The Butterflies Are Back.

I had to write a quick post expressing my excitement that Jimmy Eat World released a live recording of their Clarity Tour. When Todd wrote to me a while back saying that the band was going to be performing the entire album at various venues, I thought it was too good to be true. My elated sentiments soon took an immediate downfall as I found out (as expected) that they wouldn't be playing in Atlanta.

See, Jimmy Eat World's Clarity is one of my favorite albums of all time. To me, it's a perfect record. This was before the band became renowned for radio hits like 'The Middle' or 'A Praise Chorus.' I first discovered the album (and the band) my junior year of high school and since then it's always remained very close to me. High school was a time when I (like many of us) was dealing with many new emotions, and this album was the life raft that got me through those times. I distinctly remember many nights driving to Half Moon Bay, sitting atop of my VW Squareback, staring at the stars, and listening to the textured layers of this sonic masterpiece.

Never before had a piece of music spoken directly to me. And to this day, it is rare that I find another that matches its eloquence and emotion. The closing harmonies of 'Table for Glasses' still give me chills. People talk of pinnacle albums that 'changed their lives;' it's safe to say that this was one of mine.