Alphabetical Order - Daily Music Recommendations #31 (E) Eels (Alternative/Rock/Indie/Blues)
Sunset and alvarado
I think what the hell do I do now
Watch the day disintegrate
So i can stay up late and wait|~
Hey everyone! It's time for us to check out some music from a band from the states. The brainchild of Mark Everett, "Eels" is a band that blends blues, experimental rock and indie rock in an eclectic mix of styles. The lyrical themes are usually based around death, depression and loss, performed with an almost ironic nihilism.
The band is headlined by Mark Everett with a rotating cast of session musicians and members over the years. The band has released 11 albums since their beginnings in the mid 90s. To start us off we're gonna check out their debut record "Beautiful Freak"
Beautiful Freak
Coming out in 1996, the debut record has the feeling of grunge mixed with more poppy elements. It works as a nice counterpoint to the cynicism of grunge. The album opens with "Novacaine For The Soul", a track that lulls you into a false sense of security with it's soft sound, before suddenly unleashing a super tight groove. It's one of my favorite opening tracks, because of the way it instantly let's you know who's in charge.
The album moves on to "Susans House". This track that has an almost "hip-hop" vibe to it, due to most of the lyrics being spoken word apart form the chorus. Another good track on here is "Your Lucky Day In Hell", this track also has that late 90s vibe to it, with a heavy beat and mostly spoken word apart from when it breaks into the chorus. This album has a very dark sense of humor, but it is also very keen on exploring the lighter side , it's a great record for getting out of a funk!
The first track we'll check out today is one of the more gentle tracks on the album. A somber ballad of nostalgic melancholy, this is the title track "Beautiful Freak".
Beautiful Freak
The band is headlined by Mark Everett with a rotating cast of session musicians and members over the years. The band has released 11 albums since their beginnings in the mid 90s. To start us off we're gonna check out their debut record "Beautiful Freak"
Beautiful Freak
Coming out in 1996, the debut record has the feeling of grunge mixed with more poppy elements. It works as a nice counterpoint to the cynicism of grunge. The album opens with "Novacaine For The Soul", a track that lulls you into a false sense of security with it's soft sound, before suddenly unleashing a super tight groove. It's one of my favorite opening tracks, because of the way it instantly let's you know who's in charge.
The album moves on to "Susans House". This track that has an almost "hip-hop" vibe to it, due to most of the lyrics being spoken word apart form the chorus. Another good track on here is "Your Lucky Day In Hell", this track also has that late 90s vibe to it, with a heavy beat and mostly spoken word apart from when it breaks into the chorus. This album has a very dark sense of humor, but it is also very keen on exploring the lighter side , it's a great record for getting out of a funk!
The first track we'll check out today is one of the more gentle tracks on the album. A somber ballad of nostalgic melancholy, this is the title track "Beautiful Freak".
Beautiful Freak
Electro-Shock Blues
This is record comes with a lot of emotional baggage. Following the success of their previous record "Beautiful Freak", Mark experienced the sudden death of two of him family members. This record becomes a very cathartic experience from him pouring his entire sorrow into it.
It opens with "Elizabeth On The Bathroom Floor" and this is another track that starts off softly, and if you're coming straight from "Beautiful Freak" you might expect a big beat coming in at any moment. This doesn't happen and you really get the feeling that he's barely holding on while performing this record.
The album does have some more uplifting tracks, but not without a snarky ironic attitude. Tracks like "Hospital Food" have the feeling of midnight mystery, with an infectious bass line and a confusing lyric filled with metaphors.
The track "Baby Genius" was dedicated to his father, Hugh, one of the first scientists in the world to suggest that quantum physics works in the "Many-Worlds Interpretation". His father never reached much fame other than ridicule from his peers, dropping his physics degree in favor of working for the military.
For our second track of the day we'll be checking out another mellow track. A sleepy ascent towards the atmosphere, this is "Climbing To The Moon".
Climbing To The Moon
Daisies Of The Galaxy
This record is in a way polar opposite to the previous record. Though the gentle soft sound is still here, it sounds a lot more uplifting and relieved. Like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders and you've managed to leave everything behind you. Even so it still has that sense of bitter irony to the lyrics, if covered in a sense of freedom.
The album opens with "Grace Kelly Blues", a soft sunny track that feels like it would be perfect for driving away into the sunset to. The next track "Packing Blankets" once again gives us this feeling of hope in the middle of a sea of nihilism and anxiety.
Despite it's generally uplifting vibe, it has moments of darkness. Especially noticeable on the track "It's A Motherfucker", a slow ballad dedicated to giving up on resisting change.
The final track we'll check out today is the carefree track "The Sound Of Fear", a mellow funk rock groove with grunge edges that works great to put you in a more elevated mood.
The Sound Of Fear