If you knew Jimmy Eat World before “The Middle”, you would know that Clarity is their classic album. This album was one of the few that really started making the “emo” scene big. It was layered to the max, had a 16 minute closer, and was really fresh when it came out.
The album was their second on a major, but never really got promoted. In fact they got dropped after its release. The album started to spread by word of mouth with a lot of help from Blink 182, who couldn’t stop talking about the band during the promotion of Enema of The State.
The hardcore fans will love this and it’s a way of showing appreciation to their dedicated fans.
Bottom Line: Care about the people who really dig your music.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO-cHNbW1zo]Take Control of Your Music,
Hoover
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This reminds me of exactly what Alkaline Trio did in 2007 when they put on their Occult Roots tour. Essentially, playing to/for those who were impacted by their music years ago when they were an alcohol-soaked skate punk band and their audience was 15 or 16. Where as presently, they have taken a more “gothic rock” approach and that same audience is now 22 or 23 and can no longer relate to the newer material, or has moved on to something else and no longer feels that passionate musical connection.
Paying homage to your fans and back catalogue is also a great way to ensure that you stay relevant (and hence successful) across generations and weather the fads that will come and go – much like J.E.W. are doing.