foxy_shy's Full Review: Electro-Shock Blues by Eels
When about one and a half months ago Shelly (a.k.a. Lambchops) gave me the picks I should choose from to participate in this W/O… I was both intrigued and a little bit confused. I knew none of those artists. So, like I usually do when there’s something about music that I don’t know, I went to allmusic.com, and I liked the description of Eels more. Besides, Shelly’s reviews on them sounded really exciting – so pretty soon I picked ‘Electro-Shock Blues’ at a record store.
Before we proceed, a couple of words about this W/O might seem appropriate, however. As you can see at our host’s profile page, there are 11 pairs of reviewers. MattA75, a.k.a. The King of Rock @ Epinions.com, welcomes everyone to his court the third time around. For me this was the first, so some time was necessary for it to come to me, that each reviewer gives their counterparty a couple of picks from which the latter have to choose something they haven’t heard. It took me even more time to think of something for Lambchops, who… uhm… is the Category Lead in Music! One of my three picks struck home though. I hope you enjoyed listening to it Shelly :)
As to me, I did. I absolutely enjoyed the album I’m reviewing here. Somehow Shelly knew I would. Well, I guess tisn’t that hard to figure some things out. Or maybe, many people simply feel the same. Anyway, this album was so… for me. Thanks.
‘Electro-Shock Blues’ is the sophomore effort of Eels, the one-man band (with a band in the rear) of Mark Oliver Everett, a.k.a. E. Their, hmm, the band’s music might be defined as alternative, somewhere between rock and pop, not sweet, ironic yet not mean, soothing even at its darkest. But I'm afraid such explanation simply wouldn't suffice! Eels' debut album ‘Beautiful Freak’ met some mixed reviews in 1996, ‘Electro-Shock Blues’ followed two years later. And it couldn’t possibly become its title more – it’s indeed about the blues. And electroshock.
This is an album for everyone who feels crapped and down. It’s not for the brokenhearted or the bereaved… only, it’s for everyone who feels simply put, kicked in the a*ss by this life. In other words, for everyone who needs an electroshock. Which E delivers – with a concept album that begins as downbeat as few albums with much harder music have ever managed to. Then, halfway through, it slowly picks you up – beginning with the instrumental ‘Going to Your Funeral Pt 2’. There’s no way you will be able to avoid the helping hand this album will hold out, especially if you will love the husky charm of E’s voice. Which is not to say that the second half of ‘Electro-Shock Blues’ will all of a sudden become sillily upbeat, rather most of the songs in it will flow through your mind like one soothing, unchained melody, less memorable than the first 11, yet always as enjoyable. The end result is nothing short of amazing! And if there’s a word that comes to my mind to describe this miracle, it must be
excavation
As you’ve already guessed, I’m about to wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone reading this review. Except if you’re feeling happy, then maybe don’t buy it, you’re already feeling better than it might ever make you feel. To all the rest, dive into ‘Electro-Shock Blues’. And enjoy Eels.
Mah, I thought upon first hearing ELIZABETH ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR, is this how the folks reading my reviews see me? Not that I would argue, it’s just… I couldn’t subdue laughter when I first heard it! E’s voice sounds lifeless and indifferent, acoustic guitar backs the electric playing a soothing tune, and those effects in the background create something like a little heavenly choir… nothing to say, a perfect song for dying. Or for the folks who feel out of touch with their lives.
Lying on the bathroom floor
Kitty licks my cheek once more
And I
I could try
But waking up is harder when you wanna die
My name’s Elizabeth
My life is sh*t and p*ss
You know, when you admit it, it feels better. That was the introduction. A steady groove enters shortly after and GOING TO YOUR FUNERAL PT 1 opens the first part of the album. It’s a dark gloomy song, yet it’s not desperate, it sounds more like accepting something. I enjoyed listening to it going to one of my exams I absolutely wasn’t ready for… See, Everett may be the big figure behind Eels, but, quite naturally, here and there he’s got talented musicians creating wonderful arrangements and atmosphere for his songs (in which he reminds me of Sting). Thus, in this one Jim Jacobsen plays the amazing bass line, backed by Parthenon Huxley’s electric guitar. Just an example.
CANCER FOR THE CURE definitely is one of the most challenging listens here. If there’s a song that describes it better, I don’t know of such. Of course, it’s easier to take this song as a metaphor, which it probably is. But it’s enough for me to hear the drilling effects this groovy guitar driven song opens with, to remember it. It took two members of my family too. So we kinda met. And… after you have seen it, you can’t help but sing along. I mean, the fear of the unknown, it’s gone – you have seen its face, nothing to be afraid of. The only thing I’m afraid of is this is the only mood you might be able to enjoy this song in.
No, I’m not a star – I’m a king of the road, yeah
MY DECENT INTO MADNESS is relaxed and soothes you with those “kind of” classical interpolations. I would love this album for the way E sings “la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la” in this one alone. Look after another wonderful confession before the fadeout. 3 SPEED is a wonderful acoustic guitar driven ballad. Oh, and please note: this album’s got great, GREAT lyrics all over it.
Life is funny, but not ha ha funny
Peculiar I guess
You think I got it all going my way
Than why am I such a f*cking mess?
Want a pony and a birthday cake
Want a party with a scary clown
Kneel down and bow to the princess
Kneel down for the queen of the town
And I looked into
the mirror last night
All I saw was a pretty blonde
And why won’t you just tell me what’s going on?
HOSPITAL FOOD is one downright bad*a*ss song that brings the groove back onto the track. The saxophones are amazing!! ELECTRO-SHOCK BLUES on the contrary consists entirely of a couple of simple synthesizer chords… and again some of the best lyrics in my catalogue.
Feeling scared today
Write down “I am Ok”
A hundred times the doctors say
I am Ok
I am Ok
I’m not Ok
Pink pill feels good
Finally understood
Take me in your warm embrace
I am trying
I am trying
It fades and a blurred cello with synthesizers take its place. The beat enters, the surrounding sound disappears and Everett begins singing his lines. The cello and synthesizers will return between his verses. If there’s a song I might pick as one of my favorites here, EFILS’ GOD would be one of, if not the one.
Now you can bring back my suitcase but you can’t bring me
And you can have all the money ‘cause you say that you must
But if you think that it matters take a look at me
And don’t close your eyes as I turn into dust
Don’t tell me that I can’t do this
As if you knew
But you don’t know
How efils good
The part of blues is over. Time for electroshock and excavation. The instrumental GOING TO YOUR FUNERAL PT II is magical, almost healing, no – is healing, the melody is recognizable, but at the same time so much brighter than the 2nd song on the album! Those bells, I could play it over and over to hear them again…
LAST STOP: THIS TOWN is another of my favorite songs – I like them all here – but this, kind of a pop song, is one of the few I know that can make feel so good and up. Especially the groovy bits and “get-downs” sung in the background. I don’t know how he does it, this guy is terribly talented.
And BABY GENIUS is another proof of that. But I won’t be spoiling it for you, no, that one you’ll check yourselves ;) Ok?
From here on the songs become more alike, but, but, but – remain as enjoyable. This isn’t a kind of album to spin over and over again. Rather it is one of those that you take out feeling bad, to give it a spin and get your grip back again. I highly recommend you ‘Electro-Shock Blues’… there’s an awful lot of days, when we feel downbeat. I mean, you might be taking it out more often than I sitting here can imagine. There indeed is something special about it. Something a hint at which I hoped to give you here.
I’m now looking forward to buying more Eels – on my wish list now there are ‘Beautiful Freak’ and ‘Daisies of the Galaxy’. And of course, this year’s fresh release. I also hope that this summer in America I will be able to obtain ‘Electro-Shock Blues Show’, mentioned by All Music Guide. There ain’t a slightest chance I might find it here. Let’s say I was lucky enough to lay my hands on this one.
Now, my thankyous:
to Shelly!!! – one of my favorite reviewers on this site and the biggest Eels fan around here. If you feel like reading more about E’s creativity, pick her reviews first! Heck, you should always pick her reviews first!
to Matt!!! – one of my favorite reviewers (whatever you think about it) and the true King of Rock at Epinions (whatever he says about it). I enjoyed this. Hopefully we do it again next year dude.
And here goes – 21 brave folks and (of course) me, participating this year. Go for all links to Matt's profile page
drfaustus and jay1051971
aerocat and divad23
paulyoungotti and matta75
kcfoxy and guildenstern
jennjoy and shilmafone
jdhodges2 and cartman_2k
tigger500 and kristinafh
thevoid99 and pacmany2j
foxy_shyandlambchops
deadmilkboy and stairway2drew
cletta1201 and pearl-drum-man
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