The Evens
Get Even
(hear it)

This is a great album with a bunch of songs about government and money. I guess people expect Ian Mackaye, the baritone guitar player and singer in the Evens, to write political or socially aware songs, given his history with Minor Threat, being the leader of a youth movement, and so on. I think that actually The Evens, superduo with Amy Farina on drums, were originally trying not to go in that direction: on their first album I can only think of one such song. Most of the lyrics there are personal and about what a couple of people might want to do today. My belief from listening to the two albums is that they really couldn't help themselves.

In the sample above, when they say "you're FIRED!" it really sounds cathartic, as though it was a sudden idea and really made them feel good to say it.

That said, the music here is really well crafted - it's very detailed, with little drum things and cool baritone guitar parts, but yet structurally very thoughtful. Many of the songs have a bridge which is texturally and sonically very different, and when the chorus/verse comes back in, it is really exciting.

I have to say that Amy Farina is my favorite drummer.

bb, 15 jan 08