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The Evens Image
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 11 Ratings

  • Summary: This eponymous disc is the debut for the Washington D.C. duo of Dischord Records/Fugazi head Ian MacKaye and drummer Amy Farina (The Warmers).

Top Track

You Won't Feel A Thing
They don't want you to understand they don't want you to understand sit back, relax, let go you won't feel a thing formulation with no end a bunch to... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 19
  2. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. While the Evens' sparse arrangements may lead the guitar-playing world to finally give drummers their due, an album that is too minimal runs the risk of being absorbed in too few listens, never to be returned to again. Of course, The Evens avoid that trap by going straight to the most obvious musical cliché, "excellent songwriting."
  2. The Evens’ self-titled debut does sound curiously like hardcoreless moments of The Argument polished and lengthened into full-fledged songs.
  3. This is by far the moodiest, mellowest stuff MacKaye has ever been involved with.
  4. Pros: Farina is an excellent drummer and singer, and MacKaye hasn’t lost any of his righteous anger. Cons: with only two people you just can’t be viciously loud.
  5. The two utilitarian voices mesh nicely, resulting in songs that are folk-like in their simplicity and directness, but never in their sound.
  6. They play slow, but it's slow in the way that Low once did, a sort of punk-rock rebellion against speed and belligerence.
  7. Alternative Press
    30
    12 tracks that are so feeble and lifeless, it's actually painful to put effort into reviewing them. [Jun 2005, p.160]

See all 19 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. BettoM
    Jul 18, 2005
    10
    The Evens stands as an impressive debut and an interesting move forward for Ian Mackaye. Farina is an excellent drummer and singer, and MacKaye hasn
  2. BradE
    Apr 20, 2005
    10
    This record is vastly different than everything that Ian and Amy have done before, but that is a good thing. Despite the overtly political This record is vastly different than everything that Ian and Amy have done before, but that is a good thing. Despite the overtly political lyrics, this is a very pure and innocent sounding record. One of the most minimalistic and best records I've heard all year. Expand
  3. DevonP
    Jun 18, 2006
    9
    I find this album to be relaxing and a solide piece of work. I would of giving this a 10 if the sound wasn't so empty. For certain I find this album to be relaxing and a solide piece of work. I would of giving this a 10 if the sound wasn't so empty. For certain tracks, I feel like there just a riff someone made up on the spot. Also..... where's the bass? Expand
  4. ChrisC
    Apr 8, 2005
    8
    A strong work that proves again that you can strip down the sound of a rock album and focus on pure songwriting, and make it into something A strong work that proves again that you can strip down the sound of a rock album and focus on pure songwriting, and make it into something really good. I would give it a 9, but some of the songs have the tendency to repeat lyrics over and over, which is one of my pet peeves. Expand