It’s in the name. The Early November’s new album, Twenty is both an homage to their past and a beautiful snapshot of the present. Arriving (you guessed it) twenty years after the release of their debut EP, For All Of This, Twenty perfectly rides the line between nostalgia and now. It finds The Early November not just looking back at their history with b-sides from some of their fan-favorite records, but also finds them looking toward their future with a handful of new songs.
The ten songs that make up Twenty not only feel like classic The Early November songs (because many of them are) but more importantly, they feel well thought out and composed with care. Songs like the acoustic opener, “Trees”, driven by stunning vocal harmonies, will remind you why you fell in love with Ace Enders’ iconic voice to begin with, while the throwback emo-pop track, “Make It Happen” will likely take you back to going to house shows as a teenager and discovering new artists through Myspace.
The best thing about Twenty is just how effortless it feels. Old b-sides sit easily alongside new songs, and through the careful songwriting and production, you really can’t tell the difference between the two. Vulnerable new song, “The Sand” sits perfectly next to the powerful, “5am On Sunday,” which is a b-side from Lilac, which flows easily into “My Own Dialogue”, another new track.
Twenty proves that The Early November’s music will always have staying power. The ten songs that make up the album were crafted and chosen with care by Ace Enders and drummer Jeff Kummer, serving as a perfect celebration of the band’s storied career and an exciting look toward the future.