One listen of the new single "Wonderful" was all it took to make it painfully obvious: Everclear has forgotten how to rock. Oh, my dear Art Alexakis, what happened to the unpolished, twisted power that spewed from your mouth on earlier records? I know it's not 1994 anymore, and grunge is "out," but is it really necessary to throw your loopy, melodic pop ballads in my face? Yes, you are a talented guy; yes, you can write a good song; but my God, man, you were born to ROCK! Hearing this new album is like getting a huge gulp of lukewarm water when I expected ice-cold milk. I was once a true fan, slightly fanatic even, and so, as I yearn for those better days, I bestow a challenge: I dare you--Art, Greg, and Craig--to rock my ass off once again. I dare you to take me back to my Sparkle and Fade high school years, where a day didn't go by where I wouldn't be shouting "Just another overdose!" along with you on my way home from school. I promise I'll stay true to my end of the bargain. I will, once again, preach the word of Everclear if you pull through. I will dig up my Everclear memorabilia--quite the collection that it is--and display it with much pride. Are you up for the challenge, boys? Because you know where to find me. I'll be sitting in my room, listening to World of Noise and wondering where it all went wrong. MEGAN SELING

JIMMY PAGE AND THE BLACK CROWES
Live at the Greek
(TVT Records)
****

Jimmy Page and the Black Crowes: Live at the Greek is the latest venture for Led Zeppelin founder and guitarist Page, who has teamed up with the Black Crowes for the time being. Recorded during a performance at the Greek in L.A., this live album features a main course of Led Zeppelin classics with a few vintage blues numbers on the side.

I find it hard to critique Jimmy Page. He is almost a deity to me, and I expected nothing less than the best from him, which he delivers, playing his signature riffs perfectly and at times pausing to tease an audience who knows what's going to happen and can't wait. The real issue here is the Black Crowes, who are supposed to be backing him on these Zeppelin staples. Happily, the results are very good. Page himself has complimented the Crowes' ability to pick up the nuances of Zeppelin's music, and it's all there, from John Paul Jones' bass lines to John Bonham's drum beats. Instrumentally, it's a great interpretation of the original.

But the biggest surprise comes from the Crowes' singer Chris Robinson, who is called to the monumental task of singing in Robert Plant's stead. Plant's howling and crooning was and is the perfect compliment to Jimmy Page's guitar, so it is with no small irony that anyone other than Plant himself should get behind the microphone and try to sing "What Is and What Should Never Be" or "In My Time of Dying" while Page does his thing.

But Robinson performs beautifully, sounding like Robert Plant without making the mistake of trying to be Robert Plant, the vain path taken by certain members of the '80s hair band community who shall go nameless here. His vocal range accommodates Plant's style as well as anyone, but you're still hearing Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes.

So the Black Crowes pull it off, as well they should. Their languid Southern rock has a throwback element to it that belies an obvious Zeppelin influence. Robinson himself said that "there's always been a healthy dose of Zeppelinesque qualities to our records." It would seem, then, that the Black Crowes are merely paying homage to their roots; and with Jimmy Page behind them, they don't lose. KRIS ADAMS

ROYAL TRUX
Pound for Pound
(Drag City)
**

The stories filtering out of Hollywood about Axl Rose's secret studio work on a new record are true; he has released it under the name of Royal Trux. The original Royal Trux, whose weird schtick mostly consisted of playing recycled Stones riffs while languidly blithering through sedimentary layers of curled-lip attitude, have gone off to model for the animatronic figures in the Chuck E. Cheese Corporation's new theme restaurant chain, '70s Land. This record can't be theirs; this band's having too much fun. So much fun sometimes they forget themselves, and almost express a sincere emotion. Luckily the empty Bermanisms of songs like "Call out the Lions" and "Sunshine and Grease" keep things safely vacant.

It is strange how, in the course of a decade, a band can go from being so edgy and cold to almost charming in their musty outdatedness. Ironically, the more this posse of ironists gets to an age and depth of experience where they finally let their hair down, the more Royal Trux come to resemble another hipper-than-thou, sunglass-ed musical recycling bin: Urge Overkill. And that's bad. GRANT COGSWELL

IN STORES 8/8
by Kris Adams

De La Soul, Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (Tommy Boy) The highly intelligent and respected De La Soul haven't had much success since 1989's Three Feet High and Rising, but the help of Busta Rhymes, Mike D, Ad-Rock and Chaka Khan (yes, Chaka Khan) should have Nat X thrusting his fist in the air with approval.

Ice-T, Greatest Hits: The Evidence (Atomic Pop) While the main gems of the O.G.'s 15-plus year career of social commentary are present on this album, his most controversial song, "Cop Killer," remains curiously MIA.

Shaggy, Hot Shot (MCA) How far has reggae come from the days of Kingston ghetto recording studios and Rastaman vibrations? A dreadless Shaggy does a duet with Janet Jackson.

Rob Halford, Resurrection (Metal Is/Sanctuary) Somewhere far, far away, Beavis and Butt-Head are looking under the cushions of their stained couch, trying to find enough change among decomposing nacho boxes and crusty Big Gulp cups.

Various Artists, Stolen Roses: Songs of the Grateful Dead (Grateful Dead/Arista) With contributors like Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, and Elvis Costello, it takes the Stanford Marching Band's rendition of "Uncle John's Band" to prove, once and for all, what a long, strange trip it has truly been.

Silkworm, Lifestyle (Touch & Go) Silkworm was here before grunge. Silkworm was here during grunge. Silkworm was here after grunge. Silkworm is still here, just like Seattle.