Everclear: “Fire Maple Song” (Fire Records); The Jayhawks: “Blue” (American)

Everclear have a very familiar ring to them. A lot of bands sound like Everclear and Everclear sound like a lot of bands. ‘Fire Maple Song’ deals with the innocence, joy and wonder of childhood lost forever but they do so an angst ridden and unappealing way. The music, too, is just too clichéd by this stage of the Nirvana Nightmare Hangover. Surprisingly, The Jayhawks more traditional acoustic-based approach is a far happier affair, even if old ground is also being re-treaded in an attempt to piece together the remnants of a life worn down by time.