The Mother, The Mechanic, And The Path Review

Release Date: Jul 11, 2006
Label: Drive-Thru
Genres: Indie Rock, Emo
Number Of Tracks: 46
With the ambitious triple-disc endeavor of The Mother, The Mechanic And The Path, the Early November have either made or broken their career.

Sound:	8.5
Lyrics:	9
Impression:	9.5
Overall rating:	9
Users rating:	9.8
Comments:	16

overall: 9.7

Featured review by: unregistered, on july 19, 2006

Sound: A giant step forward for the emo/indie band whose last album "The Room's Too Cold" in 2003 was more of an appetizer. For fans like me who've waited three years for another album, it was worth the wait. Enders' visionary 46 track saga spans three discs and tells the story of a boy, with an extremely overbaring father, growing up and leaving home. When he has his own kid, he swears to be nothing like his father, but eventually falls into the hole. Listen to it more than once, and make sure to listen with headphones. It's a whole different experience. // 9

Lyrics and Singing: Ace Enders is seriously one of the best singers of his genre. Not only can he write meaningful, and sometimes, inspiring lyrics. He conveys them with all of the emotion that they are supposed to instill. The song "Little Black Heart" 'It's my life. I might as well live it. Along with the bad times. Just happy to be living.' // 10

Impression: Combine the impressive, full-on indie rock of the Mother, with the stripped down, blues feel of the Mechanic and the 'not-quite' rock-opera of the path and you get a concept album that takes you on an amazing journey into the psyche of a broken man. Akin to some of the concept albums of the '70s (now I'm not comparing The Early November to, say, Pink Floyd. But still it's a great album and worth a listen). // 10

overall: 8.3

Reviewed by: Johan_P, on november 02, 2006

Sound: With a rather more pop-influenced then emo-influenced sound, Early November made The Mother, the Mechanic and the Path. It's a quite album different compared to their older works, and you can hear quite a lot of sides of the bands musical styles, listening trough the 46 tracks, you'll notice trough these. The album isn't "emo" at all, it's more of an alternative/indie-album, and Early November shows that they've grown a bit. The problem I find with this album is that there isn't any song that stands out (notice, the whole CD3 stands out, but I'm thinking of tracks in CD1 and CD2). In "For all of This" there's "We Write the Wrong", and in "The Room's too Cold" there's "Something That Produces Results," but in this album, I can't find any particullary track that I like the most, everyone's in a "standard" with nothing that stands out, atleast for me. // 8

Lyrics and Singing: Ace have done a great job writing and performing these tracks. The story that your being told trough-out the album, is amazing - be sure to listen trough it! I like that they piched down the tellers voice, great addition to the album, and it certainly brings a better atmosphere. // 8

Impression: The first CD delivers a upbeat and more full-on pop/indie sound then the two following, as they completes the 3-disk album with a more bluesy feel. The last CD is about a boys life from his youth to becomming an grown-up. He swore that he wouldn't become as his father, but kind of fell into the trap. I almost want to say that the last CD is the best of them, but comparing them the same was is not the best way of reviewing this CD, I think. So, all CD's are great, but my favourite is the last one, yet, I still like the other two as well. The first CD is the most easy-listned. // 9

Comments

[XacrossXwatersX]

Hmm, interesting... 46 tracks? Wow, that'll take me forever to get through >.<

Sounds cool, though. I'll have to pick it up at some point.

[Xerothunder]

This review was taken almost directly out of the AP Warped Tour issue...

[GumbyEater]

don't let the outrageously gay music video fool you, this is actually a very interesting album and quite worth a listen.

[myvaliantleap]

GumbyEater wrote:

don't let the outrageously gay music video fool you, this is actually a very interesting album and quite worth a listen.

I thought the music video grabbed my attention, although I heard "Hair" along time ago and have been waiting for this record(s)to come out.

[crash_course]

GumbyEater wrote:

don't let the outrageously gay music video fool you, this is actually a very interesting album and quite worth a listen.

yeah i was struck with a wtf when i saw taht video i mean ive seen an earleri video by the early november and i liked it but "hair" was something different the solo was something i wasnt expecting tho

XacrossXwatersX wrote:

Hmm, interesting... 46 tracks? Wow, that'll take me forever to get through >.<

Sounds cool, though. I'll have to pick it up at some point.

It's a triple album. I was like :o! I didn't know it was out yet either. =X

[The Demiurge]

triple album emo/indie wtf sounds great but emo/indie sounds a bit likethe killers to me what are they like never heard of them b4

[crzycellofromca]

the album is awesome! and if you dont like the their popier sound, most of the rest of the cd does not sound as poppy as hair. Definitely listen to the last track on the mechanic.

[WhereArtEsteban]

this entire cd is a masterpiece its just so good, ace enders is just a complete genious when it comes to song writing.

[[NIN]_ROCK!]

Got mine today and I start to wonder.....why are Fall Out Boy in the top while bands like The Early November actually have LOTS of talent and write some really interesting and original music?.....anyways, go get this trible beauty today, every song is brilliant and no, "Hair" is not gay, just open your mind, guys. Rock On!

[sev945]

i waited forever for a new cd by them since i heard deceration a year or so before
can't wait to get it and it's also cheap
always read the lyrics they have good meanings even if you have to think about it

[JoelBrown]

Yeah this CD(s) was/were great! The early november changed a bit with the lyrics, but still have that same touch i love, the songs to look for are "Hair", "decoration", and "I want to hear you sad". Those songs were great!

[yosefgamble]

I love this album, I listened to it over and over and the story in the path section is so good and meaningful. I love it.

[themetalpunk913]

this has to be the best cd that i own, i heard that their new guitarist actually wrote a lot of the stuff in collaboration with ace, they really outdid theirselves. its going to be hard for them to top it

[newfoundmichael]

I got Aces autograph this summer at Warped tour and he autographed the cd for me. Not only was he a great guy in person, this new cd is rated at the top of my list for 2006.

[dbryndel]

Anything that Ace does is usually amazing. He has def. made a staple in the indie/emo rock music forever. This album is also going to show what the band is all about. Amazing album and amazing story! Keep it up!