Early November, The / I Am the Avalanche [Split]

[Adrian Villagomez]

The Early November / I Am the Avalanche [Split]
Record Label: Drive-Thru Records
Release Date: July 26, 2005

Who?

Ace Enders and company made up The Early November, one of South Jersey’s most beloved bands in recent memory. Formed from the ashes of The Movielife are I Am the Avalanche, Long Island veteran Vinnie Caruana’s current project.

How is it?

Contributing two tracks each, it’s quite surprising The Early November disappoint with their opening couple. I usually embrace demos, or rough cuts of an album, so “Outside” was a promising prospect. As it turns out, the slightly annoying striking of keys is heard throughout, and the slower pace compared to the album version makes the song drag. I know, I know, this is only a demo, but as I stated, I usually love demos. “Ever So Sweet (Live from Philly)” is no more than a decent live recording, but at least it’s somewhat humorous; as soon as Enders compliments the crowd, ‘You guys sound great,’ an inopportune out of tune croon is heard coming from the background. On the flip side, I Am the Avalanche aren’t anything groundbreaking, but their music is well suited to the Long Island loyal. Their songs continue where Forty Hour Train Back to Penn left off, combining Caruana’s poppy vocals with the hardcore influenced musicianship of his band mates. “New Disaster” is the better of the two tracks and features some straightforward lyrics with a bit of imagery: ‘Well she said, she said / You’re so fucking irresistible / As she lowered her head / Into her hands / Guess it happened again.’

If you can spare a couple dollars to test out I Am the Avalanche, this release will get the job done, but fans of The Early November need not apply.

The Early November b-sides, a taste of Vinnie Caruana
myspace.com/theearlynovember (http://www.myspace.com/theearlynovember)
myspace.com/iamtheavalanche (http://www.myspace.com/iamtheavalanche)

[newfoundmichael]

I am a huge TEN fan, but you're right, this wasn't all that great.

[Adrian Villagomez]

I am a huge TEN fan, but you're right, this wasn't all that great.I bought this split specifically for TEN, but ended up listening to I Am the Avalanche way more. And "Outside" is one of the best tracks on TEN's triple disk, but this demo version lags way behind the album version.

[anamericangod]

I like the live version of Ever So Sweet a lot actually. I'm fairly certain the out of tune croon is Ace himself.

[Adrian Villagomez]

I like the live version of Ever So Sweet a lot actually. I'm fairly certain the out of tune croon is Ace himself.I've heard much better from these guys. And I'm not a big fan of hearing the crowd during a song, given certain exceptions.

[newfoundmichael]

Yeah I'm the same way...but "Ever So Sweet" is just a song that the crowd is going to sing along to when it is played. Hell, in the three times that I saw them I sang every word of every song at the top of my lungs...no shame here!

[Greg Dona]

If it's in this genre and I know it, then you know it's old.

[Grizzlybear]

saying i am the avalanche has any hardcore aspect to it at all is fucking ridiculous. and this came out two years ago. and i am the avalanche is great. horrible review.

[Holly HoX!]

this is a wack ass review. first off this isn't a good description of IATA if anyone if hearing of them for the first time. there is nothing hardcore about them. if anything they are a pop-punk influence that also has for hints of indie. this band is amazing and vinnie is one of the best singer/lyricist out there. their ablum is real, gritty, catchy and emotional. check out their full length and skip this snippet of the greatness that is i am the avalanche.

[(SceneNameHere)]

two years after the fact, a review for such a minor release... why?

[Adrian Villagomez]

Yeah I'm the same way...but "Ever So Sweet" is just a song that the crowd is going to sing along to when it is played. Hell, in the three times that I saw them I sang every word of every song at the top of my lungs...no shame here!Oh, yeah, singing along at shows is expected, don't get me wrong - I just don't really care to hear it.

If it's in this genre and I know it, then you know it's old.That's 'cause you're our hip-hop King.

saying i am the avalanche has any hardcore aspect to it at all is fucking ridiculous. and this came out two years ago. and i am the avalanche is great. horrible review.yeah, vinnie would think it's fucking ridiculous (http://www.givemestrength.net/zine/issue4/movielife.html) since he wasn't influenced by hardcore at all. and this came out two years ago. and i am the avalanche is great. terrible review.

this is a wack ass review. first off this isn't a good description of IATA if anyone if hearing of them for the first time. there is nothing hardcore about them. if anything they are a pop-punk influence that also has for hints of indie. this band is amazing and vinnie is one of the best singer/lyricist out there. their ablum is real, gritty, catchy and emotional. check out their full length and skip this snippet of the greatness that is i am the avalanche.I Am the Avalanche is country. Try not to explode.

two years after the fact, a review for such a minor release... why?Because I love how much people complain about my reviewing "old" releases. Brightens my day.

[MikeJCotugno]

what a stupid review. a split, for songs that were on both their albums afterwards.

[Adrian Villagomez]

what a stupid review. a split, for songs that were on both their albums afterwards."Ever So Sweet" is a song from The Room's Too Cold, which was released in 2003. The EP reviewed was released in 2005. Did The Early November go back in time after recording this split so that your use of "afterwards" in the second sentence doesn't make you look ignorant? Yes, quite possible.

And yes, it's against natural law, I can't review anything released longer than a month ago.

[OveriseFan]

I'm not a big fan of the review, but not because I'm picky about genres (IATA do have hardcore influences, if you don't think so, you're an idiot.) or because it's old, but because I feel the review, like the EP, lacks depth. Maybe that was the intention, or maybe it's hard to have depth on a four song split EP, especially when one of the songs is a live recording of an old song. The review is just a little bland, but as stated, it's a four song split EP, which gives you little room to discuss each band.

Decent review for what you had to work with.

[Alex DiVincenzo]

TEN's half was definitely disappointing, but they were only put on there so people would buy it and discover IATA.

Yeah, lackluster review though.

[Adrian Villagomez]

I'm not a big fan of the review, but not because I'm picky about genres (IATA do have hardcore influences, if you don't think so, you're an idiot.) or because it's old, but because I feel the review, like the EP, lacks depth. Maybe that was the intention, or maybe it's hard to have depth on a four song split EP, especially when one of the songs is a live recording of an old song. The review is just a little bland, but as stated, it's a four song split EP, which gives you little room to discuss each band.

Decent review for what you had to work with.Finally, something I can work with.

Could you possibly be more specific about the blandness of this review? Perhaps it's because IATA (the new songs) didn't get as much attention? Like you mentioned, this EP was probably more about TEN, which is why the focus was on their effort. Plus, a once over is to give the reader a general idea about the release, not intricate details.

Still, I'm sure this could have been better. Throw some suggestions out if you have them.

[OveriseFan]

Finally, something I can work with.

Could you possibly be more specific about the blandness of this review? Perhaps it's because IATA (the new songs) didn't get as much attention? Like you mentioned, this EP was probably more about TEN, which is why the focus was on their effort. Plus, a once over is to give the reader a general idea about the release, not intricate details.

Still, I'm sure this could have been better. Throw some suggestions out if you have them.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of these short-sweet-reviews. But then again, I don't think the EP is appropriate for review anyhow.

I mean, you basically talk about how the demo and live song of TEN's is disappointing, and how IATA is awesome. It almost seems like this short-review could be an introduction to a review of IATA's full-length, you know? Talk about how you discovered them.

I'll try to think of some ways to improve upon this review, but like I said, you did a nice job with what you had to work with (a pretty bad split EP, that doesn't even have 'new' material really...)

[MikeJCotugno]

"Ever So Sweet" is a song from The Room's Too Cold, which was released in 2003. The EP reviewed was released in 2005. Did The Early November go back in time after recording this split so that your use of "afterwards" in the second sentence doesn't make you look ignorant? Yes, quite possible.

And yes, it's against natural law, I can't review anything released longer than a month ago.

Holy shit, you are witty. Was "Outside" not on TEN's last album which was released in 2006, a year AFTER this split? I said "a split, for songs that were on both their albums afterwards." At least one of each band's songs made it to their subsequent albums, so please don't try to make it seem like I had no idea what I was talking about.

The fact of the matter is, it seems like this would have been a moot subject considering IATA put both their songs from the split on their self-titled, and "Outside" sounds much better on The Mother. The split was obviously released to build hype for both bands upcoming albums, not to be bashed on 2 years later.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Personally, I'm not a big fan of these short-sweet-reviews. But then again, I don't think the EP is appropriate for review anyhow.

I mean, you basically talk about how the demo and live song of TEN's is disappointing, and how IATA is awesome. It almost seems like this short-review could be an introduction to a review of IATA's full-length, you know? Talk about how you discovered them.

I'll try to think of some ways to improve upon this review, but like I said, you did a nice job with what you had to work with (a pretty bad split EP, that doesn't even have 'new' material really...)Thanks for the input. Once over reviews aren't so bad. I know if I were a band, I'd rather have someone commit a once over review rather than no review at all.

Holy shit, you are witty. Was "Outside" not on TEN's last album which was released in 2006, a year AFTER this split? I said "a split, for songs that were on both their albums afterwards." At least one of each band's songs made it to their subsequent albums, so please don't try to make it seem like I had no idea what I was talking about.

The fact of the matter is, it seems like this would have been a moot subject considering IATA put both their songs from the split on their self-titled, and "Outside" sounds much better on The Mother. The split was obviously released to build hype for both bands upcoming albums, not to be bashed on 2 years later.I'm sure the split feels so good that you're defending it. Give it a tissue for me.

[Alex DiVincenzo]

I'm sure you'll just give me shit as well, which is fine, but you really need to calm down. Sure, people are gonna be dicks if they disagree with your review, but you need not be so immature about it.

[Adrian Villagomez]

I'm sure you'll just give me shit as well, which is fine, but you really need to calm down. Sure, people are gonna be dicks if they disagree with your review, but you need not be so immature about it.:jester:

Better?

[IATA4224]

Isn't this TWO years LATE? I thought the purpose of a review was to do it when the album/split comes out?

Guess I was wrong

[Adrian Villagomez]

Isn't this TWO years LATE? I thought the purpose of a review was to do it when the album/split comes out?

Guess I was wrongI wrote it just for you. :slutkiss:

[IATA4224]

I wrote it just for you. :slutkiss:

LOL..

I wasn't trying to be an asshole.. Honest

[CountMeOut923]

the ep doesn't do the avalanche justice. go see them live and you'll understand why they have such an insane fan base.

[TheBaroness]

Hahaah, Adrian's responses are priceless

[Name_Taken]

"Ever So Sweet" is a song from The Room's Too Cold, which was released in 2003. The EP reviewed was released in 2005. Did The Early November go back in time after recording this split so that your use of "afterwards" in the second sentence doesn't make you look ignorant? Yes, quite possible.

And yes, it's against natural law, I can't review anything released longer than a month ago.
:lol:

[OveriseFan]

the ep doesn't do the avalanche justice. go see them live and you'll understand why they have such an insane fan base.

They have an insane fan base?

[Waitingtofall4]

the acoustic version of i took a beating is such an amazing twist

[CountMeOut923]

They have an insane fan base?

indeed. quite crazy for a band that has just one album out.

[saysmydoctor]

I love TEN

[YOUAREtehSCENE]

Just got my copy from ebay today w00t! can't find it in stores anymore