Sunny Day Real Estate: The Rising Tide

Sunny Day Real Estate's rocky path includes a high-profile breakup, the spiritual rebirth of singer Jeremy Enigk (and subsequent solo rebirth on the brilliant 1996 orchestral record Return Of The Frog Queen), a higher-profile reunion, numerous line-up changes, and a recent label switch. But through it all, the Seattle band has been remarkably consistent, incorporating its epic, bombastic uplift into three great studio albums that somehow convert its endless string of dramatic peaks into catchy songs. At first, The Rising Tide sounds like SDRE's first noticeable misstep: Is that Enigk hitting the high note on "Rain Song," or is it Yes' Jon Anderson The resemblance, coupled with recurring nods to prog-rock, can be unsettling the first time through, but additional exposures reveal the beautiful, textured rock album within. The single "One" melds the dizzying whomp of SDRE's best anthems with the stately and understated beauty of Enigk's great solo debut, while "Rain Song," Yes comparisons aside, is the loveliest song this side of "The Ocean," which is nicely constructed around Dan Hoerner's clear, gorgeous guitar line. Those subtler moments nicely flesh out the less tempered grandeur that pops up throughout, making The Rising Tide another remarkable, evolutionary chapter in the stormy history of one of rock's best young bands.