November 12, 2002 - Release Date Again Reevaluated - Third time is a charm, or so says Art Alexakis. After already two push-backs on the bands new disc, Slow Motion Daydream, the Everclear lead singer seems definite about the release date of the band's sixth studio album: March 11, 2003.
The album was originally supposed to be out on shelves October 8th, however Art decided to write some more songs to add to the mix. It was then reported that the album would tentatively be released some time in January (Capitol Records posted January 28th on their website). With the latest pushback, fans will have waited roughly two and a half years for a new album, the last being Songs From An American Movie, Vol. 2: Goodtime For a Bad Attitude.
Art initially made the announcement to fans at a political rally at Oregon State University on November 1st, and has reasserted the news during concerts as the band criss-crosses the country during a small fall tour. He also revealed that the first single would, in fact, be "Volvo Driving Soccer Mom". According to Art, this comes after a disagreement between the band and their label, Capitol Records.
Below is an excerpt fo his latest message at Everclear Online:
"we were supposed to be finished with the new
album in july
with a tenative release date of oct 7th
well,i finished the record on time
but even with everyone i know telling me it was
great,
it didnt seem finished to me
i was still writing songs
so i went back in the studio to record these new
songs
and they came out great!
one of these songs is called "the new york times"
and everyone at our label(capitol) freaked out and
decided that this should be the 1st single
whereas we had agreed before that "volvo driving
soccer mom"
should be the 1st single
i still believe that......so therein lies the rub
the album is really finally finished...it sounds right
to me and the band now
but the label and the band cant agree on what the
1st single is going to be
so.....until we agree
there will be no release date set for the record"
October 15, 2002 - Art to Support Senate Candidate - Everclear frontman Art Alexakis will be a featured guest at a political rally on the afternoon of October 31st at the University of Oregon in Eugene. The fundraiser, titled Get Out the Vote, is to support Oregon US Senate Candidate Bill Bradbury. Former President Bill Clinton heads the list of those appearing on behalf of Bradbury's bid. Learn more here.
September 9, 2002 - Slow Motion Daydream To Be Postponed - According to fans who attended Seattle's Bumpershoot Festival, Art announced that Everclear's next album will be postponed until at least January. Evidently the band has decided to head back into the studio the record some newly written material that will replace some of the already recorded tracks.
Of course with the delay of the new album comes the delay of the previously announced tour that was scheduled to kickoff the day of the release. Although a major market tour has been put on the back burner, there is a chance of a college and/or a small market tour this fall. Stay tuned for more info. (Thanks Chris - White Lightning.)
August 30, 2002 - New Touring Guitarist Makes Debut Tonight - Tonight Everclear will unleash it's new touring lineup with a performance at the Portland Bite. The new four-man lineup is reminiscent of the band's 1997-98 live ensemble which featured Steve Birch on guitar. However on this time out Everclear has hired modwheelmood guitarist Alessandro Cortini who replaces Davey Loprinzi. Alessandro has most recently served as a second live guitarist for The Mayfield Four. The band has also eliminated percussionist Mike "Basil" Ternyik and Robbie Gennet (keyboards/guitar).
August 26, 2002 - "Volvo-Driving Soccer Mom" to Be First Single - During the broadcast of an interview/performance on the Marconi Show on Portland, OR radio station KNRK, Art announced that "Volvo Driving Soccer Mom" will be the first single released from Slow Motion Daydream. Art also stated the new album will be released "in a couple months," giving fuel to rumors that Everclear's sixth album will be delayed from it's originally announced October 8th release.
Art's setlist for the show included "Volvo-Driving Soccer Mom," "Father of Mine," "Heroin Girl", Lynard Skynard's "Sweet Home Alabama," and "Black Jack," another track that will appear on the new album. (Thanks Megan & Alex - Halloween Americana.)
July 25, 2002 - Tracklist for Slow Motion Daydream Leaked - A post appearing on a fan site message board has leaked all twelve supposed song titles from Everclear's upcoming release, "Slow Motion Daydream". The information listed herein is as of yet unconfirmed by the band or management. Also it was unconfirmed whether or not the tracks below are the actual chronological tracklist.
The songs as listed by the author of the post:
Science Fiction
How to Win Friends and Influence People*
Blackjack*
New Blue Champion*
Chrysanthemum*
TV Show
Volvo Driving Soccer Mom*
Your New Disease
Sunshine
Happy
Sex With a Movie Star
A Beautiful Life*
* = Song title previously released to the public
The author also commented "wow, I got to hear the next album, but I'm not saying where.....all in all, I think its the BEST album they've ever done. Its got great songs, great performances, and theres no filler. SFAAM 1 and 2 are just bad memorys for me now."
One other interesting sidenote is that the author of the post mentioned the song "New Blue Champion" was previously known as "Glorious," both titles previously released. However Art Alexakis stated in a recent interview at Everclear Online that the song was cut from the album.
Again, this report is unconfirmed, and until affirmative confirmation, should be taken as nothing more.
June 24, 2002 - Release Date for New Everclear Announced - Art continued the leakage of new information on the ongoings of Everclear during the July 23rd airing of Black Jack Radio. Listeners report Art announced that Everclear's new album, Slow Motion Daydream, will be released Tuesday, October 8th. Art also added the band will begin touring the day of the release and should continue through the Christmas season.
More details are sure to surface in the not to distant future as Shag, the Everclear Online webmaster has completed a second interview with the frontman that should surface on the band's official site within the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned for continued updates.
June 11, 2002 - Art Releases Title of New Album - Art has reportedly released the title of new Everclear album due out in the fall. During the Sunday, June 9th radiocast of Black Jack Radio, Art's politically rooted radio show, Art stated that the new album will be called Slow Motion Daydream. He added that the new record also has a tentative release slated for October.
Art also released some minor tour news. He says Everclear's first performance to support the album will be at the Portland Bite, which runs from August 30th through September 2nd.
May 3, 2002 - New Article on Next Album - A new article from LAUNCH reports on the progress of Everclear's new album due out in fall. Art went as far as saying the record may be the band's best ever:
"Most people who are working on it or who have heard the music and the melodies and are pretty much convinced that it's the best record that we've done. I think right now I just need to finish the lyrics but I've got six weeks to do that. And I've got half the songs pretty much written. I just have to keep going."
To read the full article, go here.
March 8, 2002 - Art to Have Own Radio Show - In an article at LAUNCH.com, Art states that he will soon endeavor on his own radio program in his hometown of Portland, OR. The show will be titled "Black Jack," after one of the new songs to be released on Everclear's upcoming sixth album. The two-hour program which will premiere April 14th, and air every Sunday night, will consist of Art running the airwaves, playing the songs he wants, and talking politics.
Art says, "I'm gonna do that, and deal with issues and have call-ins, and play cool music--not music off playlists, just music I want to play or my guests want to play," he says. "I'm gonna have politicians talking about music and musicians talking about politics. We're gonna just kinda screw with people's ideas."
For more information on this story, click here.
March 8, 2002 - More Info on New Album - Art has released more info Everclear's upcoming new album, including the political direction behind the new record as well as another song title. In an article at LAUNCH.com Art talks about the progress:
"This record is definitely much more politically charged, but it's not preachy. I hate preachy rock bands who try to talk about things they don't know about," he says. "This is just me as a guy talking about the things that piss me off, as just a normal day-to-day guy who votes and who has kids and who pays taxes and does all those things. That's kinda where my perspective's coming from. It's pretty moderate, it's pretty in the middle. I think most people are."
In another excerpt from the article: Alexakis tells LAUNCH that "half of the songs are pretty much written"; among them "Black Jack," about the conservative vision of Attorney General John Ashcroft, and "Volvo-Driving Soccer Mom," which suggests that when porn stars retire they move to the suburbs and become Republicans.
"Black Jack" joins the other two new Everclear song titles previously released by Art, "Glorious" and "Volvo-Driving Soccer Mom." To read the full article, click here.
March 5, 2002 - Art's Interview With Everclear Online Posted - The long anticipated interview with Art done by Everclear Online webmaster Shag! has finally been posted. Among the topics discussed include Everclear's new album, Art's side projects (including his work with his label, Popularity Records), and other future plans with and without Everclear. Read the entire interview here.
March 2, 2002 - Art on Rockline - Art will appear on the nationally syndicated radio show Rockline on Monday, March 11th to promote his upcoming solo tour. Click here for a list of station across the country who carry the show. The show airs every Monday at 8:30pm PST. (Thanks Eric - Hungry and Hollow).
From Everclear Online: “I want to go out and see the faces of our fans in an intimate environment—just me and my guitars,” says Alexakis of his decision to fly solo for this outing. “What I want to accomplish with this tour is to take some of the older Everclear songs and bring them back to their basic form. I also want to take some of the new songs from the upcoming Everclear album out for a test drive. I did a similar tour before the release of So Much For The Afterglow and it proved to be very satisfying.” Alexakis will also perform songs from Colorfinger, his band before Everclear, and “a few surprises.”
Get information on all sixteen dates and ticket information and watch for updates here.
February 24, 2002 - Everclear Songs Old & New on Solo Tour - From an official press release which can be read in it's entirety at Everclear Online, Art has released more information on his plans for his sixteen-date solo tour this spring. The Everclear frontman not only plans on performing past Everclear chart-toppers, but as well as debuting original material from the band's forthcoming sixth album. Two songs thus far mentioned in name are "Glorious" and "Volvo-Driving Soccer Mom". However it doesn't end there, as he also plans on digging out shelved material from his pre-Everclear band, Colorfinger. A similar article can be read at Pollstar.
February 18, 2002 - UPDATE: Solo Tour Possibility - Art has confirmed in a letter to fans at Everclear Online that he will be doing a solo tour this spring. Art says it will begin March 21st in Detroit, and end in Portland on April 9th. Watch for additional info and dates.
February 17, 2002 - Solo Tour Possibility - There is a possibility Art may head out on a short solo tour this spring, while at the same time, starting production of Everclear's sixth studio album. According to Everclear Online, "Nothing is official yet. But, all signs are pointing to this as being a good possibility." However, Ticketmaster.com has already listed a New York club date slated for April 1st, along with ticket information (see tourdates). Stay tuned for any updates.
February 7, 2002 - The Boys Are Back in Town - According to Shag!, the Everclear Online webmaster, Art has finished the production of Flipp's new album and is in the studio starting pre-production of Everclear's new record. Also Shag! stated that Art told him the new record is going to be "rockin" and "not-too poppy" but will also incorporate some "weird" elements. Stay tuned for additional studio news. Also be sure to visit Everclear Online for Shag's exclusive interview with Art that will be posted soon.
January 16, 2002 - New Everclear Album? - According to Everclear Online, it is "quite possible" that the band may start recording a new album sometime in February with a possible release date in late-summer of 2002. This confirmed report may once again put to rest the possibility of a solo album from Art Alexakis. The leadman had planned to release a solo album in 2000, but it was later scrapped and made into Songs From An American Movie, Vol. 1: Learning How To Smile. In addition Everclear Online says Art is finishing production of Flipp's new album, Craig is starting his own coffee shop, and of course it is known Greg and his wife are expecting a new addition to their family. Stay tuned for any additional information.
January 3, 2002 - UPDATE: Chris Issak Show - From showtimeonline, Art's guest appearance on the Chris Issak Show will air on Sunday, February 3rd. The episode is called "Duty Calls".