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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Hymn and Her
by Earlimart


9.0

based on 11 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 2 votes
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Official Artist Site

Aaron Espinoza and Ariana Murray return with this follow-up to last year's "Mentor Tormentor."

LABEL:	Shout Factory
RELEASE DATE:	01 July 2008
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Rock, Indie, Pop

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Los Angeles Times

Releasing another full-length effort less than a year later is unusual, but the accelerated pace might account for the infusion of freshness that makes Hymn and Her so arresting.

Filter

The duo might just be a match made in heaven, as Hymn and Her is one of the most cohesive two-voiced albums in recent history. [Summer 2008, p.94]

All Music Guide

It's ideal music for headphones, where the clever production can reveal all of its layers.

Billboard

Although little on Hymn and Her finds Earlimart venturing into new territory, there's a familiarity felt throughout that remains comforting, and sometimes that's just enough.

Paste Magazine

The record as a whole projects an expected self-awareness, yes, but the songs are refreshing enough for even the most discerning of Earlimart junkies.

Alternative Press

They're at their best, though, on moodier fare like the suitably hymn-like 'God Loves You The Best,' with a Beatlesque snatch of orchestration fit for their old buddy Elliot Smith. [Sug 2008, p.170]

Pitchfork

Rather than fully implementing Earlimart Phase Two, as they have hinted, the duo is still dressing up the same minimally satisfying ditties in ruffly fuzz; its still scrupulously orchestrating the same kinds of songs that appear on simpler, better Earlimart records.

Prefix Magazine

Make no mistake, though--the music of Hymn and Her is good, and the songs are almost always uniformly excellent examples of finely-honed pop songcraft. But when each excellent song sounds just like the slow, rainy Sunday pulse of a track that just preceded it, well, a few less hymns and a few more songs for rocking are in order.

Spin

Earlimart's sixth full-length doesn't break new ground -- those Elliott Smith comparisons will keep on coming -- or approach the sublime sexiness of fellow Los Angelenos Rilo Kiley. But it's an undeniably solid set of droney hooks.

Under The Radar

The songs are well-crafted, no doubt, but they feel oddly rote. [Summer 2008, p.82]

Slant Magazine

Unfortunately, there is nothing here that they haven't done before with more attractive results.

The average user rating for this album is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Mark S. gave it an8:
Consistent throughout is always a good thing, and this relaxed sounding but somewhat neo-folkadelically depressed duo have struck out like a concerned Citizen Genêt on Ritalin and entered the realm of Cali-Boho minor-key perfection.

Pedro E. gave it a10:
One more time, Earlimart have done an emotional grenade of sound that impacts every single heart with a pound of sensibility inside it. Ariana Murray really has improve herself and Aaron Espinoza keeps delivering fine and classy strings harmonies that makes Earlimart, one of the most elegant and refined sounds in indie pop this days. Unbelievable that they haven't been signed by a major yet. Earlimart are sooo under rated! Sad, sad, world.

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Hymn and Her by Earlimart

Hymn and Her
by Earlimart