I ranted yesterday about how most albums aren’t horrible, they are simply mediocre. But there’s another side to that coin, and that is when albums are so unbearably mediocre that they become horrible. Ace Enders has had a talent for that before, when he was in bland alternative band The Early November, who released a triple album – one song of which was good. His mediocrity comes out full force on this latest release, When I Hit the Ground.
And I was looking forward to it. Kind of. When he and his cast of “a million different people” released a cover of The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony”, I was impressed and enjoyed it 
immensely. However, not only does the album not include that cover, it includes atrocious lyrics like “everything’s not what it seems, on my knees I’m breaking down, just know I loved you…” (“When I Hit The Ground”). It has requisite boring opener (“Reintroduction”), whiny one-minute acoustic song (“New Guitar”), and rips off Rihanna titles (“SOS”). Worst of all, every single song showcases Enders’ annoying voice to its boring, monotone heights. Is it just me or does he sound like he’s trying way too hard to be sultry and sexy?
Ripping off Jack’s Mannequin (“Leader”) and The Eagles crossed with The Starting Line (“Take The Money And Run”, the only decent song on the album), Enders does nothing to improve his standing in the musical world. This is bland pop/rock to its blandest. Don’t bother.
For…nothing at all. Seriously. This album has no uses. Except maybe so Rolling Stone can rate it well instead of good albums. Try “Bittersweet Symphony” even though it’s not on this album.
-Jordy Kasko
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