Songs From An American Movie, Vol 1: Learning How To Smile is more eclectic than past offerings; however, for the most part the monotony remains. Songs such as “Wonderful,” for example, are tediously reminiscent of previous offerings. Sure, one might argue, every band has its own distinctive style, but with Everclear, it’s less style than formula.

Fortunately, tracks such as “Song From An American Movie pt. 1” and “Annabella’s Song” bring something new to the table, with Alexakis throwing instruments like banjos and ukeleles into the mix. Unfortunately, however, the ever-so-familiar Everclear sound soon emerges. Perhaps the banjo was merely a distraction.