Everclear
Mix 1970s soft rock with 1990s punk rock and what's the result?. Everclear's sequel to their 1995 hit album Sparkle and Fade offers a pretty good idea. Awash in shimmery Beach Boys-style harmonies and jagged, humming electric guitars, So Much for the Afterglow makes the most of its musical contradictions.
At its best, as on the title track, this Portland trio blasts unexpectedly fresh air into potentially stale pop territory, although lead singer (and songwriter) Art Alexakis's jeering at a fellow, unnamed rock singer on "Like a California King" rings false. But hand the guy a banjo and a provocative topic (such as "Why I Don't Believe in God"), and Everclear shows why pop's past is their prelude. (Capitol)
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