Emo, punk, and post-hardcore at its best. 

The Early November has a new self-titled album, The Early November, ready for listeners to consume. The New Jersey natives offer up an album that’s easy to listen to and boasts universal appeal. There are early 2000s vibes, with plenty of melodic chord progressions to make the music emotive, but the peppy beat works to keep the songs punchy. A quick tap of the “play” button blasts “The Empress” in its highly polished form, a clean track with quality recording. It opens with a strong, solid beat, compelling instrumentals, and vocals that perfectly align with the music’s appealing melody. “The Magician” flows effortlessly from “The Empress,” the music featuring plenty of slow spots to focus on the lyrics and vocals before returning to its fast-paced beat. As with “The Empress,” “The Magician” also follows a more melodic chord progression. 

As the album continues, songs like “About Me” showcase The Early November’s musical talent, each instrument on point and the vocals in perfect sync. At this point on the album, The Early November has one cohesive sound from track to track, something listeners can appreciate. Until “What We Earn” enters the chat. Although there are underpinnings of previous songs, such as the somewhat emo vocals, the track’s overall quality is vastly different. It’s a heavy song, laced with brooding lyrics and plenty of distorted guitars. But the music is just getting started. 

“The Fool,” for example, more closely follows The Early November’s previous sound on the album, its overall feel lighter as opposed to the sharp juxtaposition of “What We Earn.” Waffling between sounds keeps listeners looking for more, and The Early November definitely delivers. But, just as The Early November experimented with “What We Earn,” “The Dirtiest Things” takes another unexpected detour, infusing pop punk with electropop. The entire album is entertaining and complete with the work of a talented group of individuals, the band’s sound eclectic and ever-evolving. And with more than 20 years under its belt, The Early November shows no signs of slowing down in its creativity.