#43: Evelyn Evelyn - Evelyn Evelyn

Evelyn Evelyn
A Campaign Of Shock And Awe
The Tragic Events Of September Part I
Have You Seen My Sister, Evelyn?
Chicken Man
Tragic Events Part II
Sandy Fishnets
Elephant Elephant
You Only Want Me 'Cause You Want My Sister
Tragic Events Part III
My Space
Love Will Tear Us Apart (Curtis, Hook, Morris, Sumner)

All songs written by Neville and Neville, except 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'

Evelyn and Evelyn Neville - vocals, accordion, guitar, piano, ukulele
Samantha Boshnack - trumpet
Alex Guy - viola, violin
Timb Harris - violin
Fred Hawkinson - trombone
Kevin Hinshaw - clarinet
Jeremy Lightfoot - drums
Luke Kirley - tuba
Izaak Mills - bass, clarinet, flute
Amanda Palmer - piano, wurlitzer
Kristian Rosentrater - drums
Jason Schimmel - banjo, bass, guitar, slide guitar
Aaron Seeman - Hammond organ
Lee Smith - drums
Tim Smolens - cello, contrabass
Serena Tideman - cello
Jason Webley - accordion

'My Space' features backing vocals from Andrew W.K., Kim Boekbinder, Zoe Boekbinder, Margaret Cho, Chantal Claret, Frances Bean Cobain, Neil Gaiman, Ari Gold, Ethan Gold, Eugene Mirman, Corn Mo, Franz Nicolay, Reverand Peytyon, Sara Quin, Tegan Quin, Jimmy Urine, Kirsten Vangsness, Gerard Way and Weird Al Yankovic
Additional Voices by Kim Boekbinder, Adam Ende, Maria Glanz, Kaleb Hagen-Kerr, Oliver Orion, Amanda Palmer, Caitlin Rippey, Jay Thompson and Jason Webley
Produced by Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley

Label: Eleven Records/8ft. Records

Dresden Dolls mastermind Amanda Palmer and Seattle folk musician Jason Webley are Evelyn and Evelyn Neville - conjoined twin sisters with a tragic history that has led to them travelling the world as a cabaret act. Their history is told in the three extended, eerie spoken-word segments entitled 'Tragic Events'. The majority of the actual music is actually up-beat sounding, creating a stark contrast to the subject matter. For example, 'A Campaign Of Shock And Awe' is mainly sung by the owners of a brothel that specialises in "alternative" tastes, contemplating just how much they can exploit these two young girls.
There is a bit of actual comic relief, such as 'Have You Seen My Sister, Evelyn?', which only really makes sense when you know that they are conjoined, and 'Elephant Elephant', the sisters' ode to their only true friend during their time in the circus - conjoined twin elephants. But for the most part this album is bleak stuff, which sees Amanda Palmer for the first time fully embrace her cabaret leanings on record - her previous work being "punk cabaret". With that in mind, this album is definitely not for everyone. You have to both enjoy an old-fashioned, theatrical record as well as not mind getting incredibly depressed at the same time.

For those of you who looked over the list of guest vocalists in the song 'My Space' and saw someone you like, don't expect to be actually able to hear them. Despite it being advertised in some quarters as 'the singing debut of Frances Bean Cobain' for instance, all of those guest vocals were recorded for just one line.

There's also a graphic novel based on this record, also written by Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley, with artwork by Cynthia von Buhler and an afterward by Neil Gaiman being released next month. And apparently there have been talks to turn the story into a live action movie using the album as a soundtrack, too. This might not be Amanda and Jason's most profitable work, but it's evidently one where they get to let their imaginations run wild and create something beyond just music. Hopefully at some point they'll see fit to bring us up to date with what the twins are doing now... that one should be a much happier album now they're under the wing of two great talents, with such a strong supporting cast.

Listen And/Or Download Here: http://evelynevelyn.bandcamp.com/album/evelyn-evelyn