Listening Post

I continue to be a big fan of Jimmy Eat World simply because they're consistent in their earnestness. I admit that I've been hoping they'd go a little darker and make the kind of excellent album that 2004's Futures was at some point again in their career -- that hasn't happened yet -- but their pop sensibilities are tough to deny.

To wit and submitted for your approval or disgust, here they are doing a cover of Taylor Swift's insufferable ode to the latest guy she feels wronged by. So can they change even a worthless song like this into something decent? I'll let you be the judge.

Here's We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.

Listening Post

Jimmy Eat World's Bleed American is one of those records that got me through the period immediately following rehab and 9/11 and the one that followed, Futures, was actually even better. I kind of feel like the band peaked there, but I still have a fondness for them.

Here's their new single, which sounds quite a bit like every other one of their singles form the past couple of records.

This is I Will Steal You Back.

Listening Post

This songs gets a mention in Dead Star Twilight, and with good reason: It rarely left my hotel room CD player in those first months after 9/11.

Here's a live performance of Jimmy Eat World's Bleed American.

Happy Friday, boys and girls.

Listening Post

As good, straightforward rock bands go these days, it's tough to top Jimmy Eat World -- and this 7-minute-long homage to Disintegration-era Cure could very well be their best song.

Here's a live performance of 23.