I'm listening to a song from the new album right now, but so far it's taken about 50 minutes to play the song because our damned computer keeps playing some and then stopping it, playing some, stopping it and so on. It sounds really good though. I can't wait until Tuesday.
Sacamos los pesados revólveres (de pronto hubo revólveres en el sueño) y alegremente dimos muerte a los dioses.
Posts: 178 | Location: the back of your mind | Registered: 29 June 2004
Yeah...wow. I will definitely have to buy this thing. True, the Pitchfork review (which will probably be between 6 and 7) isn't in yet, but it looks like pretty much universal acclaim so far. If only I could convince E to bring his "Eels with strings" tour to the Midwest, I'd be in business.
Posts: 3876 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
When I saw them last year on the shootenany tour, they were such a strong live band. I was really surprised, as I didn't expect their sound to carry over that well at all. Now, I would travel a good distance to see them play live again. The new album is very, very good. So far I think it is probably my favorite album this year. We will see how it fairs next to Springsteen, another album that has a pretty high early metacore. I thought the Decemberists would have the catchy, eclectic pop album of the year, but I really think the Eels is quite a bit better. It must be said thought that I have all of their albums and both of their live tour only albums...so needless to say, I was a fan going into this one.
Of course, Pitchfork will probably give it a 5.4 or something like that just to be contrary, but WOW!
I've got all the eels records (including the MC Honky record) and all of the live tour discs and the Man Called E records, and I have to admit, I always like about 75% of them. But the universal acclaim on this one makes me excited. I thought Shootenanny was a little uninspired.
Posts: 3875 | Location: ATL, GA | Registered: 25 May 2004
pE. As much as I gush about the Eels, I agree that there albums always include too much filler. I think I would second your 75%. It had me quite worried before I had heard the new one, because if the guy had trouble getting out a full albums worth of material for a single lp, how would he do a double? Fortunately, even though there are still some clunkers, the double album actually works in its favor. Since each disk is relatively short, it is much easier to take than their normally too long single lps.
I predict Pitchfork's rating will be B.S! (But probably higher than you think.) I saw MC Honky open for the eels, and he was a one-man show, all his music was live, and nothing seemed fake about it. That's my opinion anyway.
"Naked Woman, Naked Man Where did you get that nice sun tan?"
Posts: 12874 | Location: Behind the Orange Curtain | Registered: 14 May 2004
Well, occasionally you read a Pitchfork review where you can read between the lines and you see "I decided not to like this before I listened to it."
Eels might not fall under that category. Depends how much of the hype they've heard before they wrote it. If they haven't, it might be more in the 8.3 range. But I'll stick with 7.1 for now.
Edit: Okay, I'm going to make a Quadrophenia comparison. There are some great songs on Blinking Lights, but also a lot of boring ones. And I *can't* give them points for the theme, because the theme is exactly the same as the theme of a much better double album, except more generic sounding.
Good album, not befitting of a 94.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bobthespirit,
Posts: 1783 | Location: Around Boston. | Registered: 24 February 2005
You all may be aware of this, but I was only recently made aware that the "Son of a Bitch" that E is constantly writing about in his music, his father, was noted physicist Hugh Everett III, famous for the "many worlds/parallel universes" theory of quantum physics. An interesting bio of Hugh can be found here:
OK, I will plead ignorance, I have never heard the Eels and have no idea what they sound like. The new album seems to be getting terrific reviews though, so I should at least consider giving it a shot...can anyone describe their sound or compare it to any other artists around right now? Thanks.
Check out the first Cd, Beautiful Freak. Guarantee a great 1st listen. One of the Cd's I wish I could listen to for the first time again...(sounds like that should be a separate thread).
The new one is really good. Looks like top 5 for everyone's list. I'm still on 1st listen, but I've always liked Eels. If you give one album a try, you'll go back for more....
This message has been edited. Last edited by: jayman,
"the sun gets passed from sea to sea, silently, and back to me"
Posts: 759 | Location: middle of bf nowhere | Registered: 25 January 2005
I love the Eels. I think they're last record was the only one I would describe as having a blues sound. E's voice sounds like Beck sometimes, and there is some musical similarity, but not so much as some people think. E writes some bleak songs, but also many upbeat ones. It's definitely pop music, but is still unique. E has a slightly raspy voice that I really like. I think Electro-Shock Blues is his best (Last Stop: This Town being the Eels' best song), but Daisies of the Galaxy was great as well.
Posts: 3876 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
