The band spent September and October 2012 at producer Alain Johannes' house in Los Angeles, California recording their next album with analog tape and Pro Tools.

"I Will Steal You Back" was released as the lead single in April 2013, and Jimmy Eat World spent the next few months touring across the United States.

[10] Sessions were held at producer Alain Johannes' home in Los Angeles, California, on both analog tape and Pro Tools.

[11] Lind's drum kit was initially set up in Johannes's guest bedroom before being moved to his living room.

"[11] Musically, Damage is a power pop[13] and rock album,[14][15] drawing comparison to Wasting Light (2011)-era Foo Fighters,[16] and the band's own Bleed American (2001).

[15] Similar to Invented, which roughly revolved around a theme, Damage was "an attempt at making an adult breakup record", according to Adkins.

"[11] He compared the process of writing the lyrics to that of the band's third studio album, Clarity (1999), stating: "...that's how I approached a lot of emotional things in those days.

[13] The title-track sees the narrator witness his partner leave amidst broken promises and big expectations.

[19] The mid-tempo rock track "Book of Love" was reminiscent of the material on Chase This Light (2007),[16] We, the Vehicles (2005) by Maritime,[15] and Okkervil River.

[16] "Please Say No" is a ballad[15] that evokes the Bleed American song "Hear You Me",[20] and utilizes electronic elements during the chorus sections.

[19] "How'd You Have Me" starts with ringing guitars, which recalled "Pride (In the Name of Love)" (1984) by U2, prior to evolving into a garage rock number, complete with shouting.

[16] "You Were Good" employs lo-fi acoustic guitars and droning,[19] reminiscent of the early works of Guided by Voices.

[21] It began as an acoustic-based piece, however, when they "tried to take it out of that world, we realized that without the acoustic guitar in there as a bed, it didn't feel the same without it being there", according to Adkins.

He further added, they "experimented around a little bit with fleshing it out ... in a full band sense, but at the end of the day we all ... agreed it sounded better with just me and a guitar and the weirdo, Indian drone thing on there.

"[17] Guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton elaborated that it featured Adkins playing an acoustic guitar, recording it "from the beginning to the end live.

[31] Regarding RCA, Adkins noted: "There's a lot of people there we've just crossed paths with over the years and who have been really supportive of us even if they didn't have a stake in how our records did.

[34] On July 23, an iTunes Sessions EP was released, which featured renditions of "Damage", "Appreciation" and "I Will Steal You Back".

Maybe the connection will come on some late and sweltering summer night, and a teenage kid will be climbing into his car with heartbreak on his mind and nothing left to say.

"[14] Scott Heisel, writing for Alternative Press, praised Johannes' production, stating: "Thankfully, Damage easily bests the previous two Jimmy Eat World full lengths, and its high points rival those of Futures and Bleed American.

Recorded to tape by Alain Johannes (Queens of the Stone Age, No Doubt), the album is full-bodied and warm, with an organic bleed from the drum mics and a sonic resonance you just can't get digitally.

"[15] Rock Sound named Damage "Album of the Month", writing: "Jimmy Eat World are undoubtedly an enigma.

"[48] Consequence of Sound's Ryan Bray wrote: "In their quest to update the breakup record for those a bit too old to mope and stew in their juices, Jimmy Eat World succeeds here for the most part.

Club's Kyle Ryan gave the album a mostly negative review, stating: "While the group's predictability has traditionally been a positive assurance of quality, it's now more indicative of stasis.