For so many hypocritical, anti-aristocratic celebrities, humility and discretion are overlooked in favor of TV face time and decidedly solipsistic practices. Michael Moore’s rant at the Oscars Sunday night was a perfect example of the outrageous antics of outspoken celebrities.
So when Everclear frontman Art Alexakis gets political inside a novelty cocoon called “Volvo Driving Soccer Mom,” from his group’s latest, Slow Motion Daydream, it’s tough not to snicker at him the same way many did at Moore’s remarks Sunday night.
Alexakis made millions from reconstructing similar harmonies in neatly refurbished packages, and in the lead single from Slow Motion Daydream, he’s chastising adult-film stars for moving out to the suburbs. “And now they’re blonde, bland, middle-class Republican wives / They’ve got blonde, bland, middle-class Republican children / and blonde, bland, middle-class Republican lives,” Alexakis sings in the already forgotten single.
Okay Art, you made your point, but how do you characterize your upper-class, suburban lifestyle in Portland? It’s a question Michael Moore would have a tough time answering as well should it be posed to him. Sure, Moore resides in downtrodden Flint, Mich., but I doubt he leaves his door and the metal gates surrounding his house open, a practice he’s amazed more Americans don’t engage in.
As for Everclear, it’s always been about Alexakis. He’s made it clear on more than one occasion that he is Everclear. If he wants to record, the group records; if he doesn’t, nothing happens.
Drummer Greg Eklund and bassist Craig Montoya are barely given a voice in the process — hardly a democratic move from Al Gore’s biggest supporter. Autocracy rules in the Everclear camp.
Despite these inconsistencies, Alexakis has plenty of reasons to hold the position he does. He grew up almost dirt poor, was abandoned by his father, and his brother died of a heroin overdose. Life was never a fairytale for Alexakis, ample fuel for what should be an extraordinary collection of music.
1995’s Sparkle and Fade was by far one of the most underrated albums of the ’90s. The album’s 14 tracks had a kinetic energy that sucked you into a world of pop rock that seemed fresh and raw. The album was a notable breakout and one of the defining albums of the post-grunge rock scene.
1997’s So Much For The Afterglow was a strong follow-up, built on sun-soaked and overdriven Beach Boys harmonies. It wasn’t until Songs From An American Movie Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 that cracks began to show up in the pavement.
Alexakis admits the band was tired while recording Vol. 2, and that he resented Capitol for not releasing the album as a double disc, opting for two separate release dates. While the albums were polar opposites in terms of their tonality, the melodies were similar to past tracks and signs of fatigue were evident in tracks that were, well, bland.
Slow Motion Daydream certainly has its bright spots, but one wonders how long Everclear can last without evolving. “New Blue Champion” is signature Everclear, a mix of charged emotions in a rolling rock track reminiscent of the band’s best work. “TV Show” is another trademark, but these melodies were explored in tracks like “Sunflowers,” from So Much For The Afterglow.
“Chrysanthemum” is only limited by its brevity. There is ample room for the track to explore its latent, heavy undertones, but it decides against doing so. Alexakis excels in the quiet, solo setting and has proved that on his non-Everclear tours.
“How To Win Friends and Influence People,” starts with those stuttering riffs ala “Santa Monica,” but quickly builds itself into a more full-figured track, with a descending chorus that adds some meat to the album.
Where the album fails is in tracks like the melodramatic “A Beautiful Life” and “Science Fiction,” a number that sounds like it was cranked out in 20 minutes, using the same old hook, something along the lines of “Life is always getting better.”
Everclear’s members are magnetic in the live setting, have a remarkable back catalogue with the exception of Songs From An American Movie Vol. 1, and are capable of recapturing the initial magic that made them stars in the first place; they just need a new direction.
Grade: B
