Search - John Evans :: Circling the Drain

These Great Tunes Spiral Into Your Brain and Won't Let Go

Bryan Carey | Houston, TX | 12/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Circling the Drain was the John Evans Band's third album and it follows the boys from Texas through a set of tracks that focus on a blend of rock and roll, country, and blues in varying degrees from one song to the next. Due to its blend of so many different musical genres, this is the type of album that is likely to have widespread appeal, with a song to match most anyone's musical taste and it will appeal very strongly to those who appreciate a musical effort that includes clever lyrics along with catchy musical arrangements.



Circling the Drain is an interesting album with plenty of memorable songs. What makes this album so appealing is its combination of country, blues, and rock & roll; its thoughtful lyrics; and the vocal talents of lead singer John Evans. With the combination of musical genres, there is a song on this album for everyone. County listeners will enjoy Endlessly Blue. Rock and Roll fans will love Quicksand,. And blues fanatics like myself will become hopelessly hooked on the rocking blues of Swattin' Flies. Fans of all three styles will love the album as a whole and it may spend weeks in your CD changer once you take it for a spin.



Evans lyrics are thoughtful and clever, and they also add greatly to this album's appeal. They are intelligent and thoughtful without going over the top. With some musical artists, the listener often spends more time trying to figure out what the lyrics actually mean when they should be enjoying the music itself. With the John Evans Band, songwriter John Evans offers up some memorable lyrics that are interesting without being weird and intelligent without requiring a dictionary to understand. Many listeners, in fact, will relate directly to some of Evans many memorable lyrics.



John Evans vocals are yet another reason for Circling the Drain's enjoyable sound. Evans has a vocal style that reminds me of some of the popular American singers from the 1950's and 1960's. His voice is smooth, friendly, and non- threatening and his vocals will be met with approval from fans of all types of music. Some have compared Evans vocals to Buddy Holly. More accurately, he sounds like Buddy Holly would have sounded had he been transplanted to Texas as a teenager and picked up on some of the local lingo.



Circling the Drain offers many great tunes. My personal favorites are Wishing Well and Swattin' Flies. The latter is particularly memorable for its driving rock and roll blues, like a combination of Buddy Guy and Stevie Ray Vaughn with a vocal component that rings of modern country influences. This song is easily the best on an entire album of great songs. The catchy blues riff is the main reason, but the lyrics are also quite memorable, because while they talk of flies and the problem of getting rid of them, they are metaphorical in nature and can easily apply to anything in your life that you have tried to get rid of countless times, only to have the problem continuously return to annoy you.



Overall, Circling the Drain is an excellent album and one that will appeal to a large segment of the population. The combination of musical genres, the memorable lyrics, and the smooth delivery of John Evan's vocals make for a highly enjoyable set.



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John Evans Band AC/DC meets Buddy Holly

Nubbins | Tulsa OK | 01/01/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"JEB's third album circling the drain is a well balanced album loaded with incredibly catchy tunes. A mixed breed all in its own, John Evans Band artfully combines Rock And Roll and Old Country.

Although the band members that recorded this album are no longer part of the show. The new band leans out the country a touch and it runs rich with rock and roll. Expect a new album out this spring."