever. It’s not going to be easy for a band that has been working hard for three decades, but I’ll try my best!
Who Is Jimmy Eat World?
The band formed in 1993 when four school friends decided to make a go of it. Tom Linton played guitar, and Mitch Porter played bass already, and they invited Jim Adkins (vocals, guitar) and Zach Lind (drums) to get into music and make a band together.
They played gigs around Arizona, and Porter left the band in 1995 to be replaced by permanent member Rick Burch. In 1995, they got a record deal with Capitol Records, and then things snowballed. They put out one album after another, now totaling ten. And Jimmy Eat World’s songwriting and musical style keeps developing as they continue writing, recording, and touring to this day.
Top 40 Jimmy Eat World Songs
1 Lucky Denver Mint (1999)
One of Jimmy Eat World’s best-loved songs to make a big splash was “Lucky Denver Mint.” This track came out on their third studio album, Clarity, in 1999. It was their second album with Capitol Records and didn’t do well – the label dropped them afterward. But this song ended up being a sleeper hit.
Why?
Because it was unlike anything the band had ever done before. While their earlier music was very Punk and Emo-sounding, this song is very much a Pop-Rock song with a slower, smoother groove. And, while it’s tinged with their characteristic guitar sounds and vocal harmonies, this song is very sweet.
It became a surprise radio hit and then a fan favorite later. Pretty good for a simple song about getting drunk at a Vegas casino, right?
2 The Middle (2001)
Success came fast and hard for Jimmy Eat World in 2001. This is the year their album, Bleed American (later renamed Jimmy Eat World after the 9/11 attacks), came out and blew everyone’s socks off. And “The Middle” is the most memorable song from this album. Furthermore, if you know just one of Jimmy Eat World’s Top 40 songs, it’s probably this one.
This is a seriously fun song. It has a pumping, fast beat, chugging bass and guitar, and an explosive chorus that’s full of energy. The chorus hook is so catchy it will keep you whistling all day.
This is a song about being in the ‘middle’ of the ride of your life and a warning not to take your situation too seriously. The message applies to people struggling through growing up as much as it does to the band struggling to succeed. It took some time, but everything sure turned out alright for them.
3 A Praise Chorus (2001)
The 2001 Bleed American record really blew up Jimmy Eat World’s career. And, why not? It was full of high-energy, enthusiastic, and fun tracks. And it ended up certified platinum.
One of the best Jimmy Eat World songs on this record, but one that often goes overlooked, is “A Praise Chorus.” And you can tell it’s a band fav as well since they’ve re-released it and continue to play it at their live shows.
This song is closer to the original Jimmy Eat World sound. It has a fast, strong beat, loud guitars, and singing that alternates between quiet and loud and exciting. The song is also full of music references, from the Promise Ring to Madness, Tommy James & the Shondells to Motley Crue. There’s a lovely nostalgic feeling here, but it’s also fun and full of energy at the same time. It’s a real Rock and Roll dream.
4 Bleed American (2001)
The album came out in July 2001, but by September, America was a totally different country. And, while the title was genuinely patriotic, the words “Bleed American” weren’t going to fly in the post-9/11 world. So, the boys changed the album to be self-titled, and the title track “Bleed American” was re-named “Salt Sweat Sugar.” But re-naming it didn’t do anything to tone it down.
This song was about people who are young and strong and work hard, giving their salty sweat to build their country. Yet, they need something more than what their modern, anonymous society gives them. It has an incredible beat and big, hard energy that makes it hard to even recognize the band. But that simply shows the diversity of the kinds of songs they can write, and write well.
5 Sweetness (2002)
The last track from Bleed American that we need to talk about is, of course, “Sweetness.” This song is really hard to describe, but I’ll give it a shot. Think of a song that’s hard and heavy, explosive and yet still cute. See what I mean?
There’s something so surprisingly catchy about this track. While it’s almost Punk Rock, there’s an underlying Pop current that’s almost confusing, except that it works. The drums are absolutely slammin’ here, and the guitars are perfect. But, it’s the interplay of the back and forth, then harmonized vocals, that win you over. 20 years later, I’ve still never really heard anything else like it.
6 Pain (2004)
Jimmy Eat World’s next album, Futures, was no lightweight. It became a gold-certified record and spawned a few hit singles. The first of which, “Pain,” is deserving of a place on the Top 40 Jimmy Eat World songs list. If “Sweetness” was a surprise but still gave you what the title promised, “Pain” is a lot more straightforward.
This track is hard and almost Nu-Metal-sounding (thank god for the ‘almost’) but without the rap. This is a hard-rocking, Punk-edged J.E.W. song. It’s all about the pain of a romance that has gone wrong, and trying different things to deal with it. It also has a super-cool guitar solo in the middle of it, and some of the most powerful group-chant vocals in the band’s repertoire.
7 23 (2004)
“23” is another Jimmy Eat World fan favorite from the 2004 album, Futures. This song is so different from the previous track that you’ll find it hard to believe it comes from the same group. This song is slow and brooding. It has strings – strings! – which helps it soar and build, and the ambiance is unlike the band’s other Rock-based songs. You’ll notice a real Emo flavor here.
The track starts slow and fully orchestrated before dropping to just vocals over guitars and bass. Then the beat comes in, and things build to a huge, beautiful crescendo for the rest of the song. It’s immersive and intense, and that’s why it’s one of the best J.E.W. songs ever.
8 Big Casino (2007)
“Big Casino” was put out in 2007, a few months before the album that hosted it, Chase This Light, was dropped. This was the band’s fifth studio album and showed a new maturity, even while keeping a lot of the passion and energy of their previous work. “Big Casino” is something of a hybrid of everything Jimmy Eat World had done before.
You have a strong Rock beat and thudding bass to drive the song along. There’s a cool, bright guitar riff giving rhythm. But the lead guitar is bright and so poppy-sweet. The vocals are peppy and bright, too. So, the whole thing is heavy and hard, but most definitely Pop. This song is simply about life being a big crapshoot, so you’d better just do what you can to try to make it work. Like dancing on the ceiling?
9 Damage (2013)
I have to skip a couple of records here to get to the next great Jimmy Eat World song. “Damage” is the title track to their eighth studio album, which came out in 2013. You can hear a whole different sound here, one that reflects a lot of life changes and maturation in the band.
The sound of this song is a bit more subdued, but only just a bit. It’s very well mixed, with every part of the band playing an important part in forming a huge, lush soundscape. This song is still bright-sounding, but it’s also touched by shades of melancholy and regret, reflecting the damage of a life lived full of emotion.
10 Integrity Blues (2016)
It’s not often that a band puts out one of their best songs ever 25 years after getting started. So, “Integrity Blues” is a really surprising track from the 2016 album of the same name. On this ninth album, the band continues to show changes in style, sound, and songwriting. And this title track is a beautiful example of why some bands really should keep at it after decades.
They’ve given us something that’s so mixed and unusual here. There’s an Electronic element, ambient sounds, and an almost folksy guitar riff. This song is strong, but also very Pop-sounding. And it’s bouncy enough to remind you this is J.E.W. But, it’s also soft and romantic, making it one of the prettiest Jimmy Eat World songs to date.
11Let It Happen (2007)
12Futures (2004)
13Dizzy (2010)
14Just Tonight… (2004)
15Coffee and Cigarettes (2010)
16My Best Theory (2010)
17I Will Steal You Back (2013)
18You With Me (2016)
19Criminal Energy (2019)
20Hear You Me (2001)
21Disintegration (2010)
22Kill (2004)
23Sure and Certain (2016)
24Love Never (2016)
25Recommit (2019)
26Dizzy (1996)
27Cautioners (2001)
28Polaris (2016)
29Ten (1999)
30Your House (1999)
31Work (2010)
32Pass The Baby (2016)
33Just Watch The Fireworks (2001)
34Polaris (2019)
35Goodbye Sky Harbor (1999)
36Love Never (2019)
37Always Be (2001)
38My Sundown (2001)
39The Authority Song (2013)
40Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition (2013)
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The Top 40 Jimmy Eat World Songs of All Time – Final Thoughts
To be honest, I’m a bit worried about this list. Not about the strength of the songs – I think each one deserves its place here. I’m just worried that it’s far too early for the “best of all time” title with this band. They’ve managed to completely change their style through three decades, and I’m sure there’s a whole lot more exciting music yet to come.
But, for now, I guess we have to go with the best of what they’ve done so far. So, get your headphones and your dancing shoes on and get ready to jump up and down. Jimmy Eat World is ready to rock your socks off.
Until next time, happy listening.
