By Shari WeissPLAY Writer

The Early November blew other emo bands out of the water this summer with the release of a triple-album – three brand-new CDs – at the same time, in one package. The Drive-Thru Records quintet produced an epic number of remarkable songs, setting the bar incredibly high. Never mind whether other bands will top them – how will they top themselves?

“We figured we write so much music, we might as well release it,” says Jeff Kummer, the band’s 22-year-old drummer. “I feel like we should always be topping ourselves.”

Kummer says he has no concerns for the future. Vocalist and lyricist Arthur “Ace” Enders already started working on the follow up.

“He is a writing machine,” Kummer says. “I can guarantee the next CD will be unreal.”

But first, The Early November – which also includes guitarist/keyboardist Joe Marro, guitarist Bill Lugg and bassist Sergio Annello – is currently on tour with New Found Glory, Limbeck and Cartel, supporting the release of the album.

The triple-album, called The Mother, The Mechanic, The Path is a concept CD from start to finish (within each CD and overall). The discs flow nicely from one to the next – that is, if you have time to listen to all 46 songs in a row. The Path alone runs about 50 minutes.

“We wanted to do a story where every song on both of those CDs ties into The Path if you really sit and listen it,” Kummer says. “If you listen to it piece by piece, it’s not going to work.”

Each of the three discs has a distinct sound and can be listened to separately, enlarging the band’s audience across three styles. The Mechanic is what Kummer calls “a regular rock record” with “slick production,” which led to the album’s title. The Mother, he says, has a natural, “mother-earth” sound while The Path is a combination of the two, where some songs are spoken and not sung.

It’s not daunting, Kummer says, to have such a large catalog of songs to choose from. Thanks to the triple disc, their song library substantially increased. “It’s actually awesome,” he says. “We can switch it up every show.”

Through much negotiation, the band ensured the discs would be released at a reasonable price, even pushing back the album’s release date numerous times. All three discs can be purchased from the iTunes Music Store for $9.99.

“Ultimately, we took a cut for it,” Kummer says. “The same thing with our label…(but) we wanted to get it out there for the fans.”

The Early November’s first full-length CD, The Room’s Too Cold, was released in 2003, leaving the band plenty of time to think of new material.

“There’s a lot more structure on this CD,” Kummer says. “With each record we feel like we’re growing up and we want our fans to grow up with us.”

In addition, Kummer says he and the band are thrilled to be touring with New Found Glory.

“I worshiped New Found Glory in high school,” he says. “I always wondered what it would be like to be them. It’s the coolest thing ever.”

Following the U.S. tour, The Early November and New Found Glory will take their show to the United Kingdom. And after that?

“Expect a headlining tour from us around February and Marchish (where) we can play a lot of songs,” Kummer says with a laugh.

Medill sophomore Shari Weiss is a PLAY writer. She can be reached at [email protected].