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Before vocalist Jeremy Enigk found God, and before Nate Mendel (bass) and William Goldsmith (drums) found the Foo Fighters, Sunny Day Real Estate's second album,
LP2 (aka the Pink Album) hit alternating highs and lows for the harbingers of emo. From the onset of "Friday," there's more girth in the guitars, drums and bass - everything but Enigk's whiney ruminations. Where his piercing wail gave '94's
Diary character, here, his dramatic pronunciations of such words as "Matrimo oh nay" are just plain annoying. Enigk's cheese factor was previously tempered with palatable, rainy day longing. But on
LP2, a certain rasp in "Theo B" and "5/4" grates the ears. "Waffle" finds Mendel, Goldsmith and guitarist Dan Hoerner congealing with chemistry like never before. Regardless, Slint did this sort of thing so much better. (Sub Pop)
3 stars out of 5-
Sunny Day Real Estate $27-$29. 9 p.m. Sat., Oct. 3. Center Stage, 1374 W. Peachtree. 404-885-1365. www.centerstage-atlanta.com.