When it comes to music, the question "Where are they now?" always seems to pop up when an artist shies away from the spotlight for a minute. With Jimmy Eat World, this was no exception. It could have been the touring that kept them busy, or maybe some time off to spend with family. Whatever the case, their latest album, entitled "Chase This Light" (which releases on Oct. 16) comes just days short of three years since their prior release, "Futures."

Jimmy Eat World distinguished themselves from the nu-metal-alt-rock movement that was profound during the early years of the new millennium, and it sounds like Chase This Light follows the same path. "Big Casino," the opening track, and likewise their first single from the album, is most similar to their hard-indie touch. Lead singer Jim Adkins demonstrates this by using his strong, yet controlled vocals at every point of the song.

The second track, "Let It Happen," is a song with much more intensity. Adkins' lyrics here are aimed with a spite and disdain that can only be traced back to someone who obviously wasn't the perfect match. The guitar solo carries the same emotions, but in technique, there is very little straying from the original melody.

On the title track, abstract lyrics require the listener to pay closer attention. Aside from that, Chase This Light exemplifies their indie-driven sound nicely. The same can be said for "Always Be." With this track, you get a sense of the unatainable, unlikely crush. As Adkins points out, "She's lost in this, she's like she'll always be / A little far for me to reach."

A darker tone creeps through the strings on "Gotta Be Somebody's Blues," a provocative song from the quartet. Whisper-like vocals cast an eerie spell, with the chorus, "Where ya gonna run when they come for you? / Will there be someone left to sing your blues?" On the other side of the coin, Jimmy Eat World provides the listener with "Here It Goes," an upbeat track focusing on letting yourself go and having fun.

To end Chase This Light, Jimmy Eat World leaves us with the flashback track "Dizzy." The title draws from the lyrics, and it sounds as though Adkins put a lot of effort into keeping this track emotional without sounding downright depressed. Needless to say, it is an interesting and thoughtful notion to close out the album on such a bittersweet sentiment.

Bleed American was their breakthrough to the mainstream with a punk-influenced aura about it and Futures played a more serene role, a calming thrust to the previous upbeat tendencies. Jimmy Eat World was able to take both ingredients and ended up creating a more lasting album on Chase This Light. So, to answer the question posed earlier: Jimmy Eat World is right where they are supposed to be.