Earlimart: Treble and Tremble : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Los Angeles rockers Earlimart have dedicated their second full-length to departed friend Elliott Smith, and his impact is felt in nearly every moment of Treble & Tremble -- from the breathy, detached vocals to the lyrics that intertwine the themes of death, grief and miscommunication. This dedication threatens to become a burden when Earlimart's homage occasionally hems a little too close to imitation. But, overall, this ethereal album is a masterful, layered collection that builds on the contradiction between temporal fragility and an indelible strength. The deftly controlled production, by singer Aaron Espinoza and Grandaddy's Jim Fairchild, further instills an environment that creates distance and evokes loss, but is beautiful nonetheless. Soft piano, shimmering atmospherics and plaintive guitar lines makes gorgeous melodies like "Tell the Truth Pt. 1, Tell the Truth Pt. 2" soar, while "All They Ever Do Is Talk" is a cold slice of reality, reminding that "nothing hurts until it's gone."