The Early November Album: “Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path”

"The Mechanic" is the first of a rare three-disc concept album offering from The Early November. The music on here is good enough for the CD to stand alone as a great rock release, so combine that with two other CDs and you got an outstanding deal.

"Money In His Hand" kicks the journey off featuring an infectious chorus (as do several of the other songs on this disc). "No Good At Saying Sorry (One More Chance)" is probably the second single and the band's best shot at landing a radio hit. The verses are moody and introspective and the rock-ballad chorus provides the most memorable sequence you'll hear on this album. "This Wasn't Our Plan" rocks a bit harder than the rest with an excellent guitar riff and a sound that's similar to that of Jimmy Eat World.

An early favorite for me was "Long Talks," where Ace Enders' vocals expel a sincerity that make his songs that much more memorable. On this song, again, the band shows its ability to craft strong choruses as well as anyone in the genre. The chorus on "Outside" harkens back to Lit during their golden days, and "The Car In 20" steers The Early November close to today's MTV emo staples such as Hawthorne Heights (though TEN definitely stands out a level above most bands in the increasingly ambiguous emo genre).

"The Mother" is the second disc despite being mentioned first in the album's title. Generally, this disc is much more mellow than the first, displaying the band branching out a bit from the traditional rock sound. The happy "A Little More Time" takes cues from The Get Up Kids and The New Amsterdams. Influences from Ace's project I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business are first heard on "Little Black Heart," where having a delicate voice that teeters on cracking is an art form ala indie/folk golden boy Conor Oberst.

"Hair" is the quirky first single that may have confused fans as to how the album would sound like. Despite the sound and opening bit, this song has just as much meaning as any other song on this record. "1000 Times A Day" ends this disc with a story of young love that some will adore and others will label juvenile.

The third disc is "The Path," a record that clearly tells the story of a man who had negligent parents only to grow up to make mistakes as they did. Instructions on the disc suggest to "Please listen with headphones," and I agree. This is the type of CD to listen to straight through the first time. The story told here makes the meaning of the songs on the first two discs clear in terms of their place on this concept album. This disc basically consists of tracks with dialogue backed with music and songs that take you along the journey. The best traditional song on here is the heartbreaking "Never Coming Back," dealing with the main character's loss of his grandmother.

"The Mechanic" is easily the best disc, but that doesn't mean I won't be able to listen to all three discs without pressing the skip button. Some may be quick to label "The Path" as a throwaway disc, but I find that that disc adds quite a lot of value to the concept album feel. There's nothing too original on these three discs, but it's executed so well that I regard it as the best album I've heard this year.

I was somewhat familiar with The Early November. Sure, they are a good emo-band, and their 2003 debut album "The Room's Too Cold" was ok, but I was very surprised by this album, the band's second release (issued in July 2006).

"The Mechanic, The Mother and The Path" (3 CDs, 46 songs, 133 min.) is that rarest of things: a release of a triple studio album, wow, when was the last time that happened? CD1 "The Mechanic" (11 tracks, 41 min.) is the Early November is their familiar setting, bringing straight-forward rock-emo songs, and there are many highlights, including "The Rest of My Life" and "Money In His Hand". CD2 "The Mother" (11 tracks, 41 min.) brings a more stripped-down version of their sound, albeit the songs still jump out at you here and there. Things definitely take a left turn on CD3 "The Path" (24 songs, 51 min.), which brings a mix of mostly short accoustic songs intermixed with 9 spoken pieces (the story line being a son and his therapist or something like that). The last CD is a bridge too far.

While completely different in sound, this release reminds me of the Smashing Pumpkins "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" double-album it its creative reach. The "Mechanic" and "Mother" CDs resonate greatly, but the Early November's singer-songwriter Ace Enders over-reaches on the 3rd CD, which simply does not flow well and goes on too long. That said, props for the audacity to release a 3CD studio album. This release sure isn't for everyone, but I really enjoyed CDs 1 and 2.

Being a Jersey native that was once heavy in the scene when i was a teen, I listened to The Early November when they were first signed to drive-thru at the end of my scenester years. They were the kind of band that created honest emotional and melodic music that could bridge the gap of pop-rock, emo, indie, and folk that still is hardly done in the talentless pool that is the scene.

Their EP was (and i still think) the only good ep to come out of Drive Thru Records with simple yet thoughtful songwriting that had beginner guitarists strumming along acoustically. Their move to a more pop oriented and less genuine sound on the room is too cold pretty much made me lose all hope in them. While Ace still shows he is a great underrated song writer, i think that he is just much greater than that record.

Then came I can make a mess like it's nobodys buisness (ace's "solo" project) which i thought was brilliant. An overall genious record despite its throw together feel. Ace just sounds so much better when stripped down and put acoustic with a few choice instruments.

So when i heard they were coming out with a triple cd, i had mixed feelings. I knew that Ace wanted to mix his sound up knowing that the sound that the room is too cold had didnt satisfy him by itself (which i agree). Enter the long enduring record that is The Mechanic, The mother, and the path.

The triple starts off with the Mechanic, a painfully cliche pop record ala The room is too cold. If you loved that record then you will love the mechanic. The problem lies in its pure basicness. Plain, overly produced and "mechanic" music that you've heard over and over. One thing Ace has realized is his niche in making huge sweeping choruses that will easily remind you of Mae's everglow cd. But as with Mae's cd, when every single song on The Mechanic has almost identical sounding sweeping choruses, it gets pretty old fast if you are looking for originality. I think alot of praise will be given to this cd from the generic pop lover and scenester crowd, but when it comes down to it, TEN is much better than this cd.

Ok so now you're saying, why did you rate this set 4 stars when you totally bombed its "main" disk. well thats simple, The mother and the path are genious..The mother is a much lighter, fun, soft, and genuine feeling cd that recalls some early TEN ep years as well as a little I Can Make a Mess... from start to finish this is the kind of cd that you play on those long summer drives where you just want to relax. Where The Mechanic made you play air guitar, The Mother keeps your fingers tapping along. From the poppy single Hair, to the ambitious 1000 times a day, It's a genuine good cd.

Now the Path is easily a work of art, I really cant understand how anyone can discredit this cd. Without it i think it would of made the 2 cds just another double disk with the feeling of songs just thrown together, The Path is the connector to the 2 drawing the story to a close, and helping you understand the bigger picture. The "sessions" as they are called, are recordings of Ace acting out therapy sessions for the now grown boy that represents the path. They are told very emotionally with equally good instrumentals to back them up. in between the sessions are fitting full length i can make a mess style songs as well as mini one minute interpretive songs that go along with the boys life as told through the sessions. The idea works out wonderful having in itself a soundtrack of sorts to accompany the cds.

In the end this cd I think encompasses all that is Ace Enders, singer of The Early November. It showcases what he can do, what he will do, and what he has done. It isnt until you fully sit through all 3 records with an open mind that you can appreciate what each one brings to the table and what each is trying to accomplish. Sure there are way too many songs on this album, but its the price of one. sure this encompasses so many styles that the average little 16 year old that its targeted to wont like half of them, but it just shows that Ace is meant for more than this tired and generic scene.

the mechanic- 2.5/5

the mother- 4.5/5

the path- 4.5/5

11.5/ 15

4 stars.

So, I'm sure when most people heard that it was a triple disk concept album they were a little iffy about the new album, not to mention all of the hubub surrounding the band and the long wait for the album, but it is amazing. The sound is definatly different, but by different I only mean way more mature and well rounded. After hearing I Can Make A Mess's album I was very pumped for this album, and it is definatly in the vein of I Can Make a Mess. Altogether very amazing. It's a must have.

After a staggering number of delays, The Early November's best album to date has finally arrived. Citing inspirations such as the films "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "The Matrix," singer/songwriter Ace Enders has crafted an amazing triple album that features memorable melodies and introspective lyrics. Taking a cue from past greats such as The Clash's London Calling, Enders and crew tackle nearly every genre of music from straight ahead rock to alt-country.

The best disc and most "Early November-like" album is definately The Mechanic. Anyone who has ever liked The Early November will instantly love this album. The songs featured are logical progressions from the band's 2003 effort The Room's Too Cold, - boasting better melodies and instrumentation. The band rips through uptempo numbers such as "Money in His Hand" and slow it down for songs such as "Figure it Out" with the ease of a band who has played together for a lifetime. Each song is easily distinguishable from the other and contains a hook that will be stuck in your head for days. Standout tracks include "The Rest of My Life," "No Good at Saying Sorry," "Outside," and "Figure it Out."

The next disc, The Mother, features a much more intimate sound from Enders and company. The listener is instantly aware of this through the opener, "My Lack of Skill," which contains a simple piano accompaniment to Enders' plaintive lyrics about doubt and regret. The next song, "A Little More Time," sounds like the perfect summer driving song to play with the windows down on a sunny day. From the great verses to the chorus that you can't help but sing along to, this song may well be my favorite from any disc. A few tracks later, "Hair," a great choice for the first single, creates a Beatles-esque pop vibe with a great chorus, handclaps, and even a trombone solo. It is the addition of multiple instruments such as the trombone and french horn throughout the triple album that make it a much more organic and musically mature effort from The Early November. To avoid rambling on even more about this great disc, I will just say that it is a wonderful contrast to The Mechanic's tougher rock sound. If you are familiar with and enjoyed Enders' solo outfit I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business, then this disc will frequently find its way into your stereo. Be sure to check out "Driving South," "From Here to L.A.," and "The Truth Is."

The final disc, The Path, is a very ambitious story disc that features therapy sessions with short musical interludes (some are actual songs while others are mostly instrumental) in between to further progress the story. While this disc is ultimately unnecessary, it is an interesting companion to the other discs as it provides the background as to what many of the songs on The Mother and The Mechanic are about. The average person will only listen to this disc once, but be aware that there is a hidden gem in the song "Never Coming Back" which contains heartfelt lyrics and a beautiful french horn in the intro.

The Mother, The Mechanic, and The Path is what I always knew The Early November were capable of. With this album, they have completely transcended the pesky "emo" tag and Ace Enders has proven to all critics that he is not just another heart-on-sleeve emo songsmith. Hopefully this album will receive the attention that it deserves and find a place in every stereo of those who enjoy great music.