Song: "Blackjack" (acoustic version)
Artist: Everclear
Album: "Closure"
Year: 2004
Place Of Origin: Portland, Oregon
Years Active: 1991 - present
WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:
Here's an excerpt of an interview with Everclear frontman Art Alexakis which explains what he was trying to convey in the song "Blackjack". "The song "Blackjack" deals partly with Attorney General John Ashcroft and what Alexakis views as his abuse of the nation’s leading law enforcement position. "It just seems like John Ashcroft has used the law as a forum for his own political and spiritual beliefs. And that’s not what America’s about," Alexakis said. "His job is to uphold the Constitution and go after people
who go against that. It seems like he’s made it this bully pulpit for (his beliefs), and might I say with the support and power of the president behind him - and not just Bush, but (Vice President Dick) Cheney, (Defense Secretary Donald) Rumsfeld and all the guys who pull strings." The word blackjack, by the way, refers not to the card game, but to a small club with a flexible handle. "It’s very subtle and it’s very unimposing looking," Alexakis said. "But it does the damage of 10 men. I kind of liked that analogy, and I liked turning it around on the people that try to use verbal and spiritual and physical and political blackjack to control and make their way happen." I chose the acoustic version of "Blackjack" for my song of the week. The original can be found on Everclear's 2003 album "Slow Motion Daydream"
EVERCLEAR DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
1993 - World Of Noise (Tim/Kerr Records)
1995 - Sparkle And Fade (Capitol Records)
1997 - So Much For The Afterglow (Capitol Records)
2000 - Songs From An American Movie Vol. 1: Learning How To Smile (Capitol Records)
2000 - Songs From An American Movie Vol. 2: Good Time For A Bad Attitude (Capitol Records)
2003 - Slow Motion Daydream (Capitol Records)
2006 - Welcome To The Drama Club (Eleven Seven Records)
2008 - The Vegas Years (Capitol Records)
2009 - In A Different Light (429 Records)
2011 - Return To Santa Monica (Cleopatra Records)
2011 - Extended Versions (Sony/BMG Records)
2012 - Invisible Stars (eOne Records)
2015 - Black Is The New Black (The End Records)
CURRENT STATUS OF EVERCLEAR:
Just after the grunge explosion of 1991 and 1992, there was another emerging alternative rock scene that was about to take off as well. Portland, Oregon's Everclear was one of the pioneers of this next phase of rock music. While their music was rooted in grunge/punk/garage rock, it would be the second single from their sophomore album, "Sparkle And Fade", that would really put Everclear on the musical map. "Santa Monica" was like the car moving upwards on a roller coaster. The band's next album, 1995's "So Much For The Afterglow" would prove to be that same car stopping at the top of the roller coaster. This would be Everclear's most successful album, going double platinum thanks to hit singles like "Everything To Everyone", "So Much For The Afterglow", "Father Of Mine" and "One Hit Wonder". The band's next album, 2000's "Songs From An American Movie Vol. 1", featured Everclear's highest charting single ever, "Wonderful". Now, however, the roller coaster car begins going down the hill. The band released "Songs From An American Movie Vol 2" just four months after Vol. 1 creating a bit of confusion among music buyers. Perhaps, it was an oversaturation. After the band released "Slow Motion Daydream" in 2003, their longtime relationship with major label Capitol Records ended and bassist Craig Montoya and drummer Greg Eklund decided to part ways with Everclear leaving frontman/guitarist Art Alexakis to ponder the future of the band. After doing a successful solo tour, many thought Alexakis might just go the solo route, but he would re-tool Everclear with new members and release "Welcome To The Drama Club" in 2006. It would be six more years till Everclear would release a proper studio album but in that time, they would put out a covers album, a few re-recorded albums and a live album. The band's most recent release was 2015's "Black Is The New Black". Art Alexakis is currently working on a solo album in 2018. As I said earlier, Everclear was definitely at the forefront of the alternative rock scene in the mid-90's. Art Alexakis' songwriting is very clear, meaning that his lyrics are usually literal and not obscure. You can pretty much know what he is singing about without having to look really deep into the lyrics. While some of the themes may have been as dark as the earlier grunge bands, Everclear had a way of making even those types of songs appear "happier" for lack of a better term. They had a keen sense of creating a pop rock song, while giving it some bite with fuzzy distortion. I always looked at Everclear as kind of the Tom Petty of alternative rock. Simple songs. Catchy songs. While their popularity waned from the mid 2000's to the present day, the band has carried on, releasing music and touring. In fact, they've created their own summer tour called the "Summerland Tour" which features Everclear alongside other 90's alternative acts like Live, Sponge and Fastball. I actually would like to see Montoya and Eklund return to Everclear. I'm just not sure that will ever happen as they didn't leave on the best of terms. Still, Everclear is one of my favorite bands and I was really impressed with their latest album, "Black Is The New Black".
TEN EVERCLEAR SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Heroin Girl
2. So Much For The Afterglow
3. Learning How To Smile
4. The Swing
5. Wonderful
6. Santa Monica
7. American Girl (Tom Petty cover)
8. Blackjack
9. Pocahontas (Neil Young cover)
10. Be Careful What You Ask For
No comments:
Post a Comment