Sunny Day Real Estate

Infamously, LP2 was recorded while the band were on the verge of breaking up. Not only did they have to flesh it out with b-sides from Diary singles but they barely bothered to come up with a title, simply marking it LP2. It may come as a surprise then, to hear that the record is not only as cohesive as Sunny Day Real Estate's debut but that it arguably surpasses it both musically and emotionally. Musically, LP2 is less immediate than its predecessor and while it certainly begs more investment from the listener, it rewards them appropriately. It's a complex and thoughtful record, showcasing the band's ability to incorporate several ideas and movements into a song without having it sound forced or overbearing. Singer Jeremy Enigk's melodies are winding and intricate, while the band play around complicated time signatures and jump between musical riffs and dynamics with ease. For an album supposedly thrown together, the band sound more emotionally charged ― Jeremy Enigk's voice never sounded tenderer than it does on album highlight "Waffle" ― and while the album's tempo is altogether slower than Diary, the musical and emotional intensity sound equal their debut. Concise and passionate, LP2 is the sound of a band about to implode, squeezing every last drop of emotion out before it happens. Diary may be Sunny Day Real Estate's most important album but LP2 is arguably their best.