The refurbished Everclear tracks which also include "Everything to Everyone" and "I Will Buy You a New Life" (both originally found on So Much For The Afterglow, 1997) offer a slightly muted approach to the original songs with more of a focus placed on the lyrics. Art Alexasis' voice also features a little more maturity but the sound is still unmistakably Everclear. The differences in the songs are often subtle but the difference in the production gives the songs a new vibe. Return to Santa Monica offers several cover songs: "Brown Eyed Girl" (originally by Van Morrison) and "I Won't Back Down" (originally by Tom Petty) are also included on the album. All of the tributes pay proper homage to their predecessors but each with an Everclear twist that may make them an acquired taste. The band's cover of "Brown Eyed Girl" originally appeared on Songs From An American Movie, Vol. 1: Learning to Smile (2000) so the added touches including additional lyrics such as "I hear a song makes me think of a girl I used to know. I sing along when I hear it on the radio now" shouldn't come as a surprise to Everclear fans. Their rock infused cover of "I Won't Back Down" fits Everclear just as good as if they'd written it themselves.