Evens

Rating

Album: Evens
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Shelter Two	More Info...	0:03
2)	Around the Corner	More Info...	0:03
3)	All These Governors	More Info...	0:03
4)	Crude Bomb	More Info...	0:02
5)	Sara Lee	More Info...	0:04
6)	Mt. Pleasant Isn't	More Info...	0:02
7)	Blessed Not Lucky	More Info...	0:03
8)	If It's Water	More Info...	0:04
9)	Until They're Clear	More Info...	0:01
10)	On The Face Of It	More Info...	0:02
11)	Minding One's Business	More Info...	0:04
12)	You Won't Feel a Thing	More Info...	0:02

Album: Evens
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Shelter Two	More Info...	0:03
2)	Around the Corner	More Info...	0:03
3)	All These Governors	More Info...	0:03
4)	Crude Bomb	More Info...	0:02
5)	Sara Lee	More Info...	0:04
6)	Mt. Pleasant Isn't	More Info...	0:02
7)	Blessed Not Lucky	More Info...	0:03
8)	If It's Water	More Info...	0:04
9)	Until They're Clear	More Info...	0:01
10)	On The Face Of It	More Info...	0:02
11)	Minding One's Business	More Info...	0:04
12)	You Won't Feel a Thing	More Info...	0:02

Performer Notes

The Evens are comprised of Fugazi/Minor Threat frontman Ian MacKaye and the Warmers' drummer Amy Farina. Listeners familiar with the edgy, aggressive sound of those bands may be surprised by THE EVENS, however. This is a low-key, acoustic-oriented outing, with MacKaye playing baritone guitar (which often sounds like a bass), and Farina lending alternately driving or delicate drumming, while their voices harmonize gently, sometimes in counterpoint, sometimes with overlapping vocal phrases. However, this isn't folk music. THE EVENS flaunts a distinctive indie sensibility, and songs like "All These Governors" have the fierce political invective of MacKaye's previous work.
The duo proves capable of crafting catchy hooks ("Mt. Pleasant Isn't"), moody atmospherics ("Until They're Clear"), and sweet pop ("Blessed Not Lucky"), without any bumps between the transitions. The result is an album that sways and lilts, yet still delivers a memorable, no-nonsense punch. With its subtle and subdued quality, THE EVENS might be easy to overlook, which would be a mistake--the album is rich in texture and substance, thanks to MacKaye and Farina's fine songwriting and their inventive vocal and instrumental chemistry. This is a quiet, unexpected indie-rock gem.

Professional Reviews

Spin (p.110) - "[A] batch of likably moody, lo-fi sing-alongs....MacKaye and Farina share a wobbly spirit that wears well." - Grade: B

Uncut (p.96) - 3 stars out of 5 - "THE EVENS combines baritone guitar, voices and skittery drums on a set of faintly sad songs so minimal that they're often barely there at all."

Magnet (p.92) - "Fugazi's Ian MacKaye joins the Warmers' Amy Farina for this hooky, jittery album consisting of nothing but drums, baritone guitar and vocals, all minimally processed and produced."