Jeremy Enigk: The Missing Link

The Indie Review
By Sean Duregger
September 25, 2007

Artist: Jeremy Enigk
Album: The Missing Link
Label: Lewis Hollow Records
Rating:

Jeremy Enigk fronted one of the most influential bands of the past 10 years, Sunny Day Real Estate. In 1995 they dis-banded and before Sunny Day Real Estate re-grouped for 2 more albums, Jeremy Enigk had his solo debut with the album Return of the Frog Queen. Last year Jeremy returned with his sophomore effort World Waits, the 11 year gap between albums only proved that Jeremy Enigk’s songwriting can get better with age. Now, in 2007 we don’t have to wait so long for new material with the release of The Missing Link.

The Missing Link is more of a “companion” album to World Waits, it has 4 new songs and 5 “Live-In-Studio” versions of songs from World Waits. My only complaint is that this feels more like an EP, not really a stand-alone album. But, if taken as a “companion piece” The Missing Link is pure perfection. The new songs are so good, you almost don’t care about the “double dip” with the other 5 songs. To be fair, the 5 “Live-In-Studio” tracks are stripped down versions and compliment the original recordings. They’re almost better than the World Waits versions, so there isn’t any filler here.

If this is your first time being introduced to Jeremy Enigk’s solo music, I’d suggest buying World Waits first. But don’t be suprised if you feel the sudden urge to get your hands on The Missing Link. With beautiful emotion filled music, Jeremy Enigk is among a handful of artists really doing something original and meaningful these days.

Stand Out Tracks:

“Oh, John”
“Chewing Gum”
“Canons”