It’s been six years since we’ve seen an I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business release, but Ace Enders has been busy since the 2004 ICMAM release, with The Early November’s 2006 experimental record, The Mother, The Mechanic, And The Path, Ace Enders & A Million Different People’s When I Hit The Ground, and the birth of his first child. All of which has certainly affected his new outlook on music. 

The World We Know automatically feels like a cross between the best of The Mother, The Mechanic, The Path and When I Hit The Ground. In “Sleep Means Sleeping,” Ace begins on a right note with the illustrative yet direct lyrics, “just pour some concrete in my bones//so I can feel warm again.” Much of The World We Know offers a side of Ace previously unseen in his work, a more honest and personal side, evident in lines like the last of “Sleep Means Sleeping”: “if lighting strikes this place again//this time I know what I would say to you.”

“You’re Not So Good At Talking Anymore” shows the Ace’s full growth since his last project. New strides in vocals are achieved with high resonating notes and an infectious melody coupled with the lyrics “feels like a brick stuck in my throat//holding my heart wants//finding love in an old song//so don’t let me go.”

“Stop Smoking Because It’s Not Good For You” and “100 Dollar Bills” are the heart of the album, combining Ace’s new musical style and powerful lyrics. A few listens of The World We Know make clear that Ace has gathered and synthesized some life experience and has no fear of sharing his thoughts through his music.

The closing track  “Telling Me Goodbye,” is the record’s bright spot, starting with upbeat synths and chilling vocals telling, “Pulling a blanket up to cover everyone//I’ll shout out, ‘I was wrapped up in myself and my guilt’//wish my guilt could sit up in on a shelf, by itself.” The song stays relevant with a hard drumbeat that draws your ears in to Ace’s fading vocals under an impressive closing guitar part.

Ace’s moniker, I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business, never seems to disappoint. Releasing a self-produced solo record without a label is never an easy feat, but the production on The World We Know is excellent, and Ace has shown he no longer needs Drive-Thru records to succeed musically.

****/*****