Earlimart have long been a favorite of mine so it was nice to have them return with their first album in four years. Once again, the duo did not disappoint with a little more experiemental album, but still at its core, the wonderful pop/rock they have down to a science. System Preferences comes in at #19 in my Best of 2012. My original review is below.
Favorite tracks: "A Goodbye", "U&Me", "Get Used To The Sound", "I'm A Safe Inside"
I've made this claim before, but it seems impossible to be a Grandaddy fan, as I am, and not also be a fan of Earlimart. I have Grandaddy to thank for introducing me to Earlimart's music when they opened for the Modesto band on their tour behind Sumday back in 2003. They've toured together and recorded together, culminating in 2010's Admiral Radley project when the duo of Aaron Espinoza and Ariana Murray teamed up with Grandaddy's Jason Lytle and Aaron Burtch for a full length album.
Now Espinoza and Murray return with their seventh full length album, and first since 2008, with System Preferences. I still don't know if Earlimart will ever top 2004's Treble & Tremble, it is their masterpiece as far as I am concerned, but the new one further confirms my belief the two simply cannot make a poor album. System Preferences combines everything admirers of the duo already love, the harmonies, the poppy melodies, the genuine lyrics, and adds some new elements to their sound as well. There's a dreamy echo to some of these songs, the first thing tracks like "U&Me" and "10 Years" reminded me of is more recent Beach House material.
There is more of an effort at experimentation on this album. "Internet Summer" is an insistent rock number and "Crestline, CA" is just one of a number of songs which incorporate electronic influences and odd sounds patched into their indie rock sound. A bouncy piano line carries "Shame", while the hushed acoustic guitar of "Sweater Weather" helps give the perfect audio representation of cooler temperatures. Along with the aforementioned "10 Years", Murray handles lead vocals on "Get Used To The Sound", continuing her string of excellent contributions to the duo's albums. Espinoza especially shines on the gorgeously sad ballad "A Goodbye", where a slightly tripped up drum beat powers the song underneath lovely piano work. The album closes with the equally stunning "Over Andover" which ends with Espinoza and Murray repeating 'over and over' while strings slowly build around them.
As much as I've enjoyed Earlimart's last two albums, they both tended to lose steam in the second half. System Preferences avoids that trap, there is not a skip-worthy track amongst its twelve songs. In fact, after living with it for about a week, it is in line to go down as their best since Treble & Tremble.
System Preferences was released on CD and vinyl October 16, 2012. It was released early as a download only on September 18 via their label, The Ship.
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