Everclear Album: “So Much for the Afterglow”

This album from Everclear had all the makings of failure. The lyrics and music are sometimes too similar to SPARKLE AND FADE, and of course alternative rock bands usually never succeed with their follow up to a breakthrough release. This went against the trends though because in the end, it's just a great collection of songs that are hard to dislike. Alexakis does tend to repeat himself with the negative subjects dominating almost every song, but at least he's singing about something he knows and cares about. Nothing here has the immediate impact of "Santa Monica" at first listen, but I found myself hooked to tracks like "Everything To Everyone," "One Hit Wonder," and "Father Of Mine" in no time at all. As on SPARKLE AND FADE, it's again obvious that Alexakis cares about the lyrics he has written and his emotion never falters throughout. It seems that "I Will Buy You A New Life" is the only questionable song here as it broods with arrogance in my mind, but as far as the slower tracks are concerned anyway, "White Men In Black Suits" is one of the best offerings here with its expressive content and delicate pace. Everclear has established themselves as a force with SO MUCH FOR THE AFTERGLOW and my guess is they'll sound basically the same on their upcoming releases, which is fine with me.

This is one of my favorite albums. I'm not really a big fan of "Songs From an American Movie", but this album is just unbelievable. "So Much For the Afterglow" is probably my favorite, simply because of the mood it is able to capture in me. "I Will Buy You a New Life", "California King" and "Sunflowers" are definitely also favorites.

Every once in a while, I forget about it, and then I put it into the cd player and I remember how wonderful it really is. It's a good cheer-up album for me--and it pretty much works for any occasion for in-car rocking.

If I could give it more than five stars, I definitely would.

Although i always kept switching genres of music throughout my life i always loved alterntive rock and have listened to everclear for most of my young life, all throughout junior high school to now (21) And owning every record from them i felt that this is one of their finest and give it 5 stars even though my favs are "world of noise" and "sparkle and fade" A very solid album from beginning to end, i dont mind the fillers either i definately reccomend to new everclear fans

"I hate those people who love to tell you money is the root of all that kills,

they have never been poor - they have never had the joy of a welfare Christmas!"

"You say they taught you how to read and write, yea they taught you how to count,

"They might make you think you're happy, yeah, maybe for a minute or two

This is an album by a master song-writer and an amazing band. It's actually personal - unlike some of those bands that just float along the top of the issues they're singing about, these guys actually get into the feelings and the issues so that you feel them too. It's so hard to pick favorite tracks, because they've all got special meanings to me - they will to you as well very quickly, unless you've lived in a box your whole life! "Everything to Everyone" is great, I love "I Will Buy You a New Life", "Amphetamine" is brilliant, and "Sunflowers" is just as amazing... Buy it so you know what I mean!!

Everclear is back and better then ever. This time they incorporate many instruments including the banjo, toy piano, and acuastic guitar. Each song tells a story and keeps you interested throughout the CD. You begin to care about the lead singer Art Alexakis and know where he came from. Everclear is my favorite band because they aren't just one hit wonders, they have so many great songs! The album has already spawned several runaway singles including "Everything to Everyone", "I will buy you a new life", and "Father of Mine." Also look out for their upcoming single "Normal like you." It hits like these that one them "Modern Rock Artist of the year" from Billboard Magazine. And a place in rock and roll history.