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The new album from Evangelicals, The Evening Descends doesn't so much as arrive in your speakers as kind of meanders across them during
the opening, title track. Exhibiting an artsy, ambling pretentiousness, the first track sets an appropriate mood for an album that sounds equal parts as if its made by wanna-be bohemians, and kids who have overdosed on Flaming Lips albums without absorbing enough of that band's songwriting chops.

That first track is a rather nondescript introduction to the band if you've never heard them before, and doesn't make much of a good first
impression. Come to think of it, the second track on the CD, Midnight Vignette, doesn't come off all that much better, with the wishy-washy production turning Austin Stephens' drums into a faded mush. Lead singer Josh Jones's high-pitched voice doesn't really help matters much on this track, as his diffident vocals distract more than draw a listener in on this track.

The Evening Descends¯ perks up eventually, as Jones steps up with his guitar, and contributes convincing melodies to tracks like Skeleton Man and Party Crashing.¯ But he has a bad habit of spoiling some of the band's good moments with the occasional unearthly caterwaul. Both of these tracks would have been among my favorites on the disc, save for tragically overwrought outros.

It's a shame, really, because when these guys find their focus, they're capable of putting together some really beautiful spacey pop music, as evidenced by the hazy Stoned Again,¯ and the lovely and sedate Snowflakes.¯ Listening to some of the tracks on this disc, I was reminded on occasion of bands like Radiohead¯, or Of Montreal.¯ The latter comes to mind most strongly on a track entitled Paperback Suicide,¯ which opens with a sparkling, happy go lucky keyboard melody. It's a track that puts a smile on my face every time I listen to the disc, but there are too few of those moments, and too many psychedelic trainwrecks on The Evening Descends,¯ to really recommend the disc as a whole.