kind of a new experience for me - from what i've heard of Shootenanny, incredible.....but i worry for this guy who calls himself E....any fans of the last Beck album will love this
I remember a single of theirs a long time ago (Novocaine?) and it was pretty good. I'd have forgotten all about them if it weren't for this thread
I'll see about that new one
A friend gave me a very expansive and carefully compiled disc not long ago, and I really enjoyed much of it. It didn't really stay with me that much, though; for all its cleverness and melody, there didn't seem to be a whole lot of bite.
This new one is apparently a departure. How is it different from the older stuff? More introspective, from what it sounds like... any descriptive impulses coming to you as you listen?
Are these the same guys that did the catchy song for Road Trip?
Mr. E's Beautiful Blues is the song in Road Trip...Godardian, i don't know if it's a fair way to judge a band with a compilation-type listen...i do a lot of downloading and burning but never can get a great feel for a band with mixed cds, especially with bands that have anything to say....i definitely recommend Shootenanny, dark, sad, funny, and happy at the same time, indescribable. I've listened to it all by now, a few times. For downloaders, try Somebody Loves You, The Good Old Days, Love of the Loveless, Rock Hard Times to get a good sample.
and yes, the record is another personal (very), introspective listen, much like Electro-Shock Blues.....as for a departure, not any more than you'd come to expect
I adore The Eels, and yet for some reason haven't got round to buying Shootenany yet - your description is ecouraging though.
I think Electro Shock Blues and Daises of the Galaxy are my favourite two: one being an almost entirely bleak vision of the fact that E had by that point lost his whole family (either to cancer or suicide), and the follow up being an amazing the-world-is-so-fucked-up-but-I-somehow-still-love-it statement that mixes the most upbeat, cheesy melodies with some incredibly dark lyrics - but eventually comes out on the side of of an acceptant optimism. 'I like birds' is a perfect example of this. 'It's a motherfucker' another... How does he do it? How can he manage to be so honest and yet ironic and yet swing round ultimately to honesty again. He's a superb lyricist.
I thought Souljacker, the last album, was a bit of a disappointment. Sure it was damn funky - and had a couple of wonderful tracks (World of Shit and Fresh Feeling for example) but overall I just thought the upbeat rockiness took away from the beauty of the songs a little. But hell, it was worth it for the inlay cover write-up by 'DJ Killingspree'...! "Here's the new sound from THE EELS. And this shit, this shit is BIBLICAL! It's HARD. HARD like a mystical trumpet playing from a hard rockin' land. HARD like a rock baking in the desert sun. HARD like the heart of a teenager stuck in Nowheresville. Ask E himself, and he'll simply say, 'I like to rock'."
_children with angels_did you pick Shootenanny up yet, or anyone else for that matter.....it's a great listen, i can't believe what i've been missing this whole time...great lyricist
I'm a Eels' freak! I have every single album they have done, including E's solo albums and their internet only live stuff. They are so fucking good, easily the most underrated and sadly, underheard, bands out there right now. Also, everyone should go get Shootenanny because it's that good.
Quote from: Royal Tenenbaumeveryone should go get Shootenanny because it's that good.
Um, I didn't like it that much.
Can someone convince me that Shootenany is less like Souljacker and more like Electro-shock and Daisies, so that I may buy it...?
i have heard some Eels stuff in the past, but Blinking Lights was the first album i bought. i think it's pretty solid throughout it's two discs/90 minutes. nothing pushing the boundaries or experimental or anything, but pretty good. there are a lot of Jon Brion-esque instrumentals and his voice sounds like a raspy Beck. last night he was on the Late Late show and played backed with strings.
I have Electro-Shock Blues (love it) and Beautiful Freak (hit and miss). Which one should I pick up next?
my friend that bought the first three Eels' albums tells me that i should get Daisies of the Galaxy.
Quote from: SHAFTRI have Electro-Shock Blues (love it) and Beautiful Freak (hit and miss). Which one should I pick up next?
i'd say pick up the new one. behind
electro-shock blues, it's my next favorite album