I still wonder what made Louisville, Kentucky such a hot bed for indie rock in the early and mid 90s. In the heart of the South, bands like Slint and their disciples truly changed independent music for years to come. Even today, we still have Will Oldham as popular as ever, David Pajo continuing to record great records under his Papa M moniker, and here in my hands lies the reissued Evergreen album from 1995.
Slint’s breakup spread talent in many new directions from Aerial M to The For Carnation, even to the Breeders. Slint’s drummer Britt Walford formed the Breeders with Kim Deal and left the band just after the release of Pod. Soon after, he joined Louisville locals Evergreen and became integral in the development of their sound. A mix of sloppy punk and rawk that predates about 90% of the fake rock being passed off today, Evergreen became one of the footnotes to the vital Louisville music scene.
Just reissued on Temporary Residence, Evergreen’s self titled album was a heavy punk and rawk mess of the highest order. Recorded by a young James Murphy (of future LCD Soundsystem and DFA fame), Evergreen’s thirteen tracks are just a fun collection of messy politics ("Klark Kent"), Stooges-esque thrash ("Whip Cream Bottle"), and Stones’ trash ("Pants Off").
Predating current bands like The White Stripes, The Strokes, Hot Snakes, and a host of lesser-knowns, Evergreen is yet another Louisville gem that will thankfully make more than a footnote with the reissue of this artifact.
1. Fairlane
2. Petting the Beast
3. Solar Song
4. Whip Cream Bottle
5. Plastic Bag
6. Klark Kent
7. Sweet Jane
8. Glass Highway
9. Zoom Zoom
10. New York City
11. Coyote
12. Pants Off/The Queen Song
13. Untitled
More about: Evergreen
