Three Imaginary Girls - Earlimart

Hymn And Her

Diana Salier — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:04:07 +0000

6.9

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0019M82ZS/wwwthreeimagi-20/

41tQh0PBKVL._SS500_.jpg

Mentor Tormentor, the 2007 release from LA indie staple Earlimart -- and the band's first album on label imprint Majordomo Records -- was one of my top 5 favorite albums of last year. So the minute I got my hands on the advance for this new record, I knew it would take a lot to top their previous effort. But in all fairness to the band, they seem to have approached this new collection of breezy indie rock tunes from an entirely different angle. Gone are the sweeping strings and atmospheric vibe that penetrated every; the album's title couldn't be more fitting, as the sound is really just stripped down to the essence of "hymn'' and her, or Aaron Espinoza and Arianna Murray. Both singers have an exceptionally lulling and angelic way about their vocals, and it works the best on songs like "Teeth," with the "oohs" and "aahs"

Espinoza's vocals sound oddly out of place with typical, straightforward rock songs like "For the Birds," "Face Down in the Right Town" and album opener "Song For." But he, and the band in general, is at his absolute best with the more haunting, quiet and introspective "Hymn And Her" and "Great Heron Gates."

Murray proves to be the band's secret weapon, taking the reins on only 3 of the 14 songs, including "Tell Me" - a lyrically awesome song in only 23 words: "sitting at a traffic light I've waited on one thousand times/it suddenly occured to me that you were never gonna tell me." Piano-based "Before It Gets Better" and synth-heavy "Time For Yourself" are two of the album's standout tracks, no doubt because Murray carries them so beautifully.

It's only been a year since the duo released Mentor Tormentor, and it's possible to guess that the band could have spent more time on these songs, only that would've defeated their ultimate purpose. The only real pitfall is when it sounds as though the band wanted to break through to something bigger but held themselves back, and fell just short. Still, while the album is not totally hard-hitting, the songs tend to sneak up from behind and lightly tap you on the shoulder, causing you to lend and ear and give a listen.

While the album is not totally hard-hitting, the songs tend to sneak up from behind and lightly tap you on the shoulder, causing you to lend and ear and give a listen.

Songs for an autumn mix

Diana Salier — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:33:50 +0000

So, obviously, I had to make an autumn mix. To me, autumn songs are a distinct class -- they aren't as low and pensive as a winter song, but they're still quiet, and maybe just a little more hopeful.

The Decemberists, with Earlimart

Michael X — Wed, 12 Nov 2003 08:00:00 +0000

6 Nov 2003

earlimart.jpg

There's something innately comforting about a band that doesn't feel the need to break new ground, but instead relishes the sublime pleasures in the exploration of familiar paths. They make music that just feels right; songs that, although you've never heard them, become immediately familiar, creating a sort of instantaneous nostalgia.

Upon first seeing and hearing California's Earlimart, I was immediately reminded of a carissa's wierd that has sought help, taken meds, and gone on to lead a normal, healthy life.

Although descriptions abound, they play what is best described as rock music. Of course, if you're going to play rock music, you have to brave the waters of those before you — the scales just aren't that big. And although I love the way that Earlimart makes music, the highlight of the show was their nod to the Pixies in the form of a cover of "distance equals rate times time" (which was prefaced by singer Aaron Espinoza's comment that, "We've been ripping off the Pixies for years, so we may as well just get it out in the open"), and it helped me realize the reason every indie rock band rips off the Pixies is not because of how different they were, but because of how same they were. Leave that groundbreaking stuff to jazz — I'll take my two chords and the truth, please.

But familiarity does not always arise from imitation, as was evidenced by the evening's headliners, Portland's The Decemberists. Singer Colin Meloy's lyrics hearken back to a past not quite defined, somewhere between the 17th and 19th Centuries.

And the music carries that same quality, as if they were playing songs from the Lost Archives of the true beginning of rock & roll. Channeling the storytelling of folk through the rhythm of the sea shanty and regularly incorporating instruments like the upright bass or the accordian, the Decemberists immediately fill the listener's head with images of history that seem as real as if they were happening today, and by adding a rock & roll sensibility (see Two Chords... Truth above); the anachronisms nestle comfortably into the 20th Century. And even though the themes of the songs eventually start to feel almost one-dimensional, the exquisite songwriting and impeccable musicianship of the band ensure that you maintain a jig throughout. It's music that just makes you feel good; good enough to stay out until two on a weeknight and not regret it in the morning.

Upon first seeing and hearing California's Earlimart, I was immediately reminded of a Carissa's Wierd that has sought help, taken meds, and gone on to lead a normal, healthy life.

Imaginary '02 Recap!

three imaginary girls — Wed, 01 Jan 2003 08:00:00 +0000

{And yes, we have included shameless promotion links to our affliated Insound and Amazon affiliate programs, where you can listen or buy. So sue us. Or buy something, and help us support our excessive web page habits...}

Best Releases:

Ooh ooh! I know! Dana's favorite three releases of the year are:

Pretty Girls Make Graves Good Health

Carissa's Wierd Songs About Leaving

The Long Winters The Worst You Can Do is Harm

Hey! I didn't say that! How did you know that?

Anyone who has been in your car knows. Hell, anyone who has ever read the site knows.

Oh god, am I *that* predictable? {don't answer that}. Geesh. She's right though, of course.

How about you, Liz?

OK. My favorite 2002 local releases are:

Tullycraft Beat, Surf, Fun

Carissa's Wierd Songs About Leaving

tHe drop Iceland

And my favorite 2002 Brit releases are:

Clinic Walking with Thee

South From Here On In

ballboy Club Anthems

Ooh yeah, I second the Clinic and South (and further nominate Clinic for the distinguished "Shortest show of the year" award, coming in under 40 minutes at their I-Spy show back in March.) And Doves The Last Broadcast. Mmmm, Doves.

Right. Back to me. My favorite 2002 New Yorker releases are:

Mooney Suzuki Electric Sweat

The Walkmen Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone

The Liars They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument On To (ok, so it was released in 2001 but re-issued this year... )

...and my favorite 2002 Scandanavian releases are:

Sondre Lerche Faces Down

Division of Laura Lee Black City

Cato Salsa Experience A Good Tip for a Good Time

...and my favorite 2002 Welsh releases are:

mclusky mclusky do dallas

Super Furry Animals Rings Around the World

um... Cinerama "Torino"

- ok... they aren't Welsh, but the Lostprophets (who ARE Welsh) opened up for Cinerama when saw them in July

Oh! And my favorite 2002 Nebraskan releases are:

Bright Eyes Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground

Desaparecidos Read Music/Speak Spanish

Bright Eyes A Christmas Album

You are out of control...

Most Extraordinary Live Shows:

My favorites...

Robyn Hitchcock Sunday night at the Croc followed by the omigod-fucken-amazing Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at the Paramount Monday night. Hot damn. Back in April (pre-TIG)

Pretty Girls Make Graves CD Release Party (w/ 764-HERO) at Chop Suey 6.13.02 (also pre-TIG)

Peter Paker & Aveo / The Malinks & Tullycraft — all in the same day — all free — all at the EMP.

Hmmm... my favorite live performances... this is so hard... can I break it down to local and non-local? I'll say it really quickly before igDana has a chance to stop me... first... local:

Scottish Men of Science / The Malinks / Yeek Yak Airforce , 11.14.02 at the Sit 'n Spin.

Hypatia Lake 8.17.02 at the Sit 'n Spin

The Long Winters / Carissa's Wierd 6.15.02 at the Paradox Theatre

And my favorite 2002 non-seattle-ite band music moments are:

Hives / Mooney Suzuki show on 5.31.02

Idlewild at T in the Park on 7.13.02

Bright Eyes at the Capitol Theatre, Portland on 10.17.02

Most Imaginary Moments:

Imaginary in Tablet!
Opening Tablet newspaper and finding that local artist – no, amazing local artist – Randy Wood had immortalized us, in comic form. I think we collectively took an entire trees worth of newspapers to send home to our Moms.

Imaginary on the Radio:
So I returned from my Spain trip and was spending a week with my folks in Florida, when I got an email from Marlene, telling me she had just heard (the ever-awesome) Sean Nelson talking about Three Imaginary Girls with (the ever-cutie) Drew Victor during his Audioasis. Sigh and pitter patter. What a thrill (and what a great welcome back into the country!)

Death Cab for Snooty
As you might recall, one of our pre-Death Cab for Cutie Bumbershoot performance activities was to approach a couple of guys in the beer garden who we mistook for two members of DCFC. Two months later a co-worker mentioned that he saw my picture on his friend's website. He sent me the link and low and behold, there we were, with the caption: These girls approached me in the beer garden. They thought--no shit--that I was "Ben" from "Seattle Indie Legends" Death Cab for Cutie. I always suspected I looked like a rock star. See, I told you they were snooty!

Best Live Cover Song:

Goddamnit I love it when bands throw in a good live cover! I am sure that now, while I'm trying to recall my favorite, I am inadvertently overlooking some really, really good ones. But this is what I remember at this point, in no particular order...

Saeta covering the Magnetic Fields' "Grand Canyon"

The Malinks covering Bell Biv Divoe's "Poison"

Loveless covering Dramarama's "Anything, Anything"

Robyn Hitchcock covering the Psychdelic Furs' "The Ghost in You"

Beck covering the Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize?"

Carissa's Wierd covering Morrissey's "Suedehead"

Sleater Kinney covering The Doors "Hello I Love You"

OK, so I had a hard time sticking with the limit of three...

OK I choose...

Earlimart covering Wire's "Strange"

Ryan Adams covering Bryan Adams' "Summer of '69" {hee hee} - sidenote: that Ryan Adams is out of control. First he's picking a fight with Rhett Miller, now with Jack White (White Stripes). I don't like this Noel/Liam Gallagher thing he's doing one bit.

M. Ward covering David Bowie's "Let's Dance"

Best to watch for in 03

OK, so at the risk of sounding incredibly predictable (again), can I just insert my vote again for:

Hypatia Lake, please? Thank you.

And as ever, Drew Victor and Passing Friends

... and Visqueen.

And thanks to a special imaginary friend, I have a an advance copy of this amazing up-coming on Sub Pop release called Postal Service. It's Dntel (aka Jimmy Tamborello) and Death Cab cutie Ben Hibbard on vocals. electronica CD (due out on Sub Pop this spring). It's dreeaamy good. As our representative of the indie-elektro community, Imaginary Boy Jason explained, "Jimmy and Ben worked on a track on Dntel's last album ("Life is full of Possibilites") and it appears they got along well enough to write an album together."

There, that's three (and then some). Liz, the rest is on you.

I second those, and wish to add:

Terror Sheets (first full length due out on Sad Robot, coming soon!)

Also, I know they're already signed and released, but I'm looking forward to hearing more from Okkervil River. Their 2002 release was on my top 10 list (but I was only able to list three here... the horror)

And another signed and released group, LA's Earlimart (who just rocked my little world opening for Rhett Miller this month).

Best Already Released International Album To Be Released in the US (and Immediately Purchased) in 03:

Ahh, this is easy...

Idlewild The Remote Part

Hoggboy Or8

Beth Gibbons Out of Season

Right. What she said. As I always say, never take an Imaginary Liz recommendation lightly...

2002 Sensations that We Don't Get

You know how sometimes there can be a band and everyone just loves it and you listen and are just like... um. Hmm. Now the Girls don't usually like to complain... but I have just two words to say. Coldplay. Yes, Coldplay. I don't get it. I didn't like "Yellow" and I haven't really liked anything since. I don't hate them... I just don't get it. I must be missing an essential chromosome on my Britpop gene helix. Oh well.

This might earn me a whole buncha indie-wrath... but I'm going to have to fess up to Ugly Casanova. Don't like 'em. I know, I know. Next thing you know I will confess my dislike for Sleater-Kinney and then it will all be over.

Best Three New Things Around Seattle We Wouldn't Want to Enter '03 Without

How many ways do we love this great city? But a few noteworthy mentionables...

Wireless internet access at the newly reopened Green Cat Cafe and Top Pot donuts.

Chop Suey, for great shows in our hood (read as: no need to park downtown)

Randy Wood sponsored One Night Only.

For awesome arty original clothes, Damsel Collective and Dumb Clothing

Karaoke at the Comet and Twilight Exit with Steve

Half price after 11pm Wasabi Bistro sushi.

And of course and most importantly, all of the readers, supporters, and contributors to Three Imaginary Girls. Ya'll better stick around for 03; it's gonna be the year to be imaginary...

Hey kids! It's the end of '02, so welcome to the first ever Imaginary Recap. Hold onto your seats kids, it's gonna be a bumpy year-long ride of favorite, in triplicate. Because the best things always happen in threes (ho ho ho...)

{And yes, we have included shameless promotion links to our affliated Insound and Amazon affiliate programs, where you can listen or buy. So sue us. Or buy something, and help us support our excessive web page habits...}