So, yes, in the most technical of terms, those count as two hits, but just barely, and neither of them has shit on the lesser known but far superior first single and title track.
All that said, this is probably a great time to point out that, in some sense of the word, I actually do consider Jimmy Eat World a one-hit wonder. Yes, there are three fucking amazing singles on this album. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the album that spawned those singles is about as close to a perfect album as a band can get. It's just goddamn flawless from beginning to end. Unfortunately, it's also the only Jimmy Eat World album I can listen to from beginning to end.
![5 One-Hit Wonders Who Deserve Way More Respect]()
Fuck almost all y'all!
I mean, it's not that they're a bad band, it's just that they've made one really great album that happens to be surrounded on both sides by relatively average albums. I've tried. I really have. After Bleed American I assumed my next step was to dig into a treasure trove of equally great songs that had just never appeared on my radar before because none of it was accompanied by a video with scantily clad revelers.
YouTube
Again, great video.
Nope. Just a bunch of albums I will probably never listen to again, with one really great one that I still listen to from time to time over a decade later just floating on top of them all like some kind of reverse garbage barge.
Still, most bands stumble through their careers without ever making a truly great album. That they did it once is impressive enough for me, and if you know them only because of "The Middle" and have never checked out the album in its entirety, I'd highly recommend you do so today. And then, you know, just stop there, I guess.
Please direct all hate mail to Adam on Twitter @adamtodbrown.
For more from Adam, check out The 6 Most Atrocious Uses of Facial Hair in Music History. And then check out 22 Shockingly Dark Lyrics in Otherwise Happy Songs.
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