Battling the indifference of others, the singer is committed to bettering himself (“I wanna be so much more than this”) on “My Sundown.” In one song he refuses to play mind games with a partner (“Sweetness”), while in another he seems eager to work through relational difficulties (“Cautioners,” “If You Don’t, Don’t”). “Hear You Me” regrets having missed the chance to express appreciation to a deceased loved one (“I never said thank you for that/Now I’ll never have a chance/May angels lead you in”). Perhaps the best track is the hit “The Middle.” It advises a distraught girl to ignore her critics and persevere because things will work out “just fine” (“Don’t write yourself off yet/It’s only in your head/You feel left out or looked down on/Just try your best . . . Just be yourself/It doesn’t matter if it’s good enough for someone else”).
“Bleed American” mentions pills (possibly prescription medication) and clearing one’s head with whiskey. On “If You Don’t, Don’t,” the singer says, “I drank all [that] my money could get,” though he implies it’s the reason he’s “such a mess.”
This project was originally called Bleed American, but the band changed the title after 9-11. That sense of restraint and social responsibility is also apparent in Jimmy Eat World’s lyrics. Minor problems, but there’s a lot to like about this punk disc, especially the current single.
