Track Listing
1. Song From An American Movie (part 1)
2. Here We Go Again
3. AM Radio
4. Brown Eyed Girl
5. Learning How To Smile
6. Honeymoon Song
7. Now That It's Over
8. Thrift Store Chair
9. Otis Redding
10. Unemployed Boyfriend
11. Wonderful
12. Annabella's Song
| Details | | Number of CDs: | 1 | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Distributor: | EMI Operations/CEVA Logistics | | Recording Mode: | Stereo |
Album Notes
Full title: Songs From An American Movie Vol. 1: Learning How To Smile.Everclear: Art Alexakis (vocals, electric & steel guitars, banjo, percussion); Greg Eklund (vocals, ukelele, drums, percussion, bells); Craig Montoya (mandolin, bass, percussion, background vocals).Additional personnel includes: Richard Altenbach, Vage Ayrikyan, Bette B. Byers, Frank Capp, Matthew Cooker, Wade Cullbreth, Cathrine Del Russo, Louise Ditullio, Bruce Dukov, Steve C. Durnin, John C. Eidsvoog, Arme Garbedian, James Hughart, Patricia Johnson (strings); Brandon Fields (saxophone); Greg Adams, Chuck Findley (trumpet); Nick Lane (trombone); James Beaton (piano, harmonium, organ, synthesizer); Lars Fox (percussion, loops, background vocals); Kendall Payne, Andrew Stevens, Erica Stewart-Giuhan, Sydnne Ebong (background vocals).Producers: A.P. Alexakis, Lars Fox, Neal Avron.Over its first three albums, the West Coast band Everclear provided consistent, fairly simple, breezy, catchy, modern rock with relatively few frills. On SONGS FOR AN AMERICAN MOVIE VOL. 1, the threesome, fronted by the outspoken, charismatic Art Alexakis, suddenly finds frills galore. The album opens on a country note with the short, soft ballad title track, before kicking into a zippy, hip-hop flavored "Here We Go Again," replete with Chuck D samples. "AM Radio" uses Jean Knight's 1971 classic "Mr. Big Stuff" to back an infectious exploration of late night radio listening long before the advent of MTV, followed by an almost breakbeat-meets-Celtic folk re-working of Van Morrison's classic "Brown-Eyed Girl." "Unemployed Boyfriend" and leadoff single "Wonderful," reminiscent in both flavor and theme to SO MUCH FOR THE AFTERGLOW's "Father of Mine," are closest to Everclear's traditional sound, while "Otis Redding," a sweet, retro power ballad, stands out as one of the most sincere and sublimely lovely songs the band has created. SONGS FOR AN AMERICAN MOVIE, VOL. 1 finds Everclear experimenting as much as ever with satisfying results.
Editorial Reviews
4 stars out of 5 - ...12 understated, beautiful songs, which place Alexakis' always appealing vocals in the setting they deserve....Everclear's finest moment....What a surprise.
Q (09/01/2000)
4 stars out of 5 - ...It's good. It's a glutton's pop-fest....this album hits heights Ween would dig....Utterly repellent in intent. Utterly gorgeous to the touch. Love it.
Melody Maker (08/08/2000)
...Tries to paint a broad, humorous picture of American life using a far larger palette of sounds than the group has used before....the hooky, mid-tempo songs will not disappoint [their] legions of fans.
CMJ (07/10/2000)
Included in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2000 - ...These songs are powerful....Alexakis chronicles the ups and downs of American fatherhood, husbandhood, sonhood and just plain asshole-hood.
Rolling Stone (01/04/2001)
Included in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2000 - ...These songs are powerful....Alexakis chronicles the ups and downs of American fatherhood, husbandhood, sonhood and just plain asshole-hood.Q (9/00, p.99) - 4 stars out of 5 - ...12 understated, beautiful songs, which place Alexakis' always appealing vocals in the setting they deserve....Everclear's finest moment....What a surprise.Melody Maker (8/8/00, p.50) - 4 stars out of 5 - ...It's good. It's a glutton's pop-fest....this album hits heights Ween would dig....Utterly repellent in intent. Utterly gorgeous to the touch. Love it.CMJ (7/10/00, p.22) - ...Tries to paint a broad, humorous picture of American life using a far larger palette of sounds than the group has used before....the hooky, mid-tempo songs will not disappoint [their] legions of fans.
Rolling Stone (01/04/2001)
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