I enjoyed HIRAETH but it definitely wasn't more poppy than Early November's early stuff I don't think.
Getting a nostalgic filled TEN album AND Armor for Sleep album within weeks of each other is a hell of a gift.
https://thoughtswordsaction.com/2022/08/22/the-early-november-release-new-single-denent/ Apparently song was from Room's Too Cold Era, which it basically sounds like. Good stuff. I often wonder why bands don't randomly just emulate their original sound maybe not for a whole album for a song or two here or there that they know their fanbase will eat up.
If memory serves, Imbue, Lilac and now Twenty were recorded as just Ace and Jeff, so I think that's just the way it is now. Joe is the band's manager though.
So what you're saying is...The Early November are literally The Wonders at the end of That Thing You Do? Where Ace is Jimmy (frontman) and Jeff (drummer) is Guy (drummer) - the only remaining two in the band. Sergio (bass) turned into the bass player that went AWOL, Bill (guitar) is Lenny (guitar) and left to get married in Vegas. And I guess Joe turned into Mr. White?
Denent is pretty cool but very much feels like a b side, which it is haha. Drums feel SO TRTC, very much from that era