This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
When Art Alexakis sings, “I used to be a real wild child,” he’s speaking for the Volvo Driving Soccer Mom of his latest single — but the Everclear singer-songwriter might as well be talking about his fans. And himself.
Once seen as a more intellectual and literate successor to Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain, the business-savvy and commercially ambitious Alexakis has settled comfortably into the role of predictable FM-rock tunesmith over the past few years. Slow Motion Daydream, his trio’s sixth major-label release, is the rock equivalent of relaxed-fit jeans — music to crank in the minivan on the way to get the kids from daycare. Impeccably crafted and stylishly produced, these dozen controversy-free cuts are nicely divided between chunky (but ultimately toothless) arena-rockers and strummy (but ultimately impersonal) romantic ballads — all of which star the poorly aging punks, disillusioned yuppies and dead-end American dreamers that Art seems to identify with. But while it’s heartening to see a rock star try to write for a grownup audience, it’s tough to identify with shallow characters who are bummed out because their life doesn’t live up to TV. “I think I need to start over,” Art admits. Now he’s talking.
