Home > Music > CD Review > Earlimart, 'Hymn and Her'

Earlimart, 'Hymn and Her'

Downbeat chamber pop from steadfast L.A. duo

By Adam McKibbin

Special to Metromix
June 30, 2008

Critic's Rating:

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Backstory: Earlimart draw their name from a dusty little town off California’s Interstate 5, but they formed in L.A.’s Silver Lake area, and—at least to locals in the know—have come to represent that hipster enclave as well as any band over the past five years. Earlimart leader Aaron Espinoza also runs the Ship, a studio that has hosted the likes of Silversun Pickups, Elliott Smith and Sea Wolf.

Why you should care: The Ship is a hot destination for a reason: Espinoza has a finely tuned ear for harmonious indie-pop. “Hymn and Her” sprouted from a quick four-week session in the studio, yet stands as one of the band’s most consistently enjoyable efforts to date.

Verdict: Espinoza’s trajectory from aspiring punk rocker to mellow, melodic tunesmith seems complete; nary a jagged edge remains on his band’s sixth record. Understated pop flourishes soften the overriding melancholic mood, as when a horn section lifts the final section of album standout “Face Down in the Right Town.” Ariana Murray takes on an expanded role and contributes some of her finest songs, including the hazy breakup ballad “Time for Yourself.”

X-Factor: Espinoza hasn’t made it on the A-list yet—at least in the eyes of Courtney Love. The unlikely duo spent a recent evening in the company of a mutual friend, but events took a turn for the worse when Love questioned Espinoza’s identity, accused him of stealing her money, and demanded his removal.

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