Everclear
Songs From an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile (Intervention/Capitol)
25th anniversary numbered edition, 140 gram yellow vinyl LP
25 years after it's original release, Everclear's fourth album has been given the vinyl release that it so richly deserves.
Let's get this out of the way from the very start--Art Alexakis' band are perhaps the most criminally underrated of all the '90s alt-rock groups. Devastatingly heartfelt lyrics and tunes that burrow deep into your brain, they had everything.
"I am so stoked that after 25 years this album is finally going to be available on vinyl…for the first time ever!” shares Alexakis. “When this record was originally released on Capitol, it was supposed to be released on vinyl, but vinyl sales were down so much that the label absolutely refused to honor our contract. I can’t wait for the fans to get a hold of this record. It’s exactly how I envisioned it to be almost 25 years ago, down to the yellow vinyl and the original artwork! I hope fans of this record and vinyl enthusiasts enjoy it as much as I do."
This fourth studio effort is equally as effective as earlier albums such as the heralded Sparkle & Fade. Songs like the opening title track, "AM Radio" and "Now That it's Over" highlight the singer's gorgeous, laid back yet pained delivery. Even the cover of "Brown Eyed Girl" is great, betraying the frontman's love for classic songwriters (Everclear earlier covered Petty's "American Girl").
The gatefold sleeve and yellow vinyl is stunning too. It's about time this album was treated properly.
The Heavy Heavy
One of a Kind (ATO Records)
We get a lot of reissues sent over for this vinyl column, so it's nice to listen to a debut album, released on vinyl, from this U.K.-based band.
The Heavy Heavy's obvious reference point is Fleetwood Mac. The dual male-female vocals and bluesy-classic rock tunes are very Mac-ish.
But don't make mistake of thinking that The Heavy Heavy is a carbon copy of anything. They're making music that is very much their own, and the tunes are spectacular.
"Written entirely by co-founders Georgie Fuller and Will Turner and mostly recorded at Turner’s studio in Brighton, One Of A Kind maintains the self-contained approach of their debut EP, Life and Life Only," they say.
Songs like the title track and "Happiness" hint at big things for this pair. Brighton still rocks!
