The album starts off with "Stain on the Carpet", a calm, melancholy tune that reintroduces the vocal abilities of Ace Enders, who contributed a great deal to the band's brilliant lyrical songwriting that was the primary catalyst for the success of the group in the first place. "Frayed In Doubt" picks back up the tempo to a more melodic, pop-punk style that sees the band dabbling in various degrees of instrumentation that are clearly reminiscent of some of the band's earlier material that fans grew to love almost immediately after hearing it. "Digital Age" is a stripped down, bare bones acoustic effort that shows Ace's remarkable voice and shows that when the band is shown in this form, they trigger a bigger emotional response than when there is a whole bunch of instrumentation put on top of a song. "Tell Me Why" starts out as another downtempo number, but then gradually builds up with more upbeat pop-punk rhythms that show the group is more than capable of dabbling in various degrees of tempos that make them a more well rounded group in the process.
We start off the album's second half with "Guilt & Swell", a varied, multi layered rocker that expresses the group's desire to touch the listener's life on in one way, shape, or form and make them come back for more each and every time. My favorite song off the disc is "That's Not Your Real Name" a beautiful, pleasant acoustic based number that sees Ace pushing his vocal abilities to new heights and allows all listeners to come on over and experience this song together as one, sort of like a campfire sing along with everyone singing together in harmony. Very well composed track that signifies the album's mission. "Like a Kid" brings the album back to its pop-punk roots with a thumping, almost aggressive sounding rocker that blends in Ace's distinct vocal harmonies and layered upon with distinct instrumentation that gives the album a homey and relaxed state of mind. "Wearing The Tie" starts to usher in the album's end with a momentous, uptempo tune that aims on a sharp, upward trajectory to ensure that the album ends much like the same way it began. "Call Off The Bells" closes everything out with a gem of a track that features acoustic based elements and Ace's charismatic and comforting vocal presence that sets everything in ease and makes you feel the same emotions that he felt when he was experiencing these events that took place in the song, a standout and authentic track that eases everything out perfectly. I started listening to The Early November back in 2005, and was immediately jolted by The Room's Too Cold and the authentic sound of the album that nearly threw me to the brink of tears because the songs were so crisp and refreshing, both in the songwriting and instrumentation departments that set them apart from their other contemporaries in the scene in their ability to transcribe emotion in songs so perfectly that everything else paled in comparison.
All in all, a solid and well thought out return to form for The Early November, who have made their way back onto the musical radar of listeners who wondered what happened to them and if they would ever come back. The latter question has been answered with a resounding yes.
Album Score: 3/5
Track Listing:
- A Stain on the Carpet
- Frayed in Doubt
- In Currents
- Digital Age
- Tell Me Why
- Close to You
- Guilt & Swell
- That's Not Your Real Name
- Like a Kid
- Smell of This Place
- Wearing a Tie
- Call Off the Bells
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