Earlimart - Kingdom of Champions (CD)

All Music Guide

Earlimart dishes out a serving of feel-good power punk on Kingdom of Champions. There's no preachy emo amidst these crunched-up, guitar-driven tunes. From the opening pogo pop of "Are You Pickin' up What I'm Layin' Down?" to the twisty, wigged-out anthem "Leprachauns Can Really Fuck You Up," Earlimart carves out a niche for themselves as Weezer's demonic little troublemaking cousin. Just listen to the hot and bothered "Eileen," where Aaron gasps, "those high heels, those hot pants," and anyone will get the picture. But don't expect Kingdom of Champions to be all jokes and antics. "Don't Peek" chugs ominously like Jawbox, "Dead on the Dance Floor" is a dark and repetitive eulogy, and "Tell Me How to Rock, I'm Not From Here" shuffles like something from the Deal sisters. Where other bands strictly confined by the pop-punk genre would stick to upbeat, fast-paced grooves, Earlimart defies genre in a way like the Pixies: by creating a unique and multifaceted planet of sound. With the slow, ...lullaby jangle of "Kingdom of Champions of Bellies" and the thrash noise of "Cabin Fever" together on the same album, Earlimart proves to have a range that eclipses their peers. - Charles Spano, All Music Guide Read more Less