The Evens

The Evens
The Evens
(Dischord)
If you have ever seen Fugazi in concert, you may have experienced lead singer Ian Mackaye catching (and holding) eye contact with you for more than just a brief moment during its set. It is that kind of intimacy that propels Mackaye and this debut from his new band The Evens. Formed with drummer and vocalist Amy Farina (Lois, The Warmers), The Evens is a purely drum and guitar attack that grooves and moves with a brimming quiet intensity. When MacKaye drops his patented holler on this disc for a clear singing tone—a vocal style he has utilized all too sparingly in the past on songs like “Cashout” from Argument—he articulates with warmth and clarity. Which means that without the 10,000-watt assault to distract you, the politics of songs like “All These Governors” and “Mt. Pleasant Isn’t”—with its chant-and-response chorus of “the police will not be excused/the police will not behave”—communicate more directly than if the same message were delivered at excessive decibel levels. And not one to shy away from personal counsel, it could be said that “Minding One’s Business” is one of the most empowering songs Mackaye has ever penned in his 20-plus-year career with Fugazi and Minor Threat. But the success of this disc does not rest in one pair of shoes; Farina’s irreplaceable drumming and soft yet deliberate vocal duties help propel tracks like “Shelter Two” all the while maintaining just enough restraint. No doubt The Evens is a daring and bold statement from one of punk music’s most respected and accomplished artists. More importantly, it is also just great music.
—Dave Hayden

This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.