Jeremy Enigk - OK Bear [2009] (mp3-Sunny Day Real Estate)

Jeremy Enigk – OK Bear

Record Label: Lewis Hollow Records

Release Date: May 12, 2009



Completely unaware of Jeremy Enigk’s inexhaustible work ethic, I was slightly taken aback to learn that OK Bear is the former Sunny Day Real Estate frontman’s fifth-ish solo release. Couple this jarring statistic with the fact that Enigk also completed four albums with SDRE (and some soundtrack work), and I think it’s safe to say that Enigk is the definition of prolific. Perhaps most amazing is the way Enigk maintains his recognizable sonic tendencies while still keeping diehard fans coming back for more. He experimented with The Fire Theft, gave a genre meaning in the 90’s, and now on OK Bear, he does away with the frills to deliver an acoustic, country-influenced gem.



The only time I ever saw Enigk perform live, it was just him, a guitar and a stool. Despite being the opener for Cursive, a band not exactly immune to chants of, “Die Emo pussies, die,” a drunk (or stupid or both) concertgoer extolled Enigk for sounding like “the saddest man on Earth.” Clearly he was listening through a can of Coors Light, because hearing Enigk strive for the upper register is the opposite of depressing. “Vale Oso” is an example of such dichotomy. Delicate guitar picking accompanies a rather soulful Enigk as he sings, “Carry you across the Earth / I never even had a choice.” Descending horn lines and a ghostly piano make brief appearances, and in passing, sure, it sounds kinda sad. But the notion of being so madly in love that you can commit these feats of impossible strength - so in love that you can wait forever - is almost too optimistic. The hunt for Enigk’s true feelings is half the fun. Joe Keystone Light will figure it out later.



So he’s still writing and we’re not bored yet. Great. Even on an album described as “stripped”, Enigk finds creative ways to incorporate plenty of traditional rock instruments. “Same Side Imaginary” has drums played with a feathery touch, electric guitars and, whoa!, a catchy chorus. It’s not heavy, but it is fulfilling. In the same vein, opener “Mind Idea” makes use of a piano accompaniment that wouldn’t be out of place in a 70’s horror movie. Lengthy guitar strums and a confrontational Enigk create an unexpected DSOTM-era Pink Floyd vibe. Jam-packed as this song is, it’s digestible and easily integrated within OK Bear. Next comes similarily noisy “Late Of Camera.” Although “Camera” goes for the distortion-to-melody gag we’ve been inundated with over the past few years, it ingeniously incorporates shrill strings in a successful attempt at cohesiveness.



It’s in these moments of conflict that Enigk’s genius becomes clear. One moment he’s “La La La” and the next he’s fighting for ground amidst a flurry of guitar noodling. And there’s not even a hesitation when it comes to identifying OK Bear's 12 songs as “pop”. As sparse as they can be (“April Storm” and “Make Believe”), there’s still drama worthy of the world’s greatest theater. Enigk is an unassuming showman of the highest quality; he can sit on a stage with an old guitar, all the while fooling the uninitiated into thinking something completely false. But it’s almost exciting to be one of those sorry few, because once the truth is revealed, there is a triumphant feeling rarely recreated in the musical world.





Recommended If You Like: The Fire Theft, Sunny Day Real Estate, brown belt-black shoes, Sleepercar, fake fur