If scientists strived to merge crunchy, hook-heavy pop-rock-punk and the super-shiniest production techniques this side of Smashing Pumpkins, the result would probably sound exactly like Everclear's Songs from an American Movie, Vol. 2: Good Time for a Bad Attitude. It's a hit-or-miss outing. On the one hand, it's a step up from the tepid Songs from an American Movie, Vol. 1, and it takes the boys back to the loose but mighty muscularity that made Sparkle and Fade such a delight. Art Alexakis and company take some chances, like the funky groove of "Babytalk" and the ballad to bombast and back again of "Out of My Depth." On the minus side, the production is so slick that there's no friction, and rock music without friction is like, well, like large chunks of this Attitude. Definitely a mixed bag from Everclear. --Jason Josephes