The Early November announce hiatus

About a week and a half ago, I was lucky enough to score some tickets to what looks to have been The Early November's final NYC show at Irving Plaza, though I didn't know it at the time. The band issued a statement Tuesday on their website announcing an "indefinite hiatus." But lest the rumor mill grind into motion, the official word is that there are no hard feelings:

We all love and care for one another tremendously. We're as close of friends as we have ever been and, as long as the five of us exist, we will continue to be so. This "hiatus" or "break" is just a result of time and life. As we grow older, priorities change. We've decided we need to take some time and see that life isn't all dirty rock clubs, rest stops at 2 am, and long distance phone calls. We have to be where we haven't been in the past six years; with our friends, family, and loved ones.

It's sad to see a good band go, but it's sadder to watch a good band go bad. Coming off a fantastic 3 CD record and a successful tour, with their last scheduled show at The Bamboozle for their hometown Jersey crowd, I respect their decision to go out on top. And I admire their commitment to their fans. At the show I saw, they played a set filled almost entirely by requests to a crowd that didn't want to let them leave the stage. I'll bet audiences at the remaining shows can expect similarly fond farewells. Especially in East Rutherford.

The Early November's remaining tour dates can be found here.

2006: Most Ambitious Record

Over the month of December I'll be posting some of my picks for superlative records/songs/artists of the year. Just like everyone else in the blog-o-world. Of course, none of these are worth any more than the electronic 1's and 0's they're comprised of, but nobody else lets that stop them and damned if I'm going to miss the party.

An easy one to start...

Most Ambitious Record:
The Early November's The Mother, The Mechanic, and The Path is a cohesive, focused collection of 3 CDs: The Mechanic is the rocker, The Mother is quieter, more pensive. And then there's The Path, which is...well it's really something. It's a narrative, it's a dialogue, it's a soundtrack, it even has a surprise ending(!).

In a scene increasingly plagued by uninspired soundalikes and over-applied guyliner, it was so refreshing to see The Early November try something completely insane. Is it a masterpiece? Nah, I don't think it could be called that. But it sure has its moments (some listed below). Highlights, lowlights and all, The Mother, The Mechanic, and The Path easily one of the most memorable releases in 2006.

Noteworthy highlights:
"No Good at Saying Sorry (One More Chance)"
"A Little More Time" (mp3, right click to download.)
"Decoration"
"Hair"
"1000 Times a Day"
"The Car In 20"
"Is It My Fault"
"Money In His Hand"

Watch out for TEN on the "Friends or Enemies Tour" beginning January '07 alongside Fall Out Boy, New Found Glory, and Permanent Me, and if you're around Jersey (where they're from) make sure you get yourself to the House of Blues in Atlantic City on December 27 for a special holiday show with Dave Mellilo and All Time Low.

The Early November @ myspace.