By
Eric Swedlund
Time Bomb Recordings
Grade: B+
Sunny Day Real Estate's Jeremy Enigk brings a curious sense of purpose to his lyrics. Be it religious or spiritual, Enigk strives for a greater end than most who front what are essentially guitar bands.
Even before their days at Sub Pop, the band has delivered a strong, driving sound, blending jangly guitars with loud, distorted guitars and, at the same time, crafting the songs with a delicate hand.
But it has been their lyrical uniqueness that has brought Sunny Day Real Estate this far, and on The Rising Tide, the chain is not broken.
The album starts with the line, "Welcome to the lonesome world of Abel," and winds its way through powerful religious imagery, pleas aimed to unite mankind and intense personal reflection- all over the space of 52 minutes.
The first song, "Killed By An Angel," opens the album with a driving instinct, but also manages to set the table for the delicate excursions that will follow. The distortion lets up in between the chorus and verse, and Enigk's voice rests above a melodious guitar line for a moment before returning to a half scream.
On "Rain Song," the band mellows out, adopting for four minutes a string section that adds a beautiful element to one of the rare times Enigk sings a clear love song.
The strings disappear on the next track, titled "Disappear," but once in a mellow groove, Sunny Day Real Estate stays to explore what Enigk says, "sleeps inside my heart."
For a band troubled by breakup and the temporary departure of the rhythm section to the Foo Fighters, The Rising Tide has a remarkable clarity. The album sustains a complexity throughout, and while Enigk might not always fully deliver, the premiere emo band continues to stretch the genre's capabilities.
