Evan and Jaron are twins who know how to rock, and rumor has it they do it all on their own. I mean, just take a look at the back of the CD, which features a picture of the dynamic duo standing alone in a garage, surrounded by musical instruments (all of which, as implied, they play). This is a perfectly viable picture, and it works nicely for the listener. That is, of course, if one is willing to discount the 24 additional musicians and eight additional writers/producers employed to churn out the twelve tracks featured on their record, not so appropriately titled Evan and Jaron.

They play music that falls somewhere between the genres of matchbox 20 and Third Eye Blind (which, yes, do belong to two different categories if you look hard enough). They write music about love and longing, directed towards the Dawson’s Creek generation. Want proof? Check out the second volume of the Dawson’s Creek soundtrack.

“Crazy For This Girl” is a beautifully crafted ditty containing that certain blend of emotion and angst that could leave only a Top 40 program director breathless. To their credit, Evan and Jaron are masters at creating the kinds of songs that will be tearjerkers for the thirteen-year-olds who think they have tasted the truly terrible side of life because that cute guy or girl they know won’t return their phone calls. They have the emotional weight of *NSYNC and the inescapable riffs of matchbox 20, and the combination is a deadly one.

So while Evan and Jaron have by no means created a masterpiece that will stand the test of time for much longer than a month or two, they do pluck the heartstrings that draw people to record stores and compel them to lay their $16.99 on the table. In that way, they are one of the greatest successes I have ever witnessed.
Evan and Jaron

Evan and Jaron

(Columbia)

reviewed by Chris Kelly