Music and the Medication.
the  music of the eels.

The Eels have just recently released their third full-length record (March 14, 2000). And after listening to it a couple times through, I knew I had to use this record as my next review. But, then it hit me. Not too many people have a good idea of who the Eels are. Most have heard them, not realizing who it was. So I didn't want to dive into a record, by some band, most have never heard of. And after some thought, I decided to write something that would give you, the reader, some insight on this band. A summory, I suppose, of their music, leading up the new record.

Back in the summer of 1996, MTV and radio stations around the US were infiltrated by a song entitled "Novocaine For The Soul". Now, most of you are saying to yourselves that you've never heard that song in your entire life. But trust me, if you were to hear it right now, you'd be saying "oooh yeah, that song. I forgot about that". This song was by a group called the Eels. A three piece group, with drummer Butch, and fronted by lead singer "E" (real name Mark Oliver Everett). Bassists for the band have changed with each album. E is the genius behind the band though (and when I say genius, I don't mean for it to be taken lightly). He basicly writes and composes all the lyrics/music for the band. But there was life before the Eels.

Back in 1991, when all the the big grunge/rock bands were making it big, (and don't get me wrong, some of those bands I have always loved, ie. Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains) E released his first solo album to much critical acllaim, entitled "A Man Called E". It never got a lot of attention, but those who owned it, loved it. Sure enough, two years later in 1993, he released his second album, Brokent Toy Shop.  Much like the first album, the record never took off, but, it was backed by outstanding reviews. Both of the albums had a variety of songs on them, ranging from folky, acoustic tunes, to fast catchy pop songs, with lyrics about lost loves, and the girls who got away. After the release of the two solo albums, E formed a band with drummer Butch, and bassist Tommy, whom he met in at a small club in L.A . And to make a long story short, they landed a deal with DreamWorks Records. And also, a bit of trivia for you. E decided to call the band Eels so that people who were looking for any of his solo releases would stumble upon the Eels record. Not soon after did he realize that "E" comes way before "Eels" when alphabatized. Well, it was a good idea wasn't it?

I would like to state here, that to me, all three of the Eels records seem to me as a trilogy of some sort. It doesn't/won't really make any sense until you listen and learn about what each album is saying and about. But yeah, read on.

So it came to be that the Eels released their first album in early 96', Beautiful Freak. The album was not only huge with critics such as Rolling Stone and Spin, but it also sold well, on part of the single Novocaine for the Soul. MTV played the video quite frequently, and most modern rock radio stations played it a couple times. Then, after that there was nothing. I was fortunate enough to buy the album...and I enjoyed it. The title of the album basicly says what the songs are about; being along, not know what to do when people, everyone ,doesn't accept you. I think E said it best when he described it by saying "it's about being fucked up, and different". The songs range from the slow tempo swing of Novocaine for the Soul, to somewhat furious lyrics and music of Mental (a song that includes the line "They say I'm mental but I'm just confuesed. They say I'm mental but I've been abused"). I must admit, while I did like this album, I just started to forget the band. I never heard about a new album or any tours. But, three years later...

Cut to late 1998 (hehe, that ryhmes). I'm working at my new job, a small independent record store. As I glance through all the new promotional CDs, I notice something...Eels "Electro-Shock Blues". I think to myself "holy shit". So what do I do? I bust it up on the stores system. At first, this albm didn't appeal to me. But, for some reason I continued to play it...a lot..two or three times every day I worked. So I bought the album. As I listened to Electro-Shock Blues more and more, I started to pay attention more and read the lyrics, which held a lot of meaning. The album has a consistent theme going through it. After the release of Beautiful Freak, everyone around E began to die. Friends died in car accedents, his sister commited suicide and two weeks after the release of their sophmore effort, E's mother lost her fight to cancer. After his mother died, E was the sole surviving member of his family. So the whole theme to Electro-Shock Blues is "death"; the sadness, the coping. I know as you read this you may be thinking to yourself how depressing it must be. But the truth of it is, if you ever lost someone close to you, and gone through it alone, this record is the best medication for it.

I was suprised to hear that work had begun so quickly on a new album. I was curious about the whole theme of this album, given the past two had strong messages.  So on March 14, 2000, I picked up the new record, entitled Daisys of the Galaxy. The name struck me to be much more happier then any of their past efforts. So I gave the disc a spin, and to my amazement (and enjoyment) the album is much more positive. While it does have its share of mellon collie tunes, such as "It's a Motherfucker", with the line "It's a motherfucker getting through a Sunday, talking to the walls just me again, but I won't ever be the same, I won't ever be the same." About two or three other songs on the album carry the same vibe. But all in all, the entire tone of this is far more positive then anything previously released. The theme that these songs carry are basicly about recovering, coping and picking yourself off the ground; dealing with life and moving on. It's quite clear that the songs are a continuation of Electro-Shock Blues, E and how he delt with and accepted the loss of his sister and mother. The stand-out song of the whole album is "Mr. E's Beautiful Blues". While this is the catchiest of all the songs, it is the "hidden bonus track", #15. This song is also the first single from Daisys of the Galaxy. Why is the first single a hidden track?  Damned if I know. I would like to think that it's such a standout song, that the whole feel of the song wouldn't fit the rest of the album. That's my assumption. The song is so damn catchy, that I wouldn't be suprised if it was the next "Steal My Sunshine". The song carries the chorus "goddamn right, its a beautiful day." This song fits as a perfect conclusion to not only this album, but also the last two. Showing that frontman E has finally come to accept and recovered from all the shit he has been through.

Beautiful Freak (June, 1996)

Electro-Shock Blues (December, 1998)

Daisies of the Galaxy (March, 2000)

"E" (a.k.a. Mark Oliver Everett)

"Wake up the dying, dont wake up the dead.
Change what you're saying, dont change what you said."
-E