Sunny Day Real Estate LP2

Sunny Day Real Estate: Jeremy Enigk (vocals, guitar); Dan Hoerner (guitar, background vocals); Nate Mendel (bass); William Goldsmith (drums).
Producers: Sunny Day Real Estate, Brad Wood.
Sunny Day Real Estate's second release features their signature, evolving guitar-based pop-punk, and the soaring tenor of Jeremy Enigk, whose clean pop singing and fierce growling varies in accordance with the band's complex, unfolding arrangements. While elements of the soft/hard/soft/hard philosophy that put their Sub Pop label-mates on the musical map can be found here, SDRE revile simplistic verse/chorus formulas. Jangled, ethereal soft-pop modulates into minor key dirges on "Theo B" and "J'Nuh"; ballads morph into power anthems on "Red Elephant," "5/8" and "Waffle"; and "8" blossoms from a minimalist soundscape into a power groove. The band is anchored by the perfectly-synched rhythm section of Nate Mendel and William Goldsmith, who joined Nirvana's Dave Grohl in Foo Fighters following SDRE's unfortunate and untimely disbanding prior to LP2's release. Jeremy Enigk, whose born-again Christianity reportedly prompted the break-up, has plans for a solo project.

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Pop