The difficult fifth album. Recorded for another label and well overbudget, Everclear both suffers and excels for its production shortcomings. A thick wash of reverb has been thrown over the proceedings and songs are either hopelessly buried in the ambient sludge ("The Confidential Agent") or enhanced to supersonic glory ("Sick of Food"). Singer Mark Eitzel's lyrics are increasingly more despondent, but he's spot-on beautiful loser territory for the most part.
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