While it could be that Everyone Down Here has been a tad overhyped, it shouldn't be dismissed either. What we have here is a solid, no-frills rock group going from snails-pace folksy ballads to high-octane, distorted rockers (mostly the former). As other reviewers have noted, Earlimart cops a lot of other sounds, namely early-90s indie rock, but manage to make them their own in fine style.
I can understand the impulse to quip "instant classic" upon hearing the determined surging of tracks like "We Drink on the Job" and "Burning the Cow," but I'm inclined to think that if it weren't for the infusive keyboard trills deftly placed in the melodies, these songs might be somewhat forgettable. That's the thing with Everyone Down Here; it's the subtle little touches that lift the songs from their otherwise commonplace arrangements.
The first track is a nice highlight, featuring a sleepy creeper of a down-tempo melodic progression. It doesn't go anywhere, but it doesn't really need to either. Earlimart makes fine use of economic song-lengths and holds back where lesser bands would indulge in theatrics, so they definitely get kudos for restraint. Both "Lazy Feet 23" and "Dreaming Of..." recall recent Elliott Smith, but unfortunately these guys aren't quite up to par with the late great musician’s songwriting talents.
With all this in mind, I put this release in the same middling sort of category as Calla's Televised; heartfelt and purposeful, with an acute ear for interesting production techniques, but not distinctive enough so that it'd be something you're going to go to all that often.
1. We're So Happy (We Left the Piano in the Truck)
2. We Drink on the Job
3. The Movies
4. Lost at Sea
5.
6. Burning the Cow
7. Hospital
8. Lazy Feet 23
9. Big 'Ol Black
10. Dreaming Of..
11.
12. Night, Nite
More about: Earlimart
