In an era where the most popular musical genre is emo, it is rather refreshing when artists release an upbeat and optimistic record. Ironically, a band that is considered by many to have been one of the pioneers of the emo scene has created such an album.

“Chase This Light” is the new release by Jimmy Eat World. Uncharacteristically positive and bright, this album could very well be in regular rotation on your local pop radio station. But have no fear, you need not be a fan of pop or emo to enjoy Jimmy Eat World’s latest effort, you simply must be a fan of good music.

In the opening track and first single “Big Casino,” vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backup vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch, and drummer Zach Lind fully demonstrate their amazing talents. Atmospheric guitars, heavy drums, a driving bass line, a sing-along chorus and a pop melody easily make this one of the best songs on the album.

“Always Be” starts off with finger snaps and hand claps and develops into a hook-heavy love song.

If you’re looking for a song to really rock out to, look no further than “Electable (Give It Up).” Full of punk-rock guitars and chants of “oh-oh-oh,” this song sounds like a b-side from Jimmy Eat World’s 2001 self-titled album aka “Bleed American”.

Opening with pulsating bass, electronic sounds and bells, “Here It Goes” is a radio-friendly jam that even your parents and little sister can enjoy. This is candy-coated pop-rock at its finest. Warning: Self-loathing individuals who find pain in smiling may want to avoid this tune.

The title-track “Chase This Light” and “Firefight” are likely to become concert mainstays, led by blaring guitars and arena-rock drums. “Dizzy” is the quintessential post-breakup song for healing hearts with lyrics like, “If the choice was ours alone then why did we both choose letting go? Does it end like this?”

The most experimental track on the album is “Gotta Be Somebody’s Blues.” This is the dark side of Jimmy Eat World that is reminiscent of 2004’s “Futures,” but a lot creepier. Here, the band plays slow and soft music, backed by an orchestral strings section. Meanwhile, Adkins sings in an almost unrecognizable whisper-tone. Make no mistake, I am not complaining. This is one of the most unique songs on the record and one of my personal favorites.

My only actual complaint with Jimmy Eat World’s latest effort is that it is too cleanly produced. Butch Vig, who famously produced Nirvana’s uncharacteristically polished breakthrough album “Nevermind” in 1991, also added his shiny polish to “Chase This Light.” Often these kinds of recordings can be the most enjoyable, however, in this case I think that the glossy production actually waters down some of the album’s more aggressive moments. Think of it as your favorite Jimmy Eat World album on Botox.

There really is little to complain about on “Chase This Light.” Adkins’ vocals are just as good as they have ever been, if not better, and his lyrics are still catchy and poignant. This record proves that Adkins has truly mastered the art of “the hook” and the melody, though some fans may argue he has had that ability since 1999’s “Clarity” or earlier. Regardless, Adkins has always had a keen ability to relate to the insecurity and angst felt by most high school teens. He demonstrates this with lyrics like, “There’s lots of smart ideas in books I never read/When the girls come talk to me/I wish to hell I had.”

Jimmy Eat World has been around for 13 years and they have played shows with the likes of Green Day, Blink-182, and Weezer, but they have never really gotten the credit they deserve. Somehow they have flown under the radar. Regardless of whether or not they ever win a Grammy or MTV Video Music Award, they will still go down as one of the greatest and most influential bands of their time.

Brandon Fleshman can be reached at [email protected]