"Big Casino" is a song by American

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band

Jimmy Eat World Jimmy Eat World is an American rock band formed in 1993 in Mesa, Arizona. The band is composed of lead vocalist and lead guitarist Jim Adkins, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch, and drummer Zach Lind. They h ...

from their sixth studio album ''

Chase This Light ''Chase This Light'' is the sixth studio album by American rock band Jimmy Eat World. The band began working on the follow-up to ''Futures'' (2004) by late 2005, and had made demos by early 2006. They started recording their next album with engin ...

'', which was released on October 16, 2007. The single was released on August 28, 2007. The song impacted radio on September 11, 2007.

History

The song title is taken from the name of a side project of Jimmy Eat World singer Jim Adkins, titled ''Go Big Casino''. The song premiered on Jimmy Eat World's official website, and the album ''

's'' official new website. Some time after, it was added to a revamped Jimmy Eat World MySpace. On October 16, 2007 the song was physically released as a single.

Critical reception

Slant Magazine ''Slant Magazine'' is an American online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York ...

's Jonathan Keefe said it wasn't as powerful as " The Middle", but gave it praise for having "a memorable guitar riff and xplodinginto a massive chorus." Brian Hiatt of ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' was critical of the song's use of synths but still praised it as "an exhilarating seize-what’s-left-of-the-day anthem." Despite giving a negative review of the album and criticizing the track's lyrical missteps, Andrew Blackie from ''

PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...

'' called it "a decent rocker with one of the best examples of a soaring ‘emo’ chorus of the year."

Music video

The Big Casino video was shot at the Las Vegas Neon Museum Boneyard in a single day (with a return for pickups at night), featuring the band playing among the yard's old billboards and casino neon signs. While the band plays during parts of the verses Jim Adkins is seen walking around parts of the yard dragging his guitar with him. As the video progresses it switches between night and day, with many of the billboards and signs being lit up, with the moon also in view. The video premiered on

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October 22, 2007 followed by being added to

's official website on October 23, 2007, and moments later was added to Jimmy Eat World's

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and

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's YouTube.Universal Music Group at YouTube
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Charts

Track list

UK 7"/CD # Big Casino – 3:40 # Beautiful Is – 2:30 UK 7" # Big Casino – 3:40 # Open Bar Reception – 3:54

Matt Fishel cover

In 2014, "Big Casino" was recorded by British singer

Matt Fishel Matt Fishel is a British singer, songwriter, music producer and record label owner. He plays guitar, piano, bass and keyboards. He grew up in Nottingham in the East Midlands in the late 1990s, going on to study Music and Performing Arts at Paul ...

for his EP of cover versions, titled '' Cover Boy''. Fishel's version of the song, produced by Fishel and

Mark Crew Mark Crew (born 21 February 1985) is a songwriter, record producer, and mix engineer based in London, known for his work with Bastille, Rag'n'Bone Man, and the Wombats. Production and songwriting Crew produced the albums '' Bad Blood'' (UK #1 ...

, is more acoustic and stripped back than Jimmy Eat World's original. It is at a slower tempo and incorporates piano, acoustic and electric guitars, drums and strings, along with Fishel's layered vocals and multiple harmonies. According to Howard Stump of music blog Soundtrack To My Day, Fishel "really brings the melody to life in his version",Stump, Howard
"Matt Fishel * Cover Boy"
''Soundtrack To My Day'', United States, July 16, 2014. Retrieved on July 28, 2014. which appears as the fourth track on Fishel's '' Cover Boy'' EP, released internationally by Young Lust Records on July 14, 2014."iTunes-Music-Matt Fishel-Cover-Boy"
Retrieved on July 28, 2014."This week's new releases 14-07-2014"
''

Official Charts Company The Official Charts (legal name: The Official UK Charts Company Limited) is a British inter-professional organization that compiles various "official" record charts in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. In the United Kingdom, its charts inc ...

'', UK, July 14, 2014. Retrieved on July 28, 2014.

References

External links

Big Casino Lyrics
{{authority control 2007 singles Jimmy Eat World songs Song recordings produced by Butch Vig 2007 songs Interscope Records singles