Mike Evin
I'll Bring The Stereo
© 2005 Mike Evin (768000100129)
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Happy piano pop - by way of Billy Joel, Randy Newman and Paul McCartney
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Mike Evin is a Montreal-raised piano man who has been listening to and playing music from a young age. Growing up in Hampstead, going to camp and to the country house, Mike listened to artists like Billy Joel, the Beach Boys, the Beatles, the Bee Gees, and Paul Simon. His poppy and playful songs reflect his love for harmony, melody and storytelling.
Mike met former Barenaked Lady Andy Creeggan through a mutual friend who gave Andy a copy of Mike’s first album, THE JANUARY MUSE. After that, the two songwriters became friends and collaborators. Andy and his brother Jim Creeggan (Barenaked Ladies bassist) adopted both Mike and his music and became more than mentors to him—they joke about him being their first kid.
The Brothers Creeggan didn’t just feed Mike and offer him advice; they offerred to help him record his second album, I’LL BRING THE STEREO. Recorded at Jim’s old house in Parkdale (Toronto) over the summer of 2004, the album features Barenaked Ladies’ Tyler Stewart and Kevin Hearn, Kurt Swinghammer, Gary Breit, David Matheson, Rob Carli, Ian McLauchlan, as well as backup vocals by Toronto songwriter Danielle Duval. Mike, Jim & Andy, along with engineer Paul Forgues, headed down to Hollywood to mix the album with Jim Scott—who has also done mixing for songwriters like Tom Petty.
I'LL BRING THE STEREO is superproduced; that is, its chock full of sounds and ideas, and it covers a diverse range of genres, from Mike's signature ragtime rock, to funky stuff, to soft rootsy pop songs in the tradition of The Band and Neil Young.
Post-recording, Mike found his number one touring companion, Beatrice, at a store in Toronto. Beatrice is a small upright piano (64 keys) and fits into a minivan or a station wagon. She’s now an integral part of Mike’s stage show and his sound. These days, if you go see Mike play a live show, he’ll play songs from I’LL BRING THE STEREO and new songs as well, but he probably won’t be touring with an eight piece band. Mike arrives at shows solo with Beatrice and plays songs in a way that you can really hear the song—the melody, the story, the music—in a stripped down yet full kind of way. He has recently moved to Toronto, and just finished working with Don Kerr (Ron Sexsmith, Peter Elkas) on LET'S SLOW IT DOWN, an EP of love songs.
reviews
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Great style and great sound!
author: JDWhat a catchy sound this is! There are so many different things going on that I felt like a kid in a candy store trying to pick what tasty sound to listen in on next! Loved the entire album Mike! Great job.
A beguilling & unique record.
author: Owen KeenanMike Evin's 'I'll Bring The Stereo' is a treasure. His songwriting at its best is reminiscent of solo Paul Simon, Randy Newman & Eric Carmen in their prime. On his own merits, Mike Evin has a likeably plaintive voice and the man knows his way around a piano. At least a couple tracks on this fine CD ('There's A Chance', 'Tea To Steep') should guarantee his good reputation for years to come.
All hail the new king of piano pop!
author: GildoMike Evin is certainly destin for greatness on the piano pop circuit (is there such a thing?). He'd kick Ben Fold's butt in a bar fight and would make Rufas Wainright cry and run home to his mama. With quirky and satirical lyrics and a great sense of humor (Danish Bullies, Soapbox Racer) mixed with sensitivity and emotion (Wait for the tea to steep, If you were my girl), Evin skips and bounces through his diverse lineup of songs like a "cool" Liberace and leaves you pining for more.
Supertramp meets Wilco for a drink of absinthe in London!
author: Michael_OWhile perhaps not classifiable as 'alt country', many of the sounds will be familiar to those who already know and love that genre. (Compare Wilco's 'Kamera' to 'Stripper in My Car') However, Evin has managed to put his own spin on the purity and desolation of alt country, and marry it with the slick pop of Supertramp, and at times, this album makes you believe it might have been mastered at Abby Road studios in the early 70's. Flavored with hints of banjo, heavy doses of acoustic pianos, and vintage guitar effects all woven into a power pop style, this album is a must have. Excellent effort and production. I can't wait for the next album!
Funny, quirky, charming, adorable, great music!!!
author: Anna Dagmar"I'll Bring the Stereo" brings a refreshing new sound into today's pop music. He's truly gifted with lyrics and lilting melodies, and his sense of humor will keep you on your toes! No one else would think of writing a song about Danish Bullies! But Mike pulls it off as though we're all pondering these things every day! There's a light ragtime flavor to a lot of the piano playing that makes your toes tap, and the ballads are sensitive and sincere. This is a must-have CD for any songwriting collection!
An incredible album from an incredible artist
author: Eric ChamneyI had the good fortune to see Mike Evin live in Montreal and ever since his first performance I've been hooked. His songs manage to be evocative, profound, deep, and at times quite humorous without ever degenerating into the pathos and false overtones of so many modern songwriters. He's a fantastic songwriter. This album is one that any fan of the indie music scene can't live without. I can only hope that there will be many more CDs to follow!
LISTEN, LOVE, REPEAT
author: JODSTERI've had the pleasure of seeing Mike perform live, and loved the passionate performance he puts forth. This album captures that passion, with a side of soul, and makes it one that you'll leave in the CD player to listen to over and over again. In fact, buy two copies. You'll be sure to wear one out! From the toe-tapping beats of Stay Gritty, to the intimate, evocative lyrics of If You Were My Girl, Mike captivates and holds your ear. The best album I've bought in a VERY long time.
Amazing.
author: RaeAMAZING! It's a must have for any music fan. The most original and well-crafted CD you will ever come across... BUY IT!
Sunshine. Sunshine. Sunshine.
author: Ezra SoifermanI live in Canada. It was a long winter. I made it down to L.A. for a quick trip and happened to have a fresh pre-release copy of Mike Evin's "I'll Bring The Stereo" with me. A friend and I were stuck in LA freeway traffic. I popped the CD in. Traffic started to free up. It was as if Mike's astonishingly catchy melodies plowed us through bumper-to-bumperdom like a badass snowplow in the Montreal winter I'd left behind. We zipped from freeway to freeway in my buddy's convertible with the sunshine blaring in and "The Stereo" blaring out. Folks in the cars we passed looked at us and wondered why our spirits were so high. It was the music. Mike Evin's done it again. Another CD with layer upon layer of hooks, rhymes and yes, Beach Boys vibes. I recommend this CD to all friends and strangers with overcast minds. Hear this sunshine and escape on a little vacation. I call it Evin on earth. You can call it whatever you like...
- author: Tamara Turner, CD Baby
With the refreshingly honest, brilliantly vibrant energy of Ben Folds dancing arm in arm with the structural and melodic genius of Billy Joel kept classically well-rounded with Beatles echoes (who doesn't dig some Beatles?), Mike Evin brings a fleshed-out, 12-course, substantial feast of piano-driven poprock. Like a hammer hitting squarely on the nail every time, he hits a vein with every song on this eleven-track gem. From chunky to well-blended, "I'll Bring the Stereo" is one highly concentrated, harmony-packed album.