The public has two different perceptions of Jimmy Eat World. One is the band known for the classic pop single "The Middle" -- the ubiquitous summer smash hit of 2002 and that propelled the 2001 album "Jimmy Eat World" (originally titled "Bleed American") to multi-platinum status, as years of slogging it out under the radar were finally rewarded. The other is a band who made it the hard way and continues to do so: paying their dues, toiling for years outside the mainstream, releasing records on indie labels, building a dedicated fan base through incessant touring and by crafting albums.

The pressure of successfully reconciling two such disparate images, making music that appeals to both constituents, has made lesser bands implode. Jimmy Eat World however has risen to the challenge, "Our goal," says singer, guitarist and principal songwriter Jim Adkins, "has always been to get songs to a place that is accessible without being insulting."