steering clear of the mainstream
since 2001

june 2010

review
blankred.jpg (4669 bytes)
blankred.jpg (4669 bytes)
blankred.jpg (4669 bytes)
blankred.jpg (4669 bytes)
info opinion

Evergreen

Self-titled CD

Temporary Residence Ltd.

Genres: indie rock, garage punk, dance-punk

Temporary Residence Ltd.
PO Box 11390
Portland OR 97211

Jan 26 - Feb 1 2004

Ah, Evergreen.  The long lost chapter of the post-Slint aftermath.  We all remember Brian McMahan's The For Carnation, Britt Walford and The Breeders, and of course David Pajo's solo project, Aerial M.  But everyone always seems to forget Evergreen, the other band that Britt Walford was involved in, the one that came after The Breeders.

This reissue of their sole 1996 Hi-Ball album might find people wondering how they could have missed it.  The band's raucous, gritty garage punk sound has only gained in relevancy since its release.  A strong dark atmosphere, quite Slint-esque in mood, is utilized, although the band doesn't let this keep them from rocking.  Despite hoisting a haze of creepy grit over their music, Evergreen still satisfy because of their sheer energy.  Though there are calmer moments, this album, overall, is an absolutely wicked dance-punk record - Evergreen sounds like a primitive (which is in no way meant as a bad thing) precursor to Liars, with less funk and more punk.

Though some of the songs on this album are better than others, there is not a dud to be found.  "Solar Song" and "Glass Highway" are two of the best; the former is a crunchy, plodding rocker that is suffocating in its explosive guitar/percussion onslaught, while the latter is a brooding, moving dance-punk epic with some gnarly "yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah" vox.  They will get you moving.

If you bought one reissue in 2003, it better have been this one.  If you haven't already, go out and track this down.  Evergreen's attitude-packed, fiercely melodic sound may very well never go out of style.  Play this sucker loud.

90%

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 13 tracks, distributed by Midheaven Mailorder, released 2003]