Sunny Day Real Estate

The Profile

Sunny Day Real Estate are an American rock band from Seattle, widely cited as pioneers of second-wave emo. Formed in 1992, they debuted on Sub Pop with Diary (1994) and LP2 (1995), followed by How It Feels to Be Something On (1998) and The Rising Tide (2000). Core members include Jeremy Enigk, Dan Hoerner, Nate Mendel, and William Goldsmith; Mendel and Goldsmith also played with Foo Fighters. The band has reunited multiple times and remains a touchstone for emotive, intricate guitar music.

Formed in Seattle in 1992; early releases on Sub Pop; albums include Diary (1994), LP2 (1995), How It Feels to Be Something On (1998), The Rising Tide (2000); members Jeremy Enigk, Dan Hoerner, Nate Mendel, William Goldsmith; Mendel and Goldsmith were in Foo Fighters; considered foundational to 1990s emo.

Four glowing reviews trace SDRE’s arc from the raw urgency of Diary and LP2 to the expansive sweep of The Rising Tide and the layered textures of How It Feels to Be Something On. Writers praise the band’s emo-defining impact, intricate structures, and Jeremy Enigk’s aching vocals. Seattle roots, Sub Pop ties, and connections to Foo Fighters surface throughout. Overall verdict: seminal, influential, and still emotionally disarming.