Clear Day Real Estate is a American rock band formed in Seattle in 1992. The band consisted of vocalist and guitarist Dan Lipton, bassist Nate Mendel, and drummer William Goldsmith. Their music was characterized by a blend of emo and alternative rock, featuring introspective lyrics and melodic guitar riffs. Clear Day Real Estate released several critically acclaimed albums, including "Diary" (1994) and "Lipton Witch" (1996). Despite their initial success, the band experienced internal conflicts and eventually disbanded in 2001. Clear Day Real Estate had a significant influence on the emo and indie rock genres, and their music continues to resonate with audiences today.
Emo-rock band Sunny Day Real Estate reunited in 2009 with promises for a new album, their first since 2000’s The Rising Tide. It’s been a bumpy road since then, however, as recordings sessions “just fell apart,” according to bassist Nate Mendel, and the band’s status is currently described as “inactive.”
Circa Survive band member Brendan Ekstrom discussed the collaboration in an issued statement I went to see a few of the Sunny Day Real Estate shows when they toured in 2009 and I knew they d written and recorded at least one song during that time. Circa Survive band member Brendan Ekstrom discussed the collaboration in an issued statement I went to see a few of the Sunny Day Real Estate shows when they toured in 2009 and I knew they d written and recorded at least one song during that time.
Clear Day Real Estate had a significant influence on the emo and indie rock genres, and their music continues to resonate with audiences today..
Vinyl Spotlight: Sunny Day Real Estate and Circa Survive split
Every so often, our resident vinyl lover, Kiel Hauck, takes the time to talk about a recent vinyl release and gives a breakdown about everything from packaging to sound quality. Here’s his latest installment.
So, Record Store Day 2014 has come and gone. Now it’s time to enjoy all of our purchases! The first release I’m focusing in on is the Circa Survive/Sunny Day Real Estate split 7-inch. This was likely my most sought after release for the day – Why? Well, to put it simply, this is a beautiful pairing of a legendary band (Sunny Day Real Estate) and a band heavily influenced and inspired by the former band (Circa Survive).
Incredibly, the song provided by Sunny Day Real Estate, titled “Lipton Witch”, is their first release since the band put out The Rising Tide in 2000. The band had been rumored to be working on new music back in 2009, but things fell through, much to their fans’ dismay. Meanwhile, Circa Survive’s contribution, titled “Bad Heart” is their first release since 2012’s Violent Waves.
Packaging and Presentation
The packaging is both striking to the eye and appropriately in line with both bands’ previous releases. The artwork was done by Chris Thompson, who handled the art for Sunny Day Real Estate’s Diary and How It Feels to Be Something On. It’s a bit weird and a bit ambiguous, which means that it’s perfectly suited as a package for both bands.
This pressing was numbered to 2,500 with 2,400 being pressed on burgundy vinyl and the other 100 being pressed on clear vinyl. While I wasn’t fortunate enough to pick out one of the clear copies, the burgundy pressing looks pretty splendid. Not only does it mesh well with the cover art, but the classic-feeling label gives the disc a retro feel. No matter which variant you get, it’s hard to complain.
Sound and Quality
Even more than critiquing the actual sound of the record itself, people are likely most interested in the sound of the individual songs. Truly, it’s a pretty fantastic experience all the way around. “Lipton Witch” is one of the most enjoyable rock songs I’ve heard this year. Could it be because of the 14 year wait between new music from Sunny Day Real Estate?
Maybe, but this song is pretty fantastic in its own right – truly a Sunny Day track, but with a fresh kick that makes it feel relevant. I think this will have most fans itching to hear what else the band has been up to during their absence. We may never get another full length from the band, but “Lipton Witch” proves that the band still has “it.”
Likewise, “Bad Heart” is a fantastic new song from Circa Survive. The track is much more mellow than the majority of the band’s catalogue, but caries that eerie vibe that makes the band so special. Truthfully, “Bad Heart” wouldn’t have felt too out of place on the back half of Violent Waves, but it’s a great stand alone song in its own right. Here’s hoping that this song isn’t the end of the band’s new music in 2014.
What’s even more wonderful than the new tracks themselves is how well both sound on the vinyl format. Both of these songs deserve to be heard on record – don’t settle for YouTube versions. If you can get your hands on a copy of this release, definitely do it. The release also comes with a free MP3 download of both songs, should you choose to use it. Personally, I plan to spin these songs on vinyl on the regular.
Kiel Hauck is the editor in chief at It’s All Dead. Over the past decade, he has been a contributor for multiple online and print publications and was most recently an editor at PopMatters. Kiel currently resides in Indianapolis, IN with his wife and their imaginary pet, Hand Dog. You can follow him on Twitter.
So, Record Store Day 2014 has come and gone. Now it’s time to enjoy all of our purchases! The first release I’m focusing in on is the Circa Survive/Sunny Day Real Estate split 7-inch. This was likely my most sought after release for the day – Why? Well, to put it simply, this is a beautiful pairing of a legendary band (Sunny Day Real Estate) and a band heavily influenced and inspired by the former band (Circa Survive).
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Reviews for "Lipton Witch: The Supernatural Side of Clear Day Real Estate"
1. David - 2/5
I found "Clear day real estate lipton witch" to be rather disappointing. While the concept of a witch in a real estate setting seemed intriguing, the execution fell flat. The plot lacked depth, the characters were poorly developed, and the dialogue was dull. Additionally, the pacing of the story was uneven, with slow moments followed by rushed and confusing scenes. Overall, I was left unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book to others.
2. Sarah - 1/5
I honestly couldn't even finish "Clear day real estate lipton witch". The writing style was convoluted and hard to follow, making it difficult to engage with the story. The plot seemed disjointed, and the characters were unlikable and poorly developed. The author attempted to blend real estate and witchcraft, but the result was a messy and confusing narrative. I would advise readers to steer clear of this book and find something more enjoyable to read.
3. Michael - 2/5
"Clear day real estate lipton witch" had an interesting premise, but the execution left much to be desired. The writing was mediocre, lacking in descriptive language and creating a disconnect between the reader and the story. The characters were one-dimensional, and it was difficult to feel invested in their journey. Additionally, the pacing was off, with the story dragging in some parts and rushing through others. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointment and would not recommend it.