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It has been ten years since Jeremy Enigk released his first solo record, The Return of the Frog Queen. In the years that followed, the singer/songwriter has had anything but an uneventful career and has consistently stayed busy (most notably with the band Sunny Day Real Estate). The thought of dedicating this review to Enigk’s last decade of music is enticing, but to do so would detract from his latest and heartfelt World Waits.

World Waits showcases, once again, Enigk’s talent for songwriting that incorporates folk, rock, and a subtle tinge of electronics for a light pull towards ambience. The album has a few songs that rely heavily on acoustic, some that rely on Enigk’s clean, arpeggiated guitar intro, and others that are introduced with piano or ethereal keys.

“City Tonight” is one such song that incorporates all these elements. This song begins with keys to bring a different dynamic to the same chord structure brought forth by guitars later in the song. The song flourishes with the drop of distorted guitars to the return of swelling keys and Enigk’s well-delivered harmonies. "City Tonight" also displays Enigk’s ability for stretching his vocals to deliver the harder edged chorus often found in his other projects.

The title track for World Waits begins with a soft, quarter note piano intro that gives way to Enigk’s opening vocal line that gently steps down, intertwining the piano. He reaches a wide range of vocals on this track. From falsetto, to tenor, and even bass, Enigk sings of heartache while diving into a new age feel with the orchestration of strings, piano, and bells.

World Waits is a work of storytelling that long time fans can listen to with no disappointment. Jeremy Enigk delivers. His seemingly Gaelic-style folk songs and ability to fuse rock with his own texture and melody make Enigk’s songs sound consistent while still introducing a new experience with each song.

Jeremy Enigk reminds me that everything is ok. Not to be too esoteric, but I believe sometimes we need to be reminded of this. It is through art that feelings are expressed. Enigk, for reasons selfish or not, reminds us of inner strength when we feel there is nothing left. Regardless of one’s reason for listening to music, World Waits is a safe bet for any fan of independent rock.

Reviewed by: johnspace

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