Ace Enders and a Million Different People - The Secret Wars

[Gumbyjag]

Ace Enders and a Million Different People - The Secret Wars
Record Label: Regular Music
Release Date: June 13, 2008

Arthur "Ace" Enders has to be one of the most consistent musicians in music today. Churning out solid underground hits since the early days of the Early November nearly a decade ago, the self-made singer-songwriter extraordinaire still refuses to let up creating songs from heart-on-your-sleeve ballads to heart-in-your-back-pocket full-frontal rockers. Both are expressed fully through his newest project, the aptly-titled Ace Enders and a Million Different People. Early material has shown that good ol' Ace sticks to what he knows: an aural assault of down-to-earth tunes meant to be the soundtrack to car rides and long walks.

This is most evident on the collection of songs that make up The Secret Wars, a free, eight-track full-length released only by digital means. Consisting of mid-tempo sing-alongs, most notably the hopeful "Bring Back Love (Year 2020)," which ends the album on a high note. Careful to the start on the right track, Enders and his mob cue the pop-rock catchiness that is "Reaction." Middle-album highlights include "Red Eye," which finds Arturo exploring lower-register harmonies and even some short xylophone dirges, while the passionate "Motion" sees the youthful-sounding wailer stretch out some chords both vocally and acoustically.

The production value on The Secret Wars tends perfectly to Ace's style, accenting every pitch-change and ringing note the multi-instrumentalist produces. Fortunately, fans are not only treated with free music, but music of decent quality to boot. While not exactly meeting the listener's high-quality standard, the 160-kbps files provide a clear, crisp sound with headphones and stereo speakers alike.

Purveyors of the Early November's back catalog may still be mourning the loss of one of this generation's most-celebrated emo phenomena, but old fans have nothing to worry about. Your criminal mastermind has returned, albeit with the new henchmen. It's assembling wonderful ditties like this that should be a felony.

The Early November, I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business, The Starting Line
myspace.com/aceendersandamilliondifferentpeople (http://www.myspace.com/aceendersandamilliondifferentpeople )

[leifstar]

A 72%? That's harsh. I feel his vocals are amazing and much higher than a 6. Along with lyrics should be higher and the creativity score as well. Maybe I am just partial because I love him.

Anyways it is a great album. He never disappoints.

[TooLateF0rRoses]

5 for creativity?

you must be a tool

[Gumbyjag]

A 72%? That's harsh. I feel his vocals are amazing and much higher than a 6. Along with lyrics should be higher and the creativity score as well. Maybe I am just partial because I love him.

Anyways it is a great album. He never disappoints.

5 for creativity?

you must be a tool


Bottom line, I love this album. My ratings should not reflect my views at hand. There are a lot of things to consider when putting up these ratings. In a scope of music history from the beginning, I believe it is fair. Either way, thanks for the feedback.

[leifstar]

Bottom line, I love this album. My ratings should not reflect my views at hand. There are a lot of things to consider when putting up these ratings. In a scope of music history from the beginning, I believe it is fair. Either way, thanks for the feedback.


Your welcome. And I didn't mean to attack. It was a great review and I understand there are more to those ratings then the obvious. I am a newbie when it comes to those.


P.S. You should have mentioned the song Why do you run?. It's my favorite :-) .

[Gumbyjag]

Your welcome. And I didn't mean to attack. It was a great review and I understand there are more to those ratings then the obvious. I am a newbie when it comes to those.


P.S. You should have mentioned the song Why do you run?. It's my favorite :-) .

Thanks man. Aw, also a really good song. Honestly, if I had mentioned more, I would have had to go through the whole thing, I kind of wanted to make it short and sweet. I think everyone has their
favorite from it. Mine is "Reaction", no doubt.

[trainwreck89]

Good review. I love this cd and it has yet to get old

[Adrian Villagomez]

Good album. Too bad you didn't mention "I Told You So," which is probably my favorite track.

[shinson91]

I love this album, and I think the vocals should have gotten a better rating... I mean come on a 6? Even people who don't particularly like his music think he has a good voice.

[djsclaus]

This is an amazing album.

Can't wait for his next one, that full-band version of Bring Back Love I saw them play live is awesome, and it's gonna be on their next release :-)

[SandManTEND13]

I really enjoy this album alot

[coheeds monstar]

I would have rated this higher. The more I listen to this cd the more I like it. Ace tears it up.

[alaskan]

i liked it, i think at minimum, being that it is leagally free, it is worth downloading and listening to for anyone

[drudo182]

Whoahhh. Harsh.

I love this thing.

[meghanlail]

Great review. Great album.

[OveriseFan]

This review is flattering. Why do people find it harsh?

A 72% is a fair score, and coming up with ratings is very difficult, ANYWAY.

Read the review - stop looking at the numbers.

[CurtyB]

Haha why is everyone freaking out? It's not like he did anything that hasn't been done before with this one

[Lost Glories]

easily a 85% IMO.

[saving jonathan]

I love this album as well. I don't agree with the vocals and creativity scores. In a scene with plenty of carbon-copies and cookie-cutters, this is high most when it comes to those two facets.
That's just my opinion, nice review.

[RelientAudio]

I'm a little confused. The review WAS flattering. But the numbers were pretty harsh for such a flattering review. I understand that you may have tried to be "honest" with the numbers, but I'd rather see consistency.

that all being said, i think everything you said was on the dot. in fact, I think your numbers could be pretty accurate. I'm enjoying this album a lot, but it's by no means perfection. What I WOULD have liked was some reasoning behind the numbers. if you're gonna give a score below 7 for a section, discuss it.

[Goat01]

It's a great album, and when you combine that with the fact that it's free, everyone should love this.
It's definately worth listening to, over and over.

PS, this review had the most hyphens I have ever seen.

[grabyourguns]

amazing album

[kbauer]

I thought this was good for what it was. Reaction, Rain and Body Like Mind are the 3 big tracks that hook you. Theres a little mix of everything youve heard different from Ace. Red Eye and Bring Back Love remind me of I Can Make a Mess, Rain reminds me of a late TEN jam but then Reaction and Body Like Mind represent what were going to hear out of Ace in the near future.

He takes on more of a power pop tune which is different but it'll work for his core fans and grabbing new people. This isnt his best work but for it being a free download to make up for his release being pushed back, its more than good enough.

[Jake's got woe]

I don't hate Ace Enders, but I've always had trouble figuring out why everybody creams their jeans over the guy. Every release by The Early November has a few great tracks, and about half the album is pure filler. This album is no different. I listened to it twice through, and can't even really remember what the songs sound like.

Meh.

[laxcrs]

Good album. Too bad you didn't mention "I Told You So," which is probably my favorite track.

same here

[bloodyr0mance87]

this album is so great. Ace is one of the few songwriters in the scene that has never disappointed me even once. i don't think he's capable of writing filler.

[JimmyIymmiJ]

Good review. I'm not huge on the album, but I've kind of viewed it like it's an appetizer getting us ready for the main course (which would be the album that we're expected to pay for). There are a couple of really good songs, and a couple that are just okay. All in all, pretty good but not great, which is what 72% sounds like to me.

[xtheaudition]

i fucking love this cd, so nice to relax too!

[kbauer]

Good review. I'm not huge on the album, but I've kind of viewed it like it's an appetizer getting us ready for the main course (which would be the album that we're expected to pay for). There are a couple of really good songs, and a couple that are just okay. All in all, pretty good but not great, which is what 72% sounds like to me.


appeitizer is a perfect way of putting it.

[newfoundmichael]

I love this album, I agreed with the review for the most part but thought the score was a bit harsh. I know everyone has their own scoring system though, so it's all good.

[Shooter McGavin]

I haven't heard this yet but I love that album art.

[con40dmitri]

oh ace enders...

[ohitisjess]

I love this album. Good review.

[Nolessthanblink]

Can't wait to hear more from this guy. Never ceases to amaze

[W/O a Parachute]

i read the review, and then was surprised to see the rating, its really not that big of a deal though.
i really like the album, Body Like Mind gives me everything i could want from ace enders.

However, i feel as if i am alone when i say that Bring Back Love kinda makes me sick when i hear it. Its really cheesy, almost unbearable. Please tell me someone else shares my sentiment

[thesaddestfilm]

this was a surprisingly great album. I barely knew it came out, but I'm glad I got the free download via fuse

[jman449]

i read the review, and then was surprised to see the rating, its really not that big of a deal though.
i really like the album, Body Like Mind gives me everything i could want from ace enders.

However, i feel as if i am alone when i say that Bring Back Love kinda makes me sick when i hear it. Its really cheesy, almost unbearable. Please tell me someone else shares my sentiment


I agree completely, I can't even listen to that song. however the album overall is amazing, one of his best IMO. The song motion reminds me of early TEN while rain sounds like a b-side for the mechanic. Body like mind and I told you so have to be some of the best songs he's ever written. I have high expectations for his next release

[denissuxx]

Was it necessary to state the bit rate lol?

[Gumbyjag]

Was it necessary to state the bit rate lol?
In this case yes because it was only available via download, and for those who were on the fence about the quality, there was assurance.

[denissuxx]

In this case yes because it was only available via download, and for those who were on the fence about the quality, there was assurance.
I have actually just realised that.

Thanks

[cory-182]

In this case yes because it was only available via download, and for those who were on the fence about the quality, there was assurance.
Was this album ever released as CD?

[Gumbyjag]

Was this album ever released as CD?
I don't think so, I haven't seen one.