Jeremy Enigk’s former band, Sunny Day Real Estate, revived their
career with tours in 1998 and 2000. But for some reason, Enigk’s 1996
solo debut, Return of the Frog Queen, didn’t have the same
impact. Ditto for 2006’s World Waits. Enigk’s third solo album,
OK Bear, is what you’d expect from him at this point in his
career. At 34, he certainly shows a level of songwriting maturity. It’s
very much a laid-back effort that has more in common with his other
solo work than anything Sunny Day Real Estate ever did. OK Bear is full of whimsical tunes produced with a do-it-yourself,
stripped-down feel that comes from self-releasing your records. “Mind
Idea” opens the album with a swirling piano line reminiscent of
Coldplay, and the straightforward “Restart” is the album’s catchiest
tune. Tracks like “Vale Oso” and “Same Side Imaginary” rely heavily on
acoustic guitar and mood. There’s a bit of that promised bombast on
“Late of Camera” and “Life’s Too Short,” but they seem more like
anomalies in this context. — Jeremy Willets
This article appears in May 20-26, 2009.
