Ten Years Gone - The Best Of: 1994-2004 : Everclear : Review : Rolling Stone

Definite proof that Everclear were more than grunge-era also-rans nirvana unquestionably lit the fuse for Everclear -- you can hear it in the grinding guitars and tortured vocals of 1993's "Fire Maple Song," the earliest track on this compilation. But founder Art Alexakis turns out to have more in common with Lindsey Buckingham and Don Henley than with Kurt Cobain: Like those SoCal stalwarts, the Los Angeles-bred Alexakis has a thing for shiny surfaces and dark undercurrents. Ten Years Gone reveals a perfectionist studio craftsman who brings a distinctly poppy stylishness to his preferred weaponry: crisp power chords and hip-hop-inspired processed grooves. These aggro elements empower psychological case studies that are sometimes glib ("Volvo Driving Soccer Mom") or in-your-face confessional ("Father of Mine") but never half-assed.