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Mentor Tormentor Image
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 7 Ratings

  • Summary: The Los Angeles band's follow-up to their 2004 release, Treble & Tremble.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 14
  2. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. Under The Radar
    80
    Mentor Tormentor stands as a testament to Espinoza's growth and resilience. [Summer 2007, p.73]
  2. In the mesmerizing, disturbing dream that is Mentor Tormentor, Espinoza and Murray wrap their sweetly uneasy voices around misty melodies, while the deceptively sophisticated production reinforces the sense of uncertainty.
  3. 'Cold Cold Heaven,' the 15th--and last and best--track on "Mentor Tormentor is the kind of cozy hymnal Earlimart does best: a wash of strings, the major-key wail.
  4. Mentor Tormentor is lovely in that it is a balanced album in terms of style and tone, never verging too far into the sickeningly sweet.
  5. The album's midsection gets bogged down in songs that sound too similar: more lovely piano, more soft cooing, too many gimmicky studio effects.... To Espinoza's credit, he gets Mentor Tormentor back on track.
  6. Newcomers to Earlimart will surely be lured in by Mentor Tormentor's seductive and, yes, absolutely frickin' beautiful sound, while longtime fans, depending on their expectations, will either passively embrace the familiarity or pine for some new ideas.
  7. These days, the group creates reasonable facsimiles of utter tedium.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. FrankL.
    Sep 10, 2007
    10
    Excellent release!! Earlimart comes through again. I love every song on it. Met them at Joe's pub in the city, wonderful human beings Excellent release!! Earlimart comes through again. I love every song on it. Met them at Joe's pub in the city, wonderful human beings and musicians. Expand
  2. JCC.
    Aug 29, 2007
    8
    A silky smooth album with obvious nods to Elliott Smith and The Posies. A welcome return.
  3. RLB
    Sep 25, 2007
    8
    Earlimart's a band that makes great records and puts on outstanding shows. Saw them open for Son Volt and became instantly hooked. Earlimart's a band that makes great records and puts on outstanding shows. Saw them open for Son Volt and became instantly hooked. Mentor is an enjoyable listen, especially for a crisp fall afternoon. Expand