THE EVENS
The Evens (Dischord Records)
Reviewed by Sherman Wick

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The Evens are Ian Mackaye and Amy Farina's punk-folk duo; well sort of. It's not '60s style folk but rather derived from hardcore punk, emo and math rock. It's a logical evolution for Mackaye, formerly of punk band the Teen Idles, seminal hardcore band Minor Threat and presently of DIY legends, Fugazi. The music borrows piecemeal from all of the previous work, even if the vocals are substantially restrained - lyrics continue to be personal, and, at times, political musings about life, while the music leans towards a mellower and minimalistic stripped down punk-folk. The duo performs the guitar (electric for this brand of folk!), drums, and bass duties with subdued and harmonized vocals.

"Shelter Two" is a reflective song about getting older accompanied by a nice mellow guitar work and vocal harmonies. "Around the Corner" is lyrically similar with allusions to loss. The lead vocals are sung by Farina and it may be the best song on the record with simple guitar lines mooring intricately weaving vocal lines and cool drum fills. For the entire record there is either a guitar or bass playing a cool repetitive riff accompanied by vocal harmonies. "On the Face of It" is the oddity on the record: vocal harmonies are accompanied by bass and drums, but on this track with a piano fill.

The Evens have presented a thoroughly interesting debut - hopefully, the two will find time in their busy schedules to record again and tour this piquant record. It would be cool to see Mackaye perform intense sublime music as well as his normally intensely loud projects. Mackaye helped create hardcore punk, emo and straight-edge - could he be at the cusp of another punk subgenre?

© 2005 - Sherman Wick