Earlimart - Mentor Tormentor
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Free Music Notes for Mentor Tormentor
Free Music Review: An album closer short of 5 stars...
Hit: 4 Stars
Earlimart evolves their sound with this ethereal, melancholy, and often beautiful effort. Dominated by the band's expert production know-how and a new found weapon (Ariana steps up on vocal duties, going solo for two numbers and backing Aaron on others, with wonderful results), Mentor Tormentor marks another step away from the band early "punk" roots towards a more sophistocated, full sound. Harmonies and lush arrangments abound, the last vestige of the old Earlimart seems to be the upbeat "Everybody knows everybody", which I enjoy fully. I am more impressed with the overall nature of the album, an album that speaks of the importance and confusion of love and love lost...Aaron does a good job with the lyrics, they are just accessible enough to try to interpret, without being either overtly blunt or abstract. I won't list my favorites or highlights...the album is, for the most part, a smooth listen.. crescendos and decrescendos, the overlayed "ahhs and oohs" that you have grown to know and love from not only Earlimart, but also from the likes of other greats (Grandaddy, Elliott), that never seem to lose their contribution to the overall sound. Beautiful and stirring at times, the kind of album that you want to listen to at your lover's side as the sun peaks through the shades of a window kind of stuff...or something like that.
I hate to say anything negative about one of my favorite bands, but my only complaint about this superb offering is the choice of closing number (or in this case, last two numbers). Nothing is True just rubs me the wrong way (the whistling...stop the whistling!!). Cold Cold Heaven sounds, well, it doesn't sound like Earlimart to me...more like a beer commercial..overly simplified chord progression and a chorus of kiddy voices? I don't know...this album needed, in my humble opinion, to end on a high note (leave them wanting more!!), with some heartbreakingly beautiful epic..to complete the masterpiece. I just don't get it..maybe the band is playing a trick on us or they don't want me to get it!
Regardless...BUY THIS ALBUM..it's great and I hope they never stop making music and touring. They pulled this sound off live with the help of the String Dream Team and it was one one the best shows I've seen in a while. Thank you Aaron and Ariana..keep the torch lit for those who no longer hold it...all of my appreciation to you, a couple of kind, down to earth people with hearts that they know how to use...