Evan Brewer: Alone album review

Evan Brewer "Alone"

Summary: Evan Brewer (ANIMOSITY, THE FACELESS, ex-REFLUX) releases a solo album of crazy bass-playing…but it’s just bass playing.  Knowing is half the battle.

Rating: 2 stars (4 if you’re just looking for bass playing and nothing else)

Genre: Um…bass?

** (****)

Evan Brewer (ex-REFLUX, ANIMOSITY, recently announced as the new bassist for THE FACELESS) has already made an indelible mark on the extreme music world with his stylish and technically proficient bass playing, and on his “Alone” debut, he’s pumping out a series of bass-only tracks that show off his dizzying talents.

It’s a unique effort, and features a handful of tracks sporting neat effects on the bass to give elements of the song a not-so-bassy sound, thus creating a more layered affair.  There’s elements that pass for drumming, and several moments where several bass tracks are going at once, creating a guitar-and-bass feel while only utilizing a bass guitar.  These are not only welcome — otherwise the album might be dragged down by monotony — but they are done in ways that you’ve probably never heard, unless you’re a diehard bass fanatic.

While the multiple textures and unique little tricks Evan pulls off help propel the album into a realm where it’s not seen as “just some dude playing bass in his bedroom,” there’s a fatal flaw for the non-bass fanatics who might check this album because of Brewer’s previous album appearances: it sounds like a really skilled dude with some cool studio techniques…playing bass in his bedroom.  In other words, it’s an album of bass playing, and nothing else.  If you’re into that, this album’s for you.  If not, there’s not a whole lot here to motivate you to pay for the experience.

Evan’s good, and it’s clear he can write music with a full band; the guy’s get a sense of phrasing, melody, and rhythm that are unmistakable signs of a talented songwriter, regardless of the instrument(s) he’s currently writing for.  But without anyone else showing up on the album, or — perhaps more problematic — without Evan pulling duty on any other instrument, there’s just not a whole lot here.  If he released this stuff for free on YouTube, or as free downloads, tons of people would experience it and be in awe at the guy’s abilities.  But if this is an album you’re going to buy, you have to know that you are getting some bass guitar recordings, and literally nothing else.

So, my criticsm is this: on your next album, Evan, bring along a drummer, or be willing to use some industrial/mixing elements to pull off some ambience in the background.

Your skills are immense, your playing intense; add some more musical instruments.

I couldn’t resist.

** (****)

Tracklisting:

1. Actualize
2. Contraband
3. Currency
4. Altered Perspective One
5. Altered Perspective Two
6. Vertigo
7. The Decline
8. Degenerate
9. Looking West
10. A Climate for Change

** (****)

Links:

Hear EVAN BREWER’s track “Vertigo”, streaming here