For the past five years, Sunny Day Real Estate has existed quite precariously since the departure of bassist Nate Mendel and drummer William Goldsmith. After a brief reuniting in 1998, the northwest band is back with a lightening bolt of charged rock and a now-stable threesome of Geddy Lee-meets-Perry Farrell lead singer Jeremy Enigk, guitarist Dan Hoerner and returned drummer, Goldsmith.
Sunny Day’s new album, “The Rising Tide,” deals with many issues that Enigk has been playing around with for years. Although there’s no universal message running through the collection of songs, Sunny Day leads the listener through a society devoid of individuality and morals with love as an offering of hope in modern-day sterility.
The opening track, “Killed by an Angel,” is an ethereal start for Enigk with his soft, wailing voice combined with the haunted, looped guitar riffs provided by Hoerner. Enigk offers a sharp criticism of society’s obsession with money and happiness, saying “crooked deals can keep you wealthy/serum vials to help you when you’re sad.”
As a counterpart, “One” offers the solution to the troubles presented by “Killed By an Angel.” There is a noticeable shift in Enigk’s tone to that of pleading, yet aspiring message. Enigk implores us to “lift up our eyes” and then asks can we start “replacing the lies” and “own this moment.” Fueling this passion is a slow, meticulous guitar with constant acoustic breaks and finally a digression into full acoustic near the end to complement a finale of layered singing.
In the two years since its last original release, Sunny Day has proven that it hasn’t lost its gift for songwriting. “Snibe” highlights the band’s achievements with lines such as “we stand in the marketplace/with cold September eyes on the hungry people/we passed the interrogation,” delivered with raw frustration and a sincere anger toward those who are power hungry.
In “Rain Song” Enigk proves that a love song doesn’t need to be trite or overly sappy in order to have a profound effect. “How long I’ve known this seed burst and grown/you’re the one that I love/you are the one that I trust.”
To continue with this one-upsmanship of the hackneyed pop-love-song genre, there is a light electric riff feathered in carefully amongst Enigk’s soft, affirmative tenor and acoustic guitar to add continuity to his promises of love.
Although the subject matter of this Seattle trio’s newest affair is too eclectic to be properly pinned down, there is a constant feeling of overwhelming that creates the urgency of Enigk’s voice in many of the songs.
“The Rising Tide” is an intimidating and masterful piece by a band that has turned a cynical mirror to society in a wish for change.