Sparkle and Fade

If the success of Nirvana's <i>Nevermind</i> had the ironic byproduct of mainstreaming alternative rock, Everclear seemed only too happy to revel in the blurred distinctions on their 1995 breakthrough album. And while band founder Art Alexakis also shared Kurt Cobain's troubled childhood and substance abuse history, he conversely used tracks "You Make Me Feel Like a Whore," "Queen of the Air," and "Heroin Girl" to exorcise those demons, rather than indulge them. <i>Sparkle and Fade</i> also proves that a dedication to old-fashioned craftsmanship need not be anathema to the alt-rock world. Indeed, songs like "Summerland" and the album's infectious hit "Santa Monica" triumph by infusing their musical urgency with Alexakis' stubborn, blues-be-damned optimism.