Bleed American

Bleed American is the fourth album by Jimmy Eat World. It was released on July 24, 2001, and became self-titled following the September 11, 2001 attacks. The album was produced by Mark Trombino, who previously produced blink-182's first major label album Dude Ranch. The album artwork is taken from William Eggleston's photograph "Memphis."


Having been well-versed in the ways of indie bands and having wide support from the indie community, Jimmy Eat World saw getting dropped from their label as an opportunity. The band compiled most of their independently-released singles onto a single CD, titled simply Singles, which they released on indie label Big Wheel Recreation. The band's burgeoning fanbase snapped up the release, earning the band enough to fund the recording of their next album. The band then had complete freedom to make the album they wanted without having to take input from outside influences.

Working for a third time with Trombino, the band recorded the album Bleed American. Joining forces with Gersh's new management company, GAS Entertainment, the band scouted for a new label, eventually signing with DreamWorks. The completed album was released in July 2001 with the title track as the lead single. (Following the events of September 11, 2001, the band decided to re-issue the album as Jimmy Eat World out of concern that the title Bleed American might be misinterpreted.)

With the release of Bleed American and the subsequent success of second single "The Middle", the band found itself at the center of newfound attention to "emo". For most of the 90s, "emo" had been an underground movement that almost completely evaded major label and mainstream control. Nearly every late-90s emo band that signed to a major label broke up before releasing an album. But where Clarity was seen as the quintessential emo album, Bleed American was a step away from that sound, standing closer to mainstream rock. While songs like the title track were certainly emo-influenced, songs like "A Praise Chorus", "The Middle", and "The Authority Song" clearly were not. However, since the mainstream media had nowhere else to attach the "emo" label, Jimmy Eat World continued to be referred to as an "emo" band, meaning that the term "emo" began to describe something completely different and more mainstream than what existed in the 90s. Major labels pounced, and began signing bands and releasing music that subscribed to this "new" version of emo.

Studio album by Jimmy Eat World
Released July 24, 2001
Recorded 2000–2001
Genre Emo, alternative rock, pop punk
Length 46:36
Label Dreamworks
Producer Mark Trombino, Jimmy Eat World

Track listing
All songs written by Jimmy Eat World, except portions of "A Praise Chorus".

"Bleed American" (renamed "Salt Sweat Sugar" following the September 11, 2001 attacks) – 3:02
"A Praise Chorus" – 4:03
"The Middle" – 2:46
"Your House" – 4:46
"Sweetness" – 3:40
"Hear You Me" – 4:45
"If You Don't, Don't" – 4:33
"Get It Faster" – 4:22
"Cautioners" – 5:21
"The Authority Song" – 3:38
"My Sundown" – 5:40
"(Splash) Turn Twist" – 4:09

In media
"Bleed American" was featured in the movie National Lampoon's Van Wilder.
"The Middle" was featured in the movies Orange County, Life or Something Like It and Zoom, as well as many TV shows and film trailers (including The New Guy previews).
"Hear You Me" was featured in the movies Out Cold, The Butterfly Effect, A Cinderella Story, National Lampoon's Van Wilder and One Tree Hill.
"Get It Faster" was featured in the straight-to-video movie Riding in Vans with Boys (as well as the song "Goodbye Sky Harbor").
"The Authority Song" was featured in the movies National Lampoon's Van Wilder and The Hot Chick.
"My Sundown" was featured in The First $20 Million is Always the Hardest, the TV movie Global Frequency and Umbrellas.
"(Splash) Turn Twist" is featured on the soundtrack to the film Wedding Crashers