With their group, The Evens, Ian MacKaye and Amy Farina prove that post-punk can age well. As a member of Minor Threat and Fugazi, MacKaye is a cornerstone of the post-punk genre. It’s appropriate that he is half of this band that is prolonging the genre that he helped establish. With a more intimate, minimalistic delivery, The Evens use a simple combination of a guitar and punchy drums, along with male and female vocals that switch sometimes from line to line. The opener ‘King of Kings’ is the most addictive track, a slow sing-along anthem. On ‘Wanted Criminals’ the lyrics criticize the prison complex with some of the sharpest lyrics, and the most Fugazi-like spew of guitars. MacKaye and Farina have matured post-punk, and in doing so are making some great music.
RIYL: Fugazi, Bob Mould, The Warmers
Play: 2,1,6,7
FCC: Clean