Everclear return in 2003 after a largely unsuccessful back to back album release, both loaded with filler, recycled riff, lyrics, and beats.

Everclear began their career with a neo-grunge sound on World of Noise. Sparkle and Fade followed in 1995 and met raved reviews and multi-platinum sales. The 1997 follow-up So Much for the Afterglow met with more singles and radio pop-grunge power and spent plenty of time on the charts. The band’s next move was to release 2 albums in 2000 Songs from an American Movie Vol. I & II that contained a notable singles on the first cd with mostly trash on the second. After taking a few years off, Everclear try the market again hoping to duplicate the multi-single, strong platinum releases they were previously capable of.

Some tracks immediately fall into the pothole Everclear seemed to be headed for after Songs From an American Movie Vol. II. Volvo Driving Soccer Mom although very catchy has very poor lyrical content. The song’s about a bad girl having threesomes, smoking marijuana and getting gang-banged as a tennager, then growing up to become a Volvo driving soccer mom. The track features “naaana naaaana” backing vocals and askes the question, “Where do all the porn stars go when you need one around?” Very catchy music with lyrics my teenage brother could have written. Utterly pathetic choice for a first single off the album, especially given the fact that some songs on the album portray a new side of Everclear that is more mature yet still rocks. The song fails to establish any credible musicianship and I can find no reason to attempt to distribute it for mass consumption.
How to Win Friends & Influence People as you can tell features a song title similar to those on the over emotional, cheesy releases on the two most recent albums. The song has Art missing the key a little but more importantly features no new style but rather an exact multiple of the song format Everclear has been force-feeding us for the last 8 years. The guitars to get a tad distorted but fail to add any distinct character to the song. The track also features the same wounded soul lyrics with the “it doesn’t matter you can do it” chorus of “It’s a beautiful day!”

But not all is lost. Blackjack is the most unique song Everclear have released in years. It features a nice Foo Fighters/punk rock choppy guitar riff with a different lyrical form than Art usually employs. The track even features an Everclear no-no, lead guitar. The song has a heavy distorted sound on the chorus but still doesn’t overwhelm the pop vocals. The addition of lead guitar to Everclear’s arsenal gives there song an extra dimension. Great rock song and would’ve been a much better choice for first single while establishing the same overall mood musically.
New Blue Champion begins with a bluesy, yet modern rock chord progression supported by an acoustic guitar, another stretch/expansion of the Everclear sound. The song builds to a powerful rock on the chorus. This track also features some violins. The sound of these tracks are much fuller than other Everclear tracks. The songs arrangements come across like those of an experienced band that’s developing their sound as opposed to attempting to fit a formula for market success.

I Want to Die a Beautiful Death keeps the wave of creativity and originality going. Although the song title and some of the lyrics can seem a bit familiar. The song itself can’t be characterized as distinctly Everclear, which at this point in there career is a must. The track feature a fuzzy verse sound with a catchy rock sound that builds to a jamming sing-along chorus. The lyrics delve a little into Everclear brand over expressive emotions but the song for the most part fits nicely in the creative palate of Everclear’s catalog.

The album does have some serious lulls as well. Science Fiction has familiar chord and vocal pattern with a ukulele sounding guitar playing the verse. The music grows into an orchestral progression as the song progresses. Much better vocals that fit the violins and smooth slow feel of the track. The song lacks any distinguishable characteristic though and blends into the flow of the album (English translation: Filler.)
TV Show has a nice drum beat and has light, muted guitars with emphasis on the vocals. Although the vocals have the same underlying story as 75% of their songs (broken family, abusive family, abusive relationships, broken relationships, etc.) they do have a good message and the song does have a catchy sound. It could however easily be subtitled Father of Mine Pt. 2(the slow mix.)
Chrysanthemum has an acoustic picking arrangement with a violin backing. This track is an emotional ode to “Chrysanthemum” who checked out on a relationship leaving a tortured soul who can’t bear to return to life without her. On the good side the song is not quite two minutes.
Sunshine(the acid summer) is another cheap lyric about being drugged over a summer, happy and hanging out with friends in the California summer sun. This track brings forth no new element other some lead guitar that’s smothered by a distorted electric. The music overall is pretty good but fits the mold of the generic Everclear song along with the lyrics, which after 3 straight albums has gotten really old.

The album closes out with a spark with A Beautiful Life. The song begins with a xylophone and violins before the programmed beat kicks in. Art comes in with vocals that are quite original and a vocal sound that fits the mellow sound of the song nicely. The lyrics are of the same content but lack the emotional excesses that are in most of the other songs. The song picks up with an electric guitar on the second verse and gives the song some punch. A great creative track that continues the creative wave that is flashed briefly on these three or four tracks, before the drift into emotional monotony. The use of violins throughout the album, the most noticeable new element of the band, helps the songs they’re featured in by boosting the sound and rounding it out. Great track an a more ideal choice for a single, especially a slow song.
The New York Times picks up where “Beautiful Life” left off, with the same overall sound and lyrical flow. The track is never exactly says but it but is generally about a lost relationship in the 9/11 New York tragedy. A lyric that could have easily been quite embarrassing given the lyrical tendency of the band, but is excellent and also goes well with the music which builds and builds but breaks nicely on the chorus into a layered, well arranged musical piece. Great choice for album closing song. However, after a spell of silence, a fast paced un-named track kicks in. If it were contained as a noted track on the album it would be better than half the songs on the album. Reminiscent of the faster paced songs on “So Much for the Afterglow.”

The album takes a small step forward but for the most part fails to move forward and create a new sound or even an expansion of the old sound. Art’s lyrics show the promise of pop greatness, yet fall into emotional excess and adolescence punk lyrics. Albeit the band has come a long way from its neo-grunge beginnings in Portland, but all in all this album contains about 4 or 5 great songs and about 2 or 3 really, really bad ones, with the rest falling into the recycled lyrics and music category.


Recommended: Yes