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[Melanie]

I think what I love the most about this album is the impression than there is more going on under the surface than it appears at first - maybe that's partly because I still don't get all the lyrics, so I only understand little bits of the story right now, and the rest is left to my imagination. Somehow, after hearing a couple of songs outside of context (like Elephant Elephant), I didn't expect that - and then I thought "would you expect anything else from a project involving Amanda?"
Somehow, listening to the album reminded of what I experienced when I first heard Nick Cave's Murder Ballads - I never really knew if the stories I was hearing were funny or sad or both at the same time, or if they made me feel uneasy, and that's what appealed to me. Also, there's a kind of Kurt Weill feeling I love about some tracks, but maybe that's just because the twins calling each other Evelyn remind me of the two sisters named Anna from The Seven Deadly Sins.

[Arianna]

When I heard those few songs on myspace, before the actual CD came out, I didn't really like them. I mean, yeah, surely, 'Elephant Elephant' was pretty funny and all, but that wasn't it, that wasn't what I'd expect from Amanda, it just didn't make me instantly fall in love, like most of Dolls/AFP solo stuff generally does. Still, I was curious about the CD, giving it a chance. And it didn't disappoint me, although the songs themselves are not so awesome as the previous ones, the CD as a whole, as a story, as a concept album, maybe kind of a musical (?) is amazing. I love the little creepy, in one moment sad and in the next ridiculously funny aura it creates. I also love the spoken parts and I think that without them this album totally won't be what it is (supposed?) to be, so I'm glad they're not replaced by more songs. And about songs themselves... I totally love 'Evelyn, Evelyn' and 'You Only Want Me 'Cause You Want My Sister', those are awesome in their simplicity and concept (the second one). I also really like the cover of Joy Division played on uke and sung in such soft manner. The last bow goes to 'My Space', as this song is so totally hilarious that I couldn't get it from my head for a while and kept wandering around and singing parts from it (irritating everyone). XD But, to be honest, it's not the music or the songs which attracts me the most in EE - it's rather this creepy circus - cabaret - concept thing. The whole idea and the story is awesome, and the songs are just good, so in the end it still makes stuff worth listening to

[jupiter or japan]

So, now having had quite a few listens to this album, I love it even more. I want to marry it.

[skald]

I actually kind of really love it. More than I expected to, honestly. Favorites are Chicken Man (ahhh I fucking love Chicken Man) and You Only Want Me 'Cause You Want My Sister, because of my huge weakness for country music.

[simon tongue]

I have to say the songs themselves are excellent. A good mixture of all sorts of stuff, I love the diversity of it all. The underlying darkness running through it, even on the upbeat songs just adds depth.

If I were to offer criticism, I don't know if I would listen to the narrative parts over and over... I might just skip to the songs, but the songs themselves so far are excellent and growing. Looking forward to the London gig...

[NaturalTalentsWasted]

Okay so in my initial review of the album, I said I loved everything except Sandy Fishnets ..... it's now my favorite song. I just wanted to make that known.

[stellifera]

I'm also loving it more every time I listen to it. Wasn't really enthusiastic at first, but now I've seen the show I'm listening to a few songs over and over again. My favourite is Evelyn Evelyn. I love sad songs. Chicken man is the most hilarical one, and more complicated to play than I thought in short: i like it better than i thought

[insignifikunt]

I found this review on Australia music website The Dwarf which I think is pretty awesome.

"At this stage, I can probably rate this album as my favourite project thus far for 2010."

Evelyn Evelyn, the world's only conjoined twin singer-songwriter duo have released their debut self titled album which is co-produced by Amanda Palmer, of Dresden Dolls fame, and Jason Webley, singer, accordionist and accomplished Seattle street performer.

The girls share vocal duties with a range of guests from Andrew W. K., Weird Al Yankovic, Jimmy Urine (Mindless Self Indulgence), Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance), Neil Geiman (world renowned fantasy author) and none other than the debut vocal performance from Francis Bean Cobain (the daughter of the late Kurt Cobain).

The sisters themselves, Eve and Lyn Neville, were born in 1985 and delivered by Dr. Charclie Von Coop. Without going into too much detail, a series of unfortunate events take place (approximately 20 minutes of such events) which take the girls through being raised in a chicken farm as battery hens, to being inducted into the world of child slavery to meet their many uncles, to performing ukulele shows on a set of conjoined elephants (aptly named “elephant elephant”), as part of a travelling circus before eventually setting up and uploading their songs on their very own Myspace page.

The music itself is entirely performed by the sisters, with each of the twelve tracks loosely based on their own personal experiences. Three of these tracks are spoken word pieces outlining the tragic events of the girl’s lives, with the remaining eight songs being originals. The closer is a cover of ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ performed by the sisters on ukulele.

The first track, 'Evelyn Evelyn', is based around the sister’s early life and is a soft duet combining strings and piano and is the perfect introduction for such a dramatic album. The second song, 'A Campaign of Shock and Awe', possibly this reviewer's favourite track, is somewhat of a scary carnival themed song kicking off with the lyrics “Behold, the eighth wonder Of the natural world! Come one and come all, See the two-headed girl!” followed with various references to the girls disability and people asking the sisters to smile for the camera.

My favourite line in the entire album appeared in this song where the lyrics refer to the girls being reviewed in Pitchfork. I mean if you are given a positive review in pitchfork you've got to be cool right? (Note: Pitchfork has not yet reviewed Evelyn Evelyn)

'Chicken Man' is another standout track, while only containing the shrill vocals of the repeated “chicken man”, the song itself, combined with the tragic events spoken word still has the uncanny ability to be quite chilling. I also found the cute accordion driven track 'Elephant Elephant' quite fun, standing in contrast to the darker songs - as the sister’s talk about their love of their pet elephants. The cover of 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' is a sad album outro as the duo take the song into a complete new context.

My only negative point is the even though there is a long list of guest vocals and collaborations, they can't really be heard on any of the tracks. I fear much of the hype has been exaggerated, and Francis as well as all of the others merely recorded some small and barely identifiable backup vocals for choruses.

*Spoiler alert*. If you've read this far, you probably want to know what on earth this whole review has been about. Evelyn Evelyn is the fictional creation of Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley, easily given away by Jason's very male, deep sounding vocals and Amanda's distinctive sound.

I must commend the duo for their effort in concealing the true identity of the project, where in the album sleeve itself Evelyn Evelyn are listed on vocals, piano, ukulele, guitar and accordion where Amanda and Jason are merely listed as co-producers and performing on additional instruments.

At this stage, I can probably rate this album as my favourite project thus far for 2010. The sheer creative genius emerging from both Jason and Amanda is nothing short of surreal. If you are a fan of Amanda Palmer, the Dresden Dolls or anything slightly creepy or unusual you need to listen to this record.

http://www.thedwarf.com.au/nd/albumreviews/evelyn_evelyn_evelyn_evelyn