Sunny Day Real Estate formed in Seattle, and the band’s 1994 debut, Diary, is an influential emo album that cemented early tropes of the genre. After the second, loosely titled LP2, often referred to as “The Pink Album,” the group disbanded, with Nate Mendel and William Goldsmith leaving to join the Foo Fighters (Mendel remains with Dave Grohl, Goldsmith left after the first album). In 1997, Sub Pop enlisted the help of remaining members of Sunny Day Real Estate, founders Jeremy Enigk & Dan Hoerner, to compile a b-side/rare takes album, which somehow lead to the “reunion” of the band—Goldsmith was in, Mendel stayed w/ the Foo Fighters. How It Feels To Be Something was released the next year, 1998, and the it is represents a middle ground between Diary and The Rising Tide, which would come later and feature a more prog rock sound. Some standouts include: “Pillars,” “Guitar And Video Games,” “Every Shining Moment You Arrive,” “100 Million,” and “How It Feels To Be Something On.” This is the limited Loser Edition yellow vinyl reissue, and it includes a fold-out insert.

• Loser Edition yellow edition
• official reissue
• includes fold-out insert
• music label: Sub Pop 1998 / 2016

reviewed by donut savage 08/2016