DeViCom CD-Review: Everclear - Sparkle and Fade

Everclear's major label debut is a tough, melodic set of gnarled, post-punk hard rock. An easy comparison is Nirvana, but Everclear's music is closer to the country-rock leanings of Screaming Trees — underneath their loud, grungy guitars there is a distinct rootsiness lacking in most Seattle bands and that give Sparkle and Fade its edge. Everclear's sound is straight and does not have any unnecessary flourishes such as tensed guitar solos. Alexakis's voice is rough and has some thin elements but all in all it fits just perfectly to the noisy and breaking guitar, the straight rhythm given by Montoya's bass and the exact and sometimes freaking beat of Eklund's drums. Sparkle & fade is it worth it to be heard by any rock and punk fan because it unites many elements you may know by the Screaming Trees, Nirvana and some of the Goo Goo Dolls as well sinec the lyrics have the same bittersweet depth. Alexakis speaks of broken relationships, broken families and of racism as well. A fine major-debut.