This came out in 1999 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
This Seattle foursome became a Rock ’N’ Roll Jeopardy answer when Dave Grohl swiped their rhythm section for his original incarnation of Foo Fighters. Which is not to suggest that Sunny Day live in the Foos’ shadow.
Although, come to think of it, Sunny Day’s enigmatic leader Jeremy Enigk does have a somewhat overcast outlook; his introspective tunes are clad in chiming, post-grunge guitars, but the way they wear their heart on their sleeve more closely resembles Built To Spill. All that power and passion are in full effect on this 11-track outing recorded at a Portland gig earlier this year. But if there’s one drawback to Live, it’s the band’s impeccable musical precision, which drains some of the juice from these songs; real emotion shouldn’t (or at least doesn’t need to) sound so rehearsed. Leave that sort of professionalism to the Foos, Jeremy.
