Overall, this is a great album. The expansion of Everclear's sound is great, and nothing on here sounds particularly tired or out of place. It's the great rock record I really love.
When "Vol. 2" comes out, they're supposed to be rocking harder, so whether or not I can get into that, it will be a mystery. I hope they continue to produce songs with meaningful lyrics, depth, and such great variety. I can't wait, but I'm "wonderful" for the time being.

A Simpler Everclear 'Til Volume II Is Unleashed!
Everclear's Alexakis along with Eklund, and Montoya unreels reality. The fourth album from this ever-clever trio plays like the soundtrack to frontman Art Alexakis's L.A. youth in the late '60s and '70s. A throwback to the more melodic pop of that era, Songs is a concept album that takes its inspiration from such musical heroes as Otis Redding (on a string-drenched ballad named for him), Van Morrison (on a faithful cover of "Brown Eyed Girl") and Jean Knight (on "AM Radio," which judiciously uses the guitar riff from her 1971 hit "Mr. Big Stuff").

But for those fans who may think Everclear -- Craig Montoya (bass), Greg Eklund (drums) and Alexakis -- has lost its alt-rock edge, the band promises Vol. Two: Good Time for a Bad Attitude later this year.

¿Wonderful¿ Stories
Everclear does a great job telling their stories on SONGS FROM AN AMERICAN MOVIE. From the retro sound of "AM Radio" with its true spirit of the 70's vibe to the pure vitriol of "Now That It's Over," Everclear creates a series of vignettes that rarely work, but when they do it's a wonderful journey. You can get an amazing amount of story out of a 3-4 minute song. Take the girl sitting at the unemployment office in "Unemployed Boyfriend." Just sitting there minding her own business and being greeted by the line "Maybe this sounds a little obsessive." How can you not love that line, and the rest of the song holds up just as well. This pattern of excellence repeats itself and except for the unfortunate cover of "Brown Eyed Girl," (it just reminds how much better Morrison's original was, even on AM radio.)This is a CD I find myself coming back to, again and again.

An absolute betrayal
I just bought...well actually it was on store credit...vol II at a used cd store. I like what I hear. Yes, it took me 4 years to even take a chance on an essentially free Everclear cd after this debacle. I was trying to remember if I pawned this curse of a cd off on some poor soul (current or soon to be enemy) or just tossed it out of the car window at high speed. I can't remember being more pissed off at a band. Pure garbage.

i luv everclear
i luv everclear!Everclear is the gr8est band of all time! i luv all of their cds and if there is 1 i haven't heard yet i'll probably like it too! & if u don't like Everclear than u just suck!! ART ALEXAKIS IS 1 SEXY MO-FO!!! (even if he is like twice my age)
Reminiscences permeate the dozen diverse tracks that populate Everclear's fourth outing. The trio, spearheaded by writer/guitarist/producer Art Alexakis, looks back in myriad ways on Songs from an American Movie. Alexakis skillfully and sweetly addresses his recent divorce ("The Honeymoon Song," "Now That's It's Over"), musical heroes ("Otis Redding"), and childhood ("AM Radio"), frequently matching his words with suitably retro music. Although the only cover is a new-wave take on Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl," familiar musical references abound. On "AM Radio," a brief sample of "Mr. Big Shot" sets the tone for funky flashback fun, while "The Honeymoon Song" is full of Brian Wilson inflections. Alexakis references his own "Everything to Everyone" in the title track, while "Otis Redding," "Unemployed Boyfriend," and "Wonderful" are more commercial alt-rock Everclear than homage Everclear. Alexakis set out to make a pop album, and while millennial teenagers have their own definition of "pop," for '70s-kid Alexakis, Songs from an American Movie serves as a summertime soundtrack to his thirtysomething life. --Katherine Turman