My only complaint regarding this album is that it is a bit overproduced, and at times features too much mellotron in particular. Songs like the Tori Amos-esque "Stupid Is" have a ghoulish mellotron effect that sounds cool at first but gets more distracting as the song goes along. On the other hand, Fisk took the multi-voiced ad-libbed Akre vocals on "Breathe" and made them sound like pure ear candy on what is surely the poppiest, rockin' and most hit-worthy song on the album.
On my personal favorite track "Halo," it's just Akre and Danny Newcomb's clean electric guitar, which is colored with a slow phaser effect and later joined by quiet layers of other guitar parts that sound like an indie rock version of U2's The Edge (think "Stay (Far Away, So Close)." The credits say Steve Fisk plays an organ on this calm, soothing number, but either that's wrong or it got lost in the mix. [There are a few lyrical misprints in the booklet]
Hidden track "Dear John," with Akre on vocals, finger-picked acoustic guitar and sustained keyboard synths, has an even quieter feel than "Halo" and is almost as memorable as the latter.
In all, whether you want your soul to be stirred loudly or relaxed, Last The Evening is the CD for you. Congrats to Carrie Akre for making a consistently repeat-worthy album this late into her storied career.
For more information on Carrie Akre (or to sing her praises and drop a comment), go to the singer's Myspace page.
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