Everclear

Remember 1992? Everclear frontman Art Alexakis does. Things certainly seemed a lot more promising for his burgeoning alt-rock trio back then, but the fall of grunge has claimed far more victims than just Kurt Cobain. At first seeming like just another also-ran, Everclear eventually came into its own by remembering something that most of its peers didn’t: to keep the lyrics vulnerable, its intent pure, and music bare-bones. The Portland, Oregon, band eventually peaked with a concept double album in 2000, but that too was a long time ago. Alexakis’ bandmates have since left the group (though mid-period keyboardist came back last year), but he seems committed to what’s become a husk of Everclear—most recently by re-recording the band’s hits with an indeterminate group of hired guns who insist on identifying themselves as part of Everclear in the liner notes of In A Different Light. 

Updated 12/20/2011