"My Best Theory," Jimmy Eat World (2010)

A headbanging rebuke to one-hit wonderdom

Peak: #2 on the alternative rock chart
Streams: 5.6 million

Over on the Hot 100, Jimmy Eat World is a one-hit wonder, but what a hit! In 2001 they got to #5 with “The Middle,” which has become one of those songs that’s always playing somewhere. Keep your ears tuned: You’re bound to hear the anthemic chorus at a sporting event, chain restaurant, or laundromat within the month.

Yet despite only reaching the mainstream once, Jimmy Eat World never went anywhere. They’ve released tons of music in the last 20 years, including the song “Something Loud,” which was one of my favorites in 2022. And while they’ve retained the knack for catchy hooks that was evident in “The Middle,” they’ve expanded their sound beyond the power-pop/emo thing that got them started. Just consider “My Best Theory,” which is closer to a head banging Motley Crüe tune than you might expect.