Jeremy Enigk - OK Bear
Rating
RIYL
Sunny Day Real EstateThe Fire Theft
Pedro the Lion
Release Date
05/12/2009
Label
Lewis Hollow RecordingsTracklist
1. Mind Idea2. Late of Camera
3. April Storm
4. Life’s Too Short
5. Just A State of Mind
6. Sandwich Time
7. In A Look
8. Same Side Imaginary
9. Restart
10. Make Believe
11. Vale Oso
12. Sant Feliu De Guixols
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The legendary Jeremy Enigk of Sunny Day Real Estate worship has emerged from the caves of the writing process once again, evidencing a blossoming career without the celebrity band crutch. His latest project, OK Bear, grizzles sonically autumn ideas with competent lyricism to create quite a rich growl on Enigk’s part. We get to experience and treasure the results as an audience, so no complaints should come clawing through anytime soon.
Yes, nine years have passed since Sunny Day Real Estate’s The Rising Tide, but OK Bear says that Enigk still has ample ability in him. “Mind Idea” reads like a hymn atop its delicious mix of post-emo and near singer / songwriter sensibility: “Steeples built upon their graves / Every delight bloom / We’re marching through / Desire finds its way home to you / Design by your grace we live on.” At times, Enigk seems content with just rattling off various thoughts strung together, completely random to the listener but saved from utter alienation by the deeper connection of the music. A prime example of this is “Life’s Too Short;” we know he’s writing about life being too short, but there aren’t too many clues as to what, “Tattoo harmony / I saw in paradise glow / Had me turning in my sleep / … Building a wasteland,” could possibly be explaining. The majority of us don’t ultimately care because the track’s persistent acoustic guitar riffs and descending melodies are enough to satisfy.
“Late of Camera” is all that comes close to a potential misstep on the entire album with its car crash chaos of drums and chords bludgeoning the ears (it’s maybe a little too heavy for such a song), but even then its scrolling wordplay of, “Late of (noun here, ie. passion, fashion, camera)” is intriguing. If anything, the single all-encompassing tone of the album in numbers like “Just A State of Mind” or “In A Look” may set them up as a little drab and forgettable, though hardly bad. Besides, it takes but a puny upstart (see: horns in “Sandwich Time”) to refocus attention to the positives and recast the album as a wholly solid one.
OK Bear is a glittering keeper. Its warm tone and excelling indie formalities will refuse to leave the stereo come autumn, and its delicately crafted lyrics will refuse to leave the oft-wandering brain. “Morning arise / Traced by surprise,” is the leading line from quite piano crooner “Sant Feliu De Guixols” and sums up the album quite well; don’t you dare underestimate its frequently soft image because truly, OK Bear is a surprise.
--Matthew Tsai
Comments
Alabama
Love this album! Near perfect for me.Thanks for reviewing!
greensboro NC
this is a great record...the backing band is really good. I am pretty sure they are in a band called standstill from Spain. They used to be pretty heavy, but mellowed wayyyy out. Good stuff though.