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The Eels - “All the Beautiful Things”
The Eels’ music is built on juxtaposition: (typically) downtrodden lyrics on a bed of crisp, pop melodies (with the occasional noisy freakout). Take this song for example. Lyrically, “All the Beautiful Things” is about longing and unrequited love (a fairly common topic for the Eels), but the music feels more like a cool, happy, sunny summer morning. I don’t know what it is about this kind of dichotomy, but I’m incapable of getting enough of it.
This simple ditty can be found on the Eels latest album, Hombre Lobo (appropriately subtitled “12 Songs of Desire”). Hitting a (generally) more mellow, raw and upbeat stride than other Eels albums, I think Hombre Lobo is one of the better efforts from the band in recent memory. However, if you’re new to the Eels, I still think Beauitful Freak is the best place to start.
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Eels - “Jeannie’s Diary”
Here’s a ‘heavenly’ track off the new Eels EP, Live in Manchester 2005. E’s voice sounds strained, but that’s his trademark. One of the best live mixes I’ve ever heard, “Jeannie’s Diary” is emotive, fun, wry, and loving all mashed together in a musical dream.
I don’t have a chance at writing the book
I just wanna be a page
In Jeannie’s Diary
