at a glance...

Hometown: Seattle, WA
First Recordings: 1992

Personnel:
Jeremy Enigk
Dan Hoerner
William Goldsmith
J. Palmer

Related artists:
Foo Fighters, Poor Ol Lu, Tears for the King, Thirty Ought Six

Notes:
In 1993 Sunny Day signed with SubPop and released the critically acclaimed Diary. The band was already Seattle's best kept secret at that point, but that secret wouldn't last much longer. Scores of people became entranced with Jeremy Enigk's high, boyish voice and ambiguous lyrics, as well as the dramatic tension and release created by the rhythm section of Goldsmith, Nate Mendel and Hoerner. Together they made highly charged and emotional music, a formula that would later help define "emo-rock." Unfortunately, just as their anxiously awaited second record LP2 was to come out, for reasons still entirely unknown, the band decided to break up. Goldsmith and Mendel went on to join the Foo Fighters while Jeremy Enigk put out one of the most starkly beautiful albums of 1996, Return of the Frog Queen. A year later the band decided to put aside their differences and release How It Feels To Be Something On, their most successful album to date. Following its incredible reception, the band decided to give their fans a souvenir of the "How It Feels..." tour, Sunny Day Real Estate Live.

What can you say about Sunny Day Real Estate that the critics haven't already said? If by chance you haven't heard what they've said, it can be summed up in two words: they rock. This release, the band's third full length album, How It Feels To Be Something On proves to be their most mature and ambitious album to date. The album is definitely a departure stylistically from the bands previous work. Whereas Diary is considered extremely chaotic, the band considers this one to be "controlled chaos."

This album is definitely not dominated by the hardcore feel that made up their first two releases. It finds Sunny Day perhaps a bit softer, but definitely much more crafty. Ex Mommyheads bassist J. Palmer replaces Mendel on this album, and as "Pillars" starts with his brooding bass line we are sucked into the tension that's just begun. Enigk enters at his breathy best with an equally moody vocal melody and rhythm as the song erupts into the sort of driving force that Sunny Day is known for. "Roses In Water" is a song unlike anything this band has ever done before. With it's odd time signature and eastern vocal quality, it's a shining example of how far this band has come since their first post-punk record. The haunting vocal harmony combined with the breaks into your typical rock-type chorus make it seem gorgeously schizophrenic. Songs like "Every Shining Time You Arrive" and "Guitar and Video Games" mark some of Sunny Day's most beautiful songs to date. And the album's title track is a cross between a country ballad and an incredibly volatile moody rock hit.

Truthfully, the tension and mood this band creates in their songs is so atypical of music today. Sunny Day Real Estate are one of those rare bands that truly deserves all of their accolades. Try and prove me wrong. You'll love this record so much, you'll want to bring it home to meet your parents on the holidays.

If you like Sunny Day Real Estate, check out:
Sunny Day Real Estate Live
Sunny Day Real Estate The Rising Tide
Jeremy Enigk Return of the Frog Queen
Built To Spill Perfect From Now On
The Foo Fighters The Colour and The Shape

-- Carey Head