Together, they recorded a 5 track demo in Enders' basement and sent it, along with a poorly edited videotape to only one label: Drive-Thru Records.
A couple of months passed while both Sacco and Anello had to budge for more skilled replacements, Steve Nakovich (guitar) and Mike Klemash (bass), until the band got in touch with Richard Reines of Drive-Thru, who luckily was visiting their hometown and agreed to meet with the band to give advice.
Stunned by what he had heard, Reines returned to California to discuss a possible signing with Drive-Thru co-owner Stefanie Reines. A few weeks and yet another line-up change later (Joe Marro joined for Nakovich), Drive-Thru signed The Early November and put them, despite their practically non-existent on stage experience, on 2002's Skate and Surf Fest and on selected dates of the Warped Tour.
Klemash and Marro left the band before the recording of their debut EP For All of This. Anello re-joined on bass, while a temporary second guitarist was found in John Dubitsky. The CD came out on Drive-Thru Records in early November 2002. Enders recorded The Acoustic EP on his own, featuring acoustic versions of most songs off their debut EP, which was released a mere two months later. Simultaneously, guitarist Marro had re-joined the band in exchange for Dubitsky.
Throughout 2003, the band continued to tour and write songs in preparation for their first full-length CD The Room's Too Cold, which was released in fall of that year. Soon afterwards, Enders recorded a solo record under the name I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business. The CD was almost scrapped due to Enders wanting to focus on The Early November after Kummer left the band in summer 2004 and re-joined two weeks later.
While in the long and grueling process of recording their second full-length, the band had their guitar tech Bill Lugg aka UltraBill join, and the triple disc entitled The Mother, the Mechanic and the Path was released on July 11, 2006.
On March 13th, 2007, TEN announced that they would be going on an indefinite hiatus after they complete their current tour. They announced this both online and at their show at the Meridian in Houston that night. They played their last show at the Bamboozle Festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on May 6th, 2007, and left open the possibility of one day returning to the stage but were grateful for everyone who supported them throughout the past 6 years.
An official statement from the band:
We would like to announce that at end of our upcoming headlining tour, The Early November will be taking an indefinite hiatus.
Throughout the past six years we have released two LP’s, two EP’s, played over one thousand shows, seen six wonderful countries, have met thousands of great people, made life-long friends, and have broken countless amounts of instruments. We have done more than we have ever thought possible for a small rock band out of southern New Jersey. We are very proud and very grateful of every moment we have spent as The Early November.
In case any of you are wondering, this is not a result of anything one can consider negative. No fighting, no one hates each other, no one has a substance abuse problem… none of the typical baggage that is usually carried along with rock bands taking a hiatus. The situation is actually much the opposite. We all love and care for on 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.
We hope this isn’t completely somber news to anyone of you. We want to view it almost in the same way many cultures view the passing of a friend or loved one. Not to mourn but to celebrate their life and memory. In our small way, we’d like to do the same. We invite you to come and send off something that has meant so much to the five of us for so long. We may or may not be coming back. Who knows. But for now, all we can say is “Thank You.” “Thank You,” to everyone who was or has been a part of making our dreams a reality. Most importantly, “Thank You” to every single TEN fan. We hope you guys understand. We truly love all of you.
- Ace, Joe, Jeff, Serg, Bill
The Early November
Ace carried on writing his solo project and released The World We Know in 2010.
Since then, the band have announced their reunion 2011, and have done a full US tour in 2012. Their first album since the break is set to be released Summer 2012.
Magnolia
The Early November Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was just a seed in a field I had never seen
Like a plant blossoming for the first time
To be instantly cut down
And placed in a bouquet just to be thrown out
From others fungus on my leaves
Well I have issues I could never talk about
And the songs I can never let myself sing
Trying to find out how to justify feeling this way
I remember wishing I could talk like others did
Watching the conversations be their way out or in
To where they were going seemed so much better than
Well I could always open my mouth; just not let the words come out
I just held my breath
Well I have issues I could never talk about
And words I can never hear myself say
And the songs I can never let myself sing
Trying to find out how to justify feeling this way
It's ripping me apart
From the inside out, it's so hard
I can't be awake without being scared whats sad is how
It's so easy
It's so easy
Well I have issues I could never talk about
And words I can never hear myself say
And the songs I can never let myself sing
Trying to find out how to justify feeling this way
The song "Magnolia" by The Early November is a heartfelt portrayal of the struggles of communication, self-expression, and the anxiety that can result from those difficulties. The opening lines especially depict the feeling of suffocation as if the singer is struggling to survive in an environment that is hostile to them. The simile of a plant being cut before blooming is, in fact, deeply symbolic of the singer's internal struggles with being unable to bloom, mature or realize their potential. The use of the word "fungus" also suggests that there are outside forces that are preventing the singer from flourishing, either by stunting their growth or sabotaging their attempts to reach their potential.
The lyrics of the song show the singer's inability to express their feelings, the difficulties they face in communicating, and how they are trying to find a way to cope with the overwhelming emotions. Throughout the song, there is a sense of melancholy as the singer acknowledges their issues and fears. For instance, they express their wish to talk like others and their inability to open up about their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. These lyrics convey a sense of isolation, hopelessness, and the frustration of being perpetually incomplete.
Overall, "Magnolia" is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to the struggle of trying to navigate the world with personal emotional baggage. The song speaks to those who are struggling with communication and self-expression and those who realize that sometimes, there are words that we can't say and songs we can't sing because of internalized shame, anxiety, and fear.
Line by Line Meaning
When I first noticed I couldn't breathe
I suddenly realized there's something wrong with me and I can't function properly
I was just a seed in a field I had never seen
I felt lost and out of place in an unfamiliar environment
Like a plant blossoming for the first time
I was experiencing something new and exciting
To be instantly cut down
But that feeling was short-lived and quickly destroyed
And placed in a bouquet just to be thrown out
I felt used and discarded like a disposable object
From others fungus on my leaves
I felt contaminated and affected by negative influences
Well I have issues I could never talk about
I have personal problems that are difficult to express to others
And words I can never hear myself say
I struggle to even acknowledge these issues to myself
And the songs I can never let myself sing
I have things I want to express, but can't bring myself to do it
Trying to find out how to justify feeling this way
I'm searching for a way to understand and validate my emotions
I remember wishing I could talk like others did
I envied those who could communicate and express themselves easily
Watching the conversations be their way out or in
I observed others effortlessly participating in social interactions
To where they were going seemed so much better than
I perceived others as leading more fulfilling lives
Well I could always open my mouth; just not let the words come out
I had the capability to communicate, but something held me back
I just held my breath
I suppressed my feelings and emotions, refusing to release them
It's ripping me apart
These internal struggles are tearing me apart emotionally
From the inside out, it's so hard
These issues are affecting every aspect of my being
I can't be awake without being scared whats sad is how
I constantly feel anxious and fearful, which is a sad reality
It's so easy
It appears so simple for others, but it's a complex and challenging experience for me
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ARTHUR CARL ENDERS, JEFFREY MATTHEW KUMMER, JOSEPH RYAN MARRO, SERGIO ANELLO, WILLIAM J LUGG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gelocks
I've loved TEN since I was in College... feel pretty old now. I have to say, this track is one of their best in my opinion. Like the initial riff, the feel, guitar tone, and the "toe-tapping" nature mixed with the very nice lyrics. Like usual, Ace aced it!
@firstbornson570
They sound great! A long way from where they started, Ace is a man who can do no wrong.
@crystalcook3250
This album makes me so happy
@spreadhopehavefun8281
Still insane good music, even more relevent
@newbeyblade
woah these guys are good
@Jesus12
My favorite
@the-bottom-of-a-black-hole-.
"The further down I had gone, the farther up I went."
,dan'
@thebadbandito
How about that new version of Digital Age???? The shit or what????
@musaprod
A1
@alleyviper6407
been a fan since a teenager....these dudes are making mommy music now. how poopy