The Rising Tide

1	Killed by an Angel 4:55
2	One 4:09
3	Rain Song 4:03
4	Disappear 4:09
5	Snibe 4:29
6	The Ocean 4:50
7	Fool in the Photograph 4:09
8	Tearing in My Heart 5:07
9	Television 4:31
10	Faces in Disguise 6:02
11	The Rising Tide 5:37

Barnes & Noble

The first track on THE RISING TIDE, SDRE's fourth studio album, begins predictably enough for these emotionally charged rockers: Ringing, atmospheric guitar lines and sensitive emo-style vocals weave through waves of buzzing distortion and tumbling beats. Then something remarkable happens. The band's simple rhythms and four-four tempos turn on their sides and transmogrify into a new, more technically profound piece of Real Estate. The scribbling guitars and Jeremy Enigk's falsetto vocals on "One" suggest the art-rock turns of Shudder to Think, and it only gets stranger from there. "Disappear" is an impossible blend of Cure-like dynamics and Queenesque histrionics, as deep, brooding bass lines intersect with operatic vocals. "The Ocean" sounds like a Roger Waters lullaby, whereas "Fool" features dense Middle Eastern-tinged melodies that recall Soundgarden and vocals reminiscent of Yes' "Heart of the Sunrise." Melancholy, but strangely ebullient, THE RISING TIDE makes prog rock sound hip again. Jon Wiederhorn

All Music Guide

Described by Jerermy Enigk as a "wake-up call," Sunny Day Real Estate's fourth album (and their first for Time Bomb) The Rising Tide presents the most accomplished version of their gripping, anthemic sound yet. Appropriate to its title, The Rising Tide comes in sweeps and swells, ranging from searching, uncompromising rock like "Killed By an Angel" and "One" to gentle, beautiful ballads like "Rain Song" and even pop-tinged songs like "Television," which sounds a bit like a more propulsive version of the Police's early '80s singles. Though the album was recorded with a trio lineup (Jeremy Enigk, Dan Hoerner, and William Goldsmith), it's some of the band's fullest-sounding work, rich with strings and keyboard flourishes that add extra depth to the shimmering, Eastern-inspired drones of "Fool in the Photograph" and "Faces in Disguise." Lou Giordano's production gives The Rising Tide an unabashedly big, clean sound that frames Sunny Day's detailed songwriting and arrangements perfectly, giving the restrained, reflective "Tearing in My Heart" and "The Ocean" as much impact as driven tracks like "Snibe" and "Disappear." Best of all is the title track, which blends a beautiful melody, heartfelt vocals, and an insistent rhythm into a sweeping, affecting finale. Expansive and complex without compromising the band's focused, impassioned style, The Rising Tide is one of Sunny Day Real Estate's -- and 2000's -- most impressive albums. Heather Phares