So Much For The Afterglow

10/07/1997 3:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Rob O'Connor

The album begins with a brief tip of the hat to the Beach Boys before being blown apart by a hyperwall of guitar for the title track. The Beach Boys tip-off is something singer-guitarist Art Alexakis apparently wants right out in front for this third Everclear album. By embracing a wider palate of influences, Alexakis is steering Everclear into territory where the pop hooks are met with more than grunge's distorted wail. Among the instruments cited are steel guitar, banjo, mandolin, toy piano, slide whistle, trombone, saxophone, cello and--everyone's fave!--assorted chicken noises. But even with all this added instrumentation, solidly at the heart remains the guitar, bass and drums that propels all things rock. Besides, what sends the songs into the pop stratosphere is not unusual amount of musical instruments, but the multi-tracked harmonies that add enough sugar to coat radio stations the nation over.