The genius on itunes just informed me that there is a new Eels album out. The genius doesn't realize I rarely listen to the four Eels records I already own. I figured I didn't need a fifth, but genius inspired me to at least listen through what I already own.
After dedicating an hour-long commute to the Eels back catalogue, I am once again a fan. Don't get me wrong, I've always really liked the music. I just forget to listen to it, perhaps because it isn't the most uplifting stuff in the world.
As you may know, "Eels" is one guy called "E" who is usually a bit of a buzz-kill, but with a sharp wit, and music that often evokes a totally different mood than the lyrics. Tom Waits once called Eels 'a baked Alaska,' describing the contrast. A popular example of that is the first track, Novocaine for the Soul, but I've spared you some of the truly dark stuff. The other tracks I included give a taste of how diverse Eels music is. Truly, that new record could sound like anything, but I hope for E's sake there's some joy in it. If any of you have heard it, let us know what you think. I trust you more than the genius.
