I’m pretty much big fan of double-disc albums. Or triple-disc for that matter. I think the reason these types often end up so good, is because they’re often treated as epic, kind of a once in a lifetime opportunity to do something special. I don’t know if many artists have ever release more than one double disc album…. Hmm. I’m too lazy to google that.
The first disc, “The Mechanic” is more or less the typical Early November you may be used to. Some of the highlights on this disc are “Decoration” and “Outside”. Most of these tracks, comparably, are heavier, more Rock tunes.
“The Mother” diverges a little bit off the typical emo template. It opens with a short, sweet piano ballad; “My Lack of Skill”. . There are a lot more acoustic songs on this disc, my favorite of which is “Little Black Heart”. The last song on the disc “1000 Times a Day” is a nice song, with a cool guitar riffs, and a cool story to tell, but some of the lyrics seemed forced at times.
Finally, “The Path”. This is a really interesting story. The whole disc is divided between faux-therapy sessions and songs representing the thoughts of the subjects. It tells the story of a young man who was raised by his grandparents and led to believe his real parents were his aunt and uncle, because his parents were not ready for the responsibility. He eventually goes to live with his real parents, only to repeat the same mistakes of his father. There are a lot of different, very introspective songs on this disc. For example, “Guess What” is a banjo-backed argument that takes place right when the subject finds out who his real parents are. My favorite line is “Guess what, we’re your parents, and we’re gonna have a great time.” Other songs include a ragtime/barroom coming-of-age banter- “We’re Finding Something Out”, and a bluesy “You Don’t Know What it’s Like”, which kind of reminds me of the elderly folk tale, you know, “Uphill both ways in the snow with no shoes and sabres chasing me…”
The Early November have put out a very earnest effort with this latest release. This may not go down in history books, but this was a very bold decision to make, especially considering that they are not terribly famous yet. Old fans will definitely enjoy this record, and new fans will appreciate it, if nothing more.
