Easy Evans | At Ease
Album Review: Easy Evans | At Ease
by Brent Faulkner
Upstart independent R&B singer Easy Evans delivers a solid, though not necessarily exceptional effort on his debut EP At Ease. Easy has the tools and the voice to ‘fly high’, as showcased through the strongest, most cohesive material of the EP, but at times Evans could stand to push his gentle tenor vocals to the next dimension. Sure, the effort is entitled ‘At Ease,’ but when the lover man is the slightest bit more overt is when he ultimately shines.
“At Ease” is a solid opener, if the slightest bit ‘light.’ The jazz-leaning urban harmonies are both appropriate and enjoyable. Evans’s vocals are breezy, but one would wish that as a vocalist he would push himself more. “It’s True” is a better cut, mainly because Evans pours out more soulful energy and assertion as a vocalist. The production work is well executed as is the songwriting. The only quibble may be that despite the fact that “It’s True” is a standout, will it stand the test of time? While the answer is probably not, it is a solid start for Evans.
“Not 2 Late” features some captivating production ideas, but suffers from sounding a bit ‘cheap.‘ That’s not a chastisement on the independent R&B market, but a few more ‘tricks’ may have put this cut ‘over-the-top.’ The vocal production on the verses is a bit unrefined, which is unfortunate for Evans. The chorus is better produced and helps atone for any other improprieties. “Let Loose” cleans up any excesses from “Not 2 Late” providing exceptional production work and solid vocal production. The instrumental break at the end is a bit too drawn out and could have saved the cut a couple of seconds, but overall Evans holds it down here.
“May I” is solid and features a well penned chorus: “May I have your hand/put on your wedding band/ show you I can/make you secure and stable.” It is simplistic, but it recalls the ‘golden age’ of R&B music, which is always a plus. “Talk To Me” is a show stopper opening with the traditional electric piano sounds and exploiting an old-fashioned adult contemporary R&B sound. The only issue is that cut could stand a bit more direction to take it to the next level. Closing cut “Miss Communication,” and obvious play on words, features great production work, but it does not come over as falling into Easy’s comfort zone. The vocals on the verse seem flustered and the intonation falls short because of the forced, speedy nature of the lyrical lines. Thankfully, the chorus brings the cut closer together, not to mention the production.
Essentially, At Ease is solid, but flawed. Easy Evans is best when singing more traditional-leaning R&B as opposed to trying to assimilate to the gimmicks of contemporary R&B. Sure, that is an ‘old-fashioned’ approach, but Evans’s voice is indigenous to the revered R&B male vocalist of the 1980s and early 1990s - Keith Sweat, Freddie Jackson, Gerald LeVert, Johnny Gill - who were more suited for adult contemporary ballads than up tempo dance numbers. When Easy is ‘himself’ he succeeds much more often than not.
Brent Faulkner
The Urban Music Scene
Posted by Administration at 4/6/2011 7:36 AM 
Categories: Soul, Rhythm and Blues, The New Voices Of Today, Video
Tags: Rhythm And Blues Music Videos
Categories: Soul, Rhythm and Blues, The New Voices Of Today, Video
Tags: Rhythm And Blues Music Videos
Very good, very good, jazz is my second love.The talent is there, and the video set the secene, good job.
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