Soundbites: We don’t need to ‘Bleed American’ again

By Josh Eiserike

Published: May 1, 2008

» Jimmy Eat World, "Bleed American: Deluxe Edition"

What's the point of a "Deluxe Edition?" According to the quasi-reliable wikipedia, a Deluxe Edition "refers to a re-release of an album, generally a sufficient period after the initial release, featuring extra content related to the album." Strictly on these terms, there's little reason for "Bleed American: Deluxe Edition." "Bleed American," the album that put Jimmy Eat World on the map, came out in 2001. That's not even 10 years, hardly a "sufficient period." Is "Bleed American" good? It might not be as important as Spin Magazine contributor Andy Greenwald proclaims in the Deluxe Edition's liner notes, but it's certainly a great album. Unfortunately the bonus material, demos, b-sides and other assorted odds and ends, don't live up to the 11 original cuts. The b-sides on both of the Deluxe Edition discs were left off the album for a reason: none of them are very good, let alone catchy. Bleed American was about big hooks—which the b-sides lack. The early demos, specificially of uber-hit "The Middle" offer insight to the band's songwriting process. But, notably lacking is the glorious demo cut of "Your House" from the "Salt Sweat Sugar" import. Instead, we're treated to "Your House 2007," an update which somehow manages to discard everything that made the original "Bleed American" stand out. The demos will make this Deluxe Edition a worthy package for the band's serious fans, assuming they don't already have them. For everyone else, the original is the album worth owning.

» Colin Meloy, "Colin Meloy Sings Live!"

Throughout "Colin Meloy Sings Live!" Meloy, best known as the bespectacled Decembersits frontman, keeps bringing up the idea of a campfire singalong. It's semi-appropriate analogy—the point of this collection is to document his solo acoustic tours. On these tours (the latest of which just swung through D.C. a couple weeks ago) Meloy digs into The Decemberists's back catalog, road tests some new songs and plays a couple covers. On "Colin Meloy Sings Live!" however, he kind of misses the point of what makes a campfire singalong. For every "Wish You Were Here," a good campfire needs a more uptempo number like "Puff The Magic Dragon" or "Uncle John's Band." Not here—"Colin Meloy Sings Live!" is full of dreary meditations and slow ballads. Fans will certainly know the material, but there's nothing from The Decemberists here with a big, fun campfire chorus. No "16 Military Wives," no "Mariner's Revenge Song," no "Song for Myla Goldberg." Instead, Meloy sticks to his slower material. Not to say that this is bad—songs like "On the Bus Mall" and "The Gymnast, High Above the Ground" sound excellent. But there's a sense of flatness throughout "Colin Meloy Sings Live!" Some diversity would have helped, because as it stands, it's a pretty dull campfire.