Send "Evermore " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Sputnikmusic |
 In golf parlance, Evermore’s debut album ‘Dreams’ was an admirable putt that missed by a few inches to the left. Follow-up ‘Real Life’ played it so safe that it fell about two feet short. In comparison, their ungainly titled third release ‘Truth Of The World: Welcome To The Show’ is an absolute bullet struck directly at the hole, but eventually over-reaching it by a good foot. In other words, while the album’s risk and ambition should be applauded and is intermittently interesting, the methods used in achieving their objective are unfortunately off the mark. If you could not already tell from the LP’s title, this is yet another in the growing number of concept albums to flood the market. But where-as most such releases are half-hearted & compromised excuses for focus & direction, ‘Truth Of The World’ sees Evermore stick rigidly to the storyline. Regrettably, it is far too rigidly. One of the main issues is the storyline itself, which sees a futuristic media network manipulate the population to the point of control. Somewhere along the way, a minor rebels and is subsequently controlled by medication. On paper, it seems simple enough, but on record, it is convoluted, over-complicated and ultimately only sporadically involving. A variety of techniques are used in order to sell the concept, with the first two tracks highlighting a number. Opener ‘Plugged In’ contains spoken sound-bytes over a Muse-like electro-rock riff & beat, while the following ‘Tonight On The Show’ is predominantly a piano balled that introduces the character of Donovan Earl as the network’s anchor. Even at this stage a number of problems arise, with over-length being the main culprit. What could have been done in 4 minutes takes 9, with the latter track practically superseding the former. This concern plagues the album throughout with most tracks stretching out far too long. In keeping with the theme, the album too often requires a director to yell “cut” over its 63 minute duration....full text |
| Accessallareas |
| Anticipation for Evermore’s third LP has been high, and the brothers Hume have come up with the goods. Truth of World (Welcome To The Show) is a concept album, an ambitious effort, and very different from their previous releases. Be warned. You will either love it or hate it. But please give it a few spins before you pass judgement. Truth of The World is designed to be listened to in one piece, constructed as news bulletin. It feels more like a theatre show than an album of tracks, with an introduction, three acts, and theme running throughout. The use of sound effects (babies crying, cars crashing, cameras flashing,) and character voices add a dimension not often heard in today’s releases. The album opens with an instrumental Plugged In, featuring excerpts of trashy media, and lead singer Jon says the band took much of their inspiration for the album from clips they’d seen on You Tube. Tonight On The Show sets the tone for the rest of the album. With references to global warming and naming the war on terror ‘trial and error’, it’s clear Evermore have a lot to say about the state of the world. Their take on today’s quick fixes is expressed throughout the album, with lyrics touching on everything from infomercials and miracle cures, to standing in line and joining something just because it’s ‘the thing to do’. First single Between The Lines has been in the pipeline for years, with the guys playing a version of the track on their last album tour. A very different version is heard here, with huge electronic beats, pounding drums, and a chorus you will be singing long after the record has stopped. Max Is Stable lulls you in and then bursts into what feels like a cabaret number. The track represents a conversation between a teacher and parent about a child’s ability to concentrate. It’s brilliant....full text |
| Blogs.nzherald |
| It's not hard to see how the Hume brothers' career seemingly got fast-tracked to the other side of the Tasman. Their 2004 debut album Dreams was underrated (here) but terrific, a record that managed to be both familiar and fresh - young guys intent on something bigger than modest indiedom with heavy echoes of Pink Floyd, U2, and Radiohead. Album number two Real Life got them noticed all the more, though suffered from a production which polished their songs to the point the studio sheen got in the way of the tunes. Still the likes of Running and sometime TV One jingle Light Surrounding You showed they might have a big international breakthrough hit single in them - though their post-Dreams signing to prestigious American label Sire seems to have gone by the wayside. But on their third album Evermore seem to have let their grand ambitions get away on them - and it is just them, this one's produced by frontman Jon Hume - with what's been talked up as their take on a old-fashioned concept album....full text |
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