Songs from an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile

Songs from an American Movie
Vol. One: Learning How to Smile
Songs from an American Movie ; Vol. One: Learning How to Smile
Studio album by Everclear
Released	July 11, 2000
Genre	Alternative rock, post-grunge
Length	45:18
Label	Capitol
Producer	Art Alexakis, Lars Fox, Neal Avron
Everclear chronology
Singles from Songs from an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile
	"Wonderful"; Released: May 22, 2000; "AM Radio"; Released: 2000; "Brown Eyed Girl"; Released: 2001;

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	57/100^[1]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[2]
Alternative Press	4/5^[3]
Entertainment Weekly	B−^[4]
Los Angeles Times	^[5]
Melody Maker	^[6]
NME	4/10^[7]
Q	^[8]
Rolling Stone	^[9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[10]
The Village Voice	A−^[11]

Songs from an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile is the fourth studio album by American alternative rock band Everclear, released on July 11, 2000. The album (along with its sequel, Songs from an American Movie Vol. Two: Good Time for a Bad Attitude) is a loose concept album inspired by lead singer Art Alexakis's second divorce. The first album is much more influenced by American pop music, especially from the 1970s, as well as being more "loving" in tone than the hard rock Good Time for a Bad Attitude. The album is dedicated to David Ridderhof and Louis Montoya.

Learning How to Smile is the band's second highest selling album ever with 1.28 million copies sold and a Platinum certification by the RIAA.^[12] It is also the band's only album to debut in the top ten on the Billboard charts, and the last album by Everclear to sell over 500,000 copies.

Track listing[]

All lyrics written by Art Alexakis, all music composed by Alexakis, Craig Montoya and Greg Eklund, unless otherwise noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Song from an American Movie, Pt 1"	1:39
2.	"Here We Go Again" (samples "Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy)	4:10
3.	"AM Radio" (samples "Mr. Big Stuff" by Jean Knight)	3:56
4.	"Brown Eyed Girl" (Van Morrison cover)	4:21
5.	"Learning How to Smile"	3:50
6.	"The Honeymoon Song" (Eklund/Everclear)	3:38
7.	"Now That It's Over"	3:49
8.	"Thrift Store Chair"	2:08
9.	"Otis Redding"	3:56
10.	"Unemployed Boyfriend"	4:15
11.	"Wonderful"	5:01
12.	"Annabella's Song"	4:55

On the original 2000 release of the album, the divide between tracks 11 and 12 was in the middle of "Annabella's Song." A reissue in 2001 corrected this error, as well as replacing the album version of "AM Radio" with the single mix and adding two bonus tracks: "Out of My Depth (single mix)" and "Rock Star."

Personnel[]

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.

Everclear

Art Alexakis – vocals, guitar, banjo, steel guitar, percussion, co-producer
Craig Montoya – bass, backing vocals, mandolin, percussion
Greg Eklund – drums, backing vocals, lead vocals on "The Honeymoon Song," ukelele, orchestra bells, percussion

Additional personnel

James Beaton – keyboard
Lars Fox – co-producer, percussion, backing vocals
Neal Avron – co-producer
Roy Lott – executive producer
Perry Watts-Russell – executive producer
Mike Kent – additional production and recording
Sean Cox – studio assistant
Andy Banton – studio assistant
Mike Ternyik – studio assistant
Charlie Paakkari – 2nd engineer
Frank W. Ockenfels III – photography

References[]

^ "Reviews for Songs From An American Movie Vol. One: Learning How To Smile by Everclear". Metacritic. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Songs from an American Movie, Vol. 1: Learning How to Smile – Everclear". AllMusic. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
^ "Everclear: Songs from an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile". Alternative Press (146): 89. September 2000.
^ Browne, David (September 14, 2000). "Songs from an American Movie, Vol. 1: Learning How to Smile". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
^ Nichols, Natalie (July 9, 2000). "'Movie' Finds Everclear in a Sentimental Mood". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 17, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
^ "Everclear: Songs from an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile". Melody Maker: 50. August 8, 2000.
^ "Songs From An American Movie, Volume 1: Learning How To Smile". NME. September 8, 2000. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
^ "Everclear: Songs from an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile". Q (168): 99. September 2000.
^ Zacharek, Stephanie (July 6, 2000). "Everclear: Songs From An American Movie Vol. 1: Learning How To Smile". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 1, 2008. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
^ Harris, Keith (2004). "Everclear". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 285–86. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
^ Christgau, Robert (September 26, 2000). "Consumer Guide: Afropop Worldwide". The Village Voice. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved December 27, 2016.

External links[]

Songs from an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile at Metacritic

[meta-1] "Reviews for Songs From An American Movie Vol. One: Learning How To Smile by Everclear". Metacritic. Retrieved December 4, 2012.

[2] Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Songs from an American Movie, Vol. 1: Learning How to Smile – Everclear". AllMusic. Retrieved December 4, 2012.

[3] "Everclear: Songs from an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile". Alternative Press (146): 89. September 2000.

[4] Browne, David (September 14, 2000). "Songs from an American Movie, Vol. 1: Learning How to Smile". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 4, 2012.

[5] Nichols, Natalie (July 9, 2000). "'Movie' Finds Everclear in a Sentimental Mood". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 17, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.

[6] "Everclear: Songs from an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile". Melody Maker: 50. August 8, 2000.

[7] "Songs From An American Movie, Volume 1: Learning How To Smile". NME. September 8, 2000. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved December 4, 2012.

[8] "Everclear: Songs from an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile". Q (168): 99. September 2000.

[9] Zacharek, Stephanie (July 6, 2000). "Everclear: Songs From An American Movie Vol. 1: Learning How To Smile". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 1, 2008. Retrieved December 4, 2012.

[10] Harris, Keith (2004). "Everclear". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 285–86. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.

[11] Christgau, Robert (September 26, 2000). "Consumer Guide: Afropop Worldwide". The Village Voice. Retrieved September 27, 2015.

[12] "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved December 27, 2016.

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hide v t Everclear
Art Alexakis Dave French Freddy Herrera Sean Winchester Josh Crawley Craig Montoya Greg Eklund Scott Cuthbert Brett Snyder Tommy Stewart Johnny Hawthorn Sam Hudson Sasha Smith Jordan Plosky
Studio albums	World of Noise Sparkle and Fade So Much for the Afterglow Songs from an American Movie Vol. One Vol. Two Slow Motion Daydream Welcome to the Drama Club In a Different Light Return to Santa Monica Invisible Stars Black Is the New Black
Extended plays	Nervous & Weird White Trash Hell Live from Toronto Closure EP Extended Versions
Compilation albums	Ten Years Gone: The Best of Everclear 1994–2004 The Best of Everclear The Vegas Years Greatest Hits The Very Best of Everclear
Singles	"Heroin Girl" "Santa Monica" "Heartspark Dollarsign" "Everything to Everyone" "I Will Buy You a New Life" "Father of Mine" "The Boys Are Back in Town" "Wonderful" "AM Radio" "Brown Eyed Girl" "Volvo Driving Soccer Mom" "Rich Girl" "The Man Who Broke His Own Heart"
Related articles	Discography Sun Songs