Everclear

Saint Cobain still has a lot to answer for. The media's burial of grunge notwithstanding, a
host of bands are still churning out chunky punk-metal riffs and strained, angsty poetry.
And a host of sulking adolescents wearing flaky nail polish are still buying it. The
major-label debut by neo-Nirvana trio Everclear, Sparkle and Fade, caught the authentic
note of vacant ennui that haunts adolescent America. But the songs on So Much ... More >

Art Alexakis knows he got lucky and figures the surest way to maximize his success is to maximize his music, showing the strengths and weaknesses of someone you sincerely hope has found the investment counselor of his dreams. With his big riffs and self-aggrandizing evocations of a credible life, he's at his best working the timeworn audience-as-beloved trope. The title tune says everything he needs to say about follow-ups in the age of the one-shot. (Grade: B+)