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EDIT INFOEarlimart - Mentor Tormentor
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Album Details
- Artist: Earlimart
- Album: Mentor Tormentor
- Label: Majordomo
- Year of Release: 2007
- ME Rating:
- Reviewed by: dscanland on 2007-09-17
RecommendTreble & Tremble was my first exposure to Los Angeles-based Earlimart and while it didn't win me over by any measure it did leave my curious as to where this band would head in the future. Enter Mentor Tormentor, their follow-up album and improvement on Treble & Tremble. Aaron Espinoza tends to sound a lot like a happier Elliott Smith but the arrangements recall that of Grandaddy (with not so much sampling) or Yo La Tengo. You might arguably even make a comparison to Death Cab For Cutie. If nothing else, the fans would be able to understand.
Mentor Tormentor starts off very strong with "Fakey Fake", opening with just a guitar and a tambourine as Aaron's vocals gently come caressing your emotions. It really is a beautiful song and had the album been filled with the like I would have been sold on Earlimart. He does get a little louder on the next track, the more epic "Answers & Questions". And in fact, "Never Mind The Phone Calls" is a great song as well. But by this time I'm feeling a little tired of Aaron's voice. The production is great on this one though. My feeling on Aaron's voice must have been echoed because Ariana Murray gets a chance to strut her stuff on "Happy Alone" sounding like Aimee Mann. This is a great break from Aaron's voice making me with that she sung a little more. The loudest track on the album, "Everybody Knows Everybody" is one of my faves as well.
But then you get further into the album and find tracks like "Little Things" and "Nothing Is True" to be basically filler.
Yes, it is indeed an improvement although I'm still left wanting more. I don't know what it is but Earlimart seem to leave you with an empty feeling: intentional or not.
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on 2007-08-16 b0arder753 Said:
“Even the stuck clock on your wall/ is right two times a day.” This line sticks out on this album because it's one of the most original sounding things on this album (although it's still an overused old adage). Full of clichádolescent imagery, sparkling electric and soft-strummed acoustic guitars, and plenty of keyboard lines; this is the epitome of “indie-pop”. Mentor Tormentor is that New Pornographers type stuff that Pitchfork writers eat up. I don’t mind this album, it’s quite enjoyable (specifically the tracks that do get out of their “indie-pop comfort zone”). It may not contain original concepts, but it is still entertaining and care-free music that works perfect for the summertime. Check out: Track 1- “Fakey Fake” Track 7- “Everybody Knows Everybody”
Rating: 5/10
