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Product Details
With the ambitious and fervent Return of the Frog Queen, the former Sunny Day Real Estate frontman plays everything from guitar and drums to harpsichord. Then he surrounds himself with a strings, woodwinds, and brass. Lyrically, he's elliptic; musically, he strays from the pretty pop to a kind of sober psychedelia. Ultimately, he clearly feels the need to make a grand statement. Of course, grandeur is often delusional, and big, as often as not, is merely bloated in its infancy. With this undeniably enchanting album, however, one can't help but wonder what's next for Enigk. And that in itself is impressive. He's upped the ante enough that we can anxiously anticipate his failures as well as his achievements. --Steven Stolder
Product Reviews
 (5 stars) - Great album
I have seen mixed reviews on this album but I think it is important to listen to it without wishing/hoping for it to be SDRE. I really enjoy every track and Jeremy's voice is hauntingly beautiful. The first track holds a special place in my heart for reasons I will not go into here. I had the honor of having Jeremy perform it live per my request and it made me cry. If you enjoy good music, beautiful lyrics and passionate singing i believe there is a good chance you will enjoy this album.
 (1 stars) - Warning: pretentious solo release
In 1996, I was an adult volunteer at a high school radio station. Sub Pop was one of the labels that I was working with; when this came in it somehow got put in the studio with other new releases instead of in my mailbox. I listened to it and instead of playing it on my show, I left it in the studio- I just didn't get it. Enigk can't really sing, and the song structures are, for the most part, annoying. What worked for being the frontman for a loud band (SDRE) definitely doesn't work for a lushly produced, orchestral solo album. For some reason the kids loved it, played it when they were on the air and stole it in short order. Fast Forward to earlier this year, when I found this at a thrift store. 3 bones isn't too much to pay for a CD, and maybe I was wrong about it- maybe I expected it to sound just like a SDRE release and it didn't. Nope- I still don't like it for the reasons listed above. I gave it a listen and then it rode around in my car for months before I forced myself to listen to it again and make notes- only 3 songs are even marginally listenable.
I sincerely think that Sub Pop & Enigk released this as a joke- Hey- let's toss something out and all the kids will buy it because it has Enigk's name on it. I don't deny his contributions to SDRE- I have the first single they did without him, and they aren't nearly as good of a band- but those talents aren't in evidence on this release.
If you want a solo album by somebody who can't really sing well, I recommend anything from Damien Jurado. At least he means it when he sings.
(5 stars) - Minstrel Goth Folk? Top 10 Album 90s
Not to belittle Jeremy Enigk's ongoing development as an artist, but this is an album he can forever be proud of. It is a perfect sublime unity, each part necessary and integrated in the whole. Songs like "Carnival" and "Shade and the Black Hat" especially stand out, but sound best with the album as a whole.
When I first heard this in 1996, it was uncategorizable (minstrel goth folk?). Listening in 2008, it's clearly proto-emo. Enigk's influence on that "new" pop genre should not be underestimated.
Although perhaps I am not a objective source. I was a Christian back then AND a fan of SDRE, and I remember Jeremy's brief conversion to the faith right about the time I was losing mine. This album epitomizes that time of wonder and confusion, of questioning base convictions and searching for meaning.
Everyone should own this album.
 (4 stars) - have patience
it took over 4 weeks to receive this CD, which is waaaay too long, but the CD is fine.
(5 stars) - return of the frog queen
this cd is as good as people say it is. if you're a fan of enigk, you wont be disappointed. make sure to pick up his new album "world waits", its just as good
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