The Bottom Line The Eels (aka E) do it right on Daisies of the Galaxy.
Full Review
Daisies of the Galaxy is as close to perfect as the Eels have come to musical perfection since they were first dreamt up by Mark Everett (now known simply as E). A sheer, gorgeous, thought provoking, and even hilariously creative blend of pop and rock, the album is a must-listen.
Before founding the Eels, E made a living as a solo artist opening for such acts as Tori Amos. After two albums and a bit of trial and error, E met up with bassist Tommy Walter and drummer Butch Norton. So in 1995, the Eels were officially born. Despite consisting of three members, the band was always the mouthpiece of E. The other two members were simple window dressing and contributed most to just the 1996 debut Beautiful Freak. Latter albums would increasingly become solo effort from E.
Following some major family trauma (death of both mother and sister), the Eels returned in 1998 with Electro-Shock Blues. A dark, foreboding, death-tinged epic album, it is a near masterpiece. Songs like Going To Your Funeral, Cancer for the Cure and Elizabeth on the Bathroom Floor are all incredibly emotional and somehow entertaining songs.
After finally recovering from the shock of family strife, E regrouped…this time almost totally solo if not for Butch’s percussion. Vibrant, happy, hip, and ironic, Daisies of the Galaxy (2000) is an important and absolutely fascinating album from Grace Kelly Blues to Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues. While the melodies are upbeat, E still provides just enough ironic, twisted comedy for fans of dark humor or those completely lacking in a sense of humor.
But as with all things, Daisies of the Galaxy isn’t for all listeners. See, it’s a low-key affair with miniscule production and songs that resonate like a flurry of thought. It seems that E has tossed all of the pages of his diary into the air and let them fall as they see fit. But even with the strange demeanor of the album, it is absolutely perfect…a work of a brilliant although obviously perverse musician, vocalist, and most importantly lyricist. In many ways, Daisies of the Galaxy is a mix between the band’s first two albums. It seems on the surface to be pretty mainstream, but a bit of investigation reveals some unique perceptions on life and way-out imagery.
The album at hand clocks in at less than forty-five minutes and fifteen songs strong. Without question, Daisies of the Galaxy could be longer…but I’m not about to complain about the otherwise flawless work. Oh yes…I just used the “f” word, and I meant it!
Beginning gently (after a brief horn brass free-for-all), Grace Kelly Blues begins with a brief retelling of the story of the now dead actress and princess. Of course, she is used more as a basis for other views of human nature. But with that said, it’s hard to deny the utter perfection of the quirky song. Slow, methodical, and uniquely Eels the song sets the stage for the rest of the album with graceful ease. And then there are the lyrics…one of the most important characteristics of any song from E:
The kid in the mall works a hot dog on a stick
His head is a funny shape his heart is a brick
Taking your order he willlook away
He doesn't have a thing to say
Packing Blankets is another wonderfully whimsical track combining horns with other unexpected instruments ranging from a xylophone to various strings. But it is with The Sound of Fear that listeners will get one of the best songs ever recorded by the Eels. A funky track with elements reminiscent of surf rock of the 1960’s with a modern and wonderful twist, it is impossible to not groove to the infectious melody and E’s typical although perfectly suitable dry vocals. And not to sound redundant, but once again the lyrics set the bar exceedingly high for other writers:
Sun goes down on the old neighborhood
Dark, Damp the stop where I once stood
I don't where the bus stops next
And I don't care where the bus stops
Of the fifteen songs on this album, the only one I’d heard prior to the purchase was I Like Birds. As one of the sparsest songs on the album, it is also one of the most brilliant. In this case, simple and understated work extremely well. Not only that, but E’s message is uncharacteristically uplifting. And this is what makes Daisies of the Galaxy even more impressive than the other Eels outings.
Continuing on, Daisies of the Galaxy is yet another light, airy song but this time it is full of pain and loss. Even if the themes are dark, E emotes with such vibrant energy that it doesn’t seem heavy-handed or trite. But without question, my favorite song on the album is Flyswatter. Once again, it is unique and weird but I adore the words and the uneasy rhythm. If for nothing else, buy the album for this track…you can’t, won’t, shouldn’t be disappointed.
Little field mice
Living under the house
Never eating much
Tough life for a mouse
And if you think you're
Gonna be spared
You're wrong
It’s a Motherf*cker represents a major change in pace. A slow ballad (I’m betting that’s a surprise), the song may not be a favorite but it is still a worthy listen. Other songs nicely fill up the remaining time on the album. Estate Sale is a slow song that as it continues is increasingly off-kilter. In addition, it’s almost totally instrumental. Daisies of the Galaxy picks back up with the effervescent and blindingly sweet Tiger in My Tank. Once again, the Eels recall pop of the 1960’s at the same time sounding completely contemporary. “Wow” aptly describes this song and this album.
E is also absolutely perfect on A Daisy Through Concrete. Despite sounding similar in tone to earlier entries, it is clear that this song is the product of a talented man. And it is in this strength of reusing already proven musical ideas without suffering from sameness that indicates that the Eels are an important and wonderful conglomerate. Jeannie’s Diary is also a sweet little ditty. All E wants is to be a page in the heroine’s diary. I’m not keen on the lyrics or the music here, but there’s nothing really wrong with it aside from the fact that it is unfairly sandwiched between two brilliant tracks.
Yes, Wooden Nickels is dazzling. The acoustic guitars paired with nothing more than E’s voice is a fascinating blend of rock and folk. A memorable melody is reflected in both the stripped down production values and E’s unusually upbeat voice. And then there is the whole issue of the words:
Don't take any wooden nickels
When you sell your soul
A devil of a time awaits you
When the party's over
You're on your own
The disc draws to a close on a high note. Something is Sacred, Selective Memory, and Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues are all absolutely essential to the overall success of the album. Each has a mildly different melody with the first being slightly stranger than normal, the second a smoothly ethereal track, and the last a delightfully funky and upbeat song. Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues is an amazing exclamation point on an overall ideal album. And E’s lyrics are representative of my feelings for Daisies of the Galaxy. The album is full of love, pain, fun, and for that matter Goddamn right it’s a beautiful day…
To date, the Eels have recorded four full-length albums (most recently Souljacker). And among those offerings, I humbly submit that Daisies of the Galaxy is the crowning glory. It makes me feel good; it rubs me in all the right places. If any of the Eels have appealed to you in the past, then buy this album immediately. Hell…it’s a great place for new fans to start out even without prior experience.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Grace Kelly Blues | 02. Packing Blankets | 03. The Sound of Fear | 04. I Like Birds | 05. Daisies of the Galaxy | 06. Flyswatter | 07. It’s a Motherf*cker | 08. Estate Sale | 09. Tiger in My Tank | 10. A Daisy Through Concrete | 11. Jeannie’s Diary | 12. Wooden Nickels | 13. Something is Sacred | 14. Selective Memory | 15. Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues
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![Daisies of the Galaxy [PA] by Eels](http://di1.shopping.com/images1/pi/6b/1a/b3/2002150543-177x150-0-0.jpg)
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