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The Evens

Get Evens (2006)
Dischord Records

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Contributed by: epoch
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on November 17th 2006

Short version:

If you like Ian MacKaye, and by that, I mean you like nearly everything he's done, and especially if you liked the Evens' first release, you will love this. Buy it. It's terrific.

Long version:

I'm a real sucker for the "first-track punch." It's my belief that so goes the first track on an album, so goes the album. Not so with Get Evens. The first track, "Cut from the Cloth" is a sleepy, downbeat song with a mild tempo. It's not a bad song, but it's quite long and a bit dull, but not neccessarily in an uninteresting way. The second time I listened to the song, I liked it twice as much. The subsequent listen, I liked it even more. That's the best thing about the Evens; it's hard to get sick of them.

The second track, "Everybody Knows," rolls in with a much more upbeat tempo, and features Amy Farina's terrific drumming. I don't recall marveling at her drumming on their self-titled debut, but every last track on this album features some great drumming.

Other standouts include "Pushed Against the Wall" which features, towards the end of the track, a rapid tempo increase with Ian doing some fast triplet strumming while Amy pounds away at her drum kit with surgical precision. They then sing in tandem for the outro. It's the Evens at their very best. "All You Find You Keep" is another track just like this. The chorus will stick in your brain, but you won't mind.

They stick with their proven formula of simple baritone guitar, drum kit, and two singers without nary a single effects box or even layered recording. Undoubtedly, Ian believes that if it can't be reproduced live, it's probably not worth doing. However, the second half of "No Money" features a simple three-note bass line with some subtle distorted guitar recorded atop it. It reminds me of Fugazi, and it sounds wonderful (of course).

On the whole, Get Evens sounds like a good evolution for this duo. Much of the melodies and especially the time signatures and tempo changes, have a more pronounced jazz or even funk influence. But in a wholly good way.

In a sea of melodic hardcore, metalcore, cut-yourself-mallcore, it seems that everyone is screaming at their top of their lungs to be heard. The Evens deliver their message and their music without fancy electronics or having to scream a single word, and by doing so, are more punk rock than anyone else out there.

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thurstonXwhore (February 13, 2007)

This cd is very fun, very interesting. Drums can be cool, however, they can sound the same every other track. The blast at the end of Everybody Knows is probably the greatest thing Ian has been related to musically.

spuddee (February 9, 2007)

This album finally convinced me of Ian MacKaye's genius. Like it was said in the review, the more I listen to it, the more I love it. This was probably my second favorite release of 2006 - beaten only by the second Latterman record, love it!

Anonymous (November 20, 2006)

oh, it not out yet, my bad

Anonymous (November 19, 2006)

why has nobody reviewed the devil and god are raging inside me yet?!!?!?

Deadpan (November 19, 2006)

They're great live, as is to be expected.

I'm a bit miffed that they laughed off playing "Vowel Movement" though. It's educational, dammit!

allison_le_gnome (November 19, 2006)

This is one of those albums that gets better every single time you listen to it.

Not-To-Regret (November 18, 2006)

I can't stop loving the track "on the face of it". The groovy breakdown at the end is just... yeah...

Definately picking this up.

On another note, I bought the new Trail of Dead album and I have to say upon first listen I heard some good tunes but my overall impression was that the previous 2 if not 3 records were way better, but I imagine this will grow on me. They tried a more accessible sound which just doesn't fit their style, me thinks.

SlackMFr (November 18, 2006)

Great record, but I think I like the 1st one better, but I'll have to spin the new one a few more times to make sure. Both are great listens though.

theyounginfluential (November 17, 2006)

i liked this album better than the last one. if you like this, make sure to pick up "'Volunteered' Civility and Professionalism" by Soccer Team.

dumbloserme (November 17, 2006)

This album is terrific. It may drag a tiny bit during the middle, but it's pretty solid otherwise.

Anonymous (November 17, 2006)

In a sea of melodic hardcore, metalcore, cut-yourself-mallcore, it seems that everyone is screaming at their top of their lungs to be heard. The Evens deliver their message and their music without fancy electronics or having to scream a single word, and by doing so, are more punk rock than anyone else out there.

that's true.

feeeding5000 (November 17, 2006)

I personally didn't enjoy the majority of the first Evens record; there were maybe three songs that I really liked, and "All These Governors" is truly a great song. I'll probably end up getting this, just because...

Anonymous (November 17, 2006)

...actually, it's his brother on the cover. nice try at a failed joke.

Capitalist_Pig (November 17, 2006)

Isn't Ian MacKaye that guy from the Nike ad?

Fucking sellout.

Anonymous (November 17, 2006)

i saw them in a coffee shop about a month ago... ian was really nice. he signed a minor threat record for me and talked to everyone single person who wanted to say something to him.

GlassPipeMurder (November 17, 2006)

ha..i've never even heard the evens but i'm excited to hear this because i'm sure i'll like it...are there any samples on the web for me to listen to?

Anonymous (November 17, 2006)

" It's not a bad song, but it's quite long and a bit dull, but not neccessarily in an uninteresting way."

If a song is long and dull, how can it be anything but uninteresting?

m-oo (November 17, 2006)

Nay bad

Osloboditelj (November 17, 2006)

My feeling on this aalbum is that on the first, Ian and Amy were trying hard to carve out a niche for their sound that distanced them from too many comparisons with their old bands, and on this one they were more confident with it. It shows in the songwriting, and in the fact that this sounds more like Fugazi than the last one does - it's a bit more rooted in their old sound, which works very well. This is a definite contender for album of the year from my point of view.

I probably should have made a review of that. Oh well.

Anonymous (November 17, 2006)

from what i could tell from their show, these new songs kick the shit out of the old songs. i know people who were fans of all pre-mackaye stuff, hated the first evens record, but were absolutely into the new stuff. if that makes a difference to any of you, i say pick it up. i almost must say that after seeing these two live it's incredible that ian is still involved in relevant, inspiring and original (at least in its thought process, if not its actual musicality) projects. kudos.

-mybulldogfront

SloaneDaley (November 17, 2006)

I like stripped down and stuff, I think Mountains Goats for instance is fantastic. I enjoyed a good number of the songs and put them on mixes and shard them with people but it didn't have that old lovin' feelin' maybe I need to listen to the album again.

joeg (November 17, 2006)

not me. i love the fast, loud, and abrasive as much as the next fugazi/minor threat fan but the minimalist, stripped down approach has an endearing quality and character all its own.

SloaneDaley (November 17, 2006)

I haven't heard this yet but I love Minor Threat, Embrace & Fugazi and found the last Evens record kind of boring. Anyone else feel the same?

joeg (November 17, 2006)

it's pronounced EEEEEEvens. i heard ian mackaye say it once with like a 2 second stress on the e. that's how you say it when you ask the record store clerk if they have it.

danperrone (November 17, 2006)

i think the "short version / long version" intro to a review is a cop out...think up a good intro for crying out loud!

Anonymous (November 17, 2006)

is it pronounced evens (antonymous to odds) or evans?

BrendanKelly (November 17, 2006)

really good

Dante3000 (November 17, 2006)

I like Ian Mackaye. I will probably buy this.
The first record had some great tunes. I expect no less.
-Dante

Anonymous (November 17, 2006)

i saw these guys headline a high school talent show in berkeley. no joke.

Anonymous (November 17, 2006)

"Photo Credit: MySpace"

Aubin, Myspace is NOT a photographer.