With the economy in the toilet, gas prices still too high, and home loans impossible to get, it doesn't take an annoying Fox News commentator to point out that things could be a little better in this country.
In the 1940s, when the US was dealing with war and the stock market crash of the not-so-distant past, music and entertainment were purposely produced to help take American minds off of their current state of affairs. Want proof? A silly Bing Crosby movie won 7 trophies at the 1944 Academy Awards.
All this to say, if there was a time to appreciate feel-good music that might be a little low on the artistic or creative side, it is now. Thus, begins a new series of posts: "Whatever Gets You Through."
For the first entry: Everclear "Slow Motion Daydream."
Everclear made their initial splash with "Sparkle and Fade," an album of 20-something angst wrapped up in California sunshine pop and power chords. While Nirvana was dissonant with their odes to depression, Everclear made theirs hummable, a musical dichotomy that made them both appealing and unique. It also made them popular.
For three full records after "Sparkle and Fade," Everclear took their popularity and riff-writing and channled it towards social issues ("Father of Mine"), sentimentality ("AM Radio") and bad covers ("Brown-Eyed Girl"). So when most of their fans had written them off in 2003, the trio put out "Slow Motion Daydream" to little fanfare - and unleashed what might have been their best effort since the days of "Santa Monica."
The same chords are still there. In fact, you can even sing old Everclear lyrics overtop of some of these songs. But the things that made Everclear so good in the first place - huge melodies, sloppy guitar solos, and pessimissm - are all there, too.
No comments:
Post a Comment