Jeremy Enigk, Tomo Nakayama

Here's the thing: Jeremy Enigk's first solo album, Return of the Frog Queen, is one of the truly epochal LPs for this region. Released in 1996 after a tumultuous period for his band Sunny Day Real Estate, this surreal collection of chamber-instrument-laced acoustic songs changed the landscape of what Seattle could sound and feel like, ushering in the next 15 years of Northwest music. And the shows at which he debuted this material remain some of the most staggering performances I ever saw. If you don't know the album, you are in for a treat.