Disco de Eels: “Daisies of the Galaxy [Clean]”

Yes, artists as Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and TLC rule the business with their ridiculous, always-the-same melodies and fony singing and stupidious text. These days, when you look at MTV, don't you just have to puke?

Slightly better are groups as Korn, Limp Bizkit and Methods of Mayhem who bring "cool" music, displayed in "cool" clips. But I say that these bands are more concerned about image and short-term satisfaction. Nothing to say about their skills to play instruments, those are great. They fill one part in my body: the music to hear when you want to rock, easy-listening tunes.

Why this long opening, you think? Because this CD of Eels (who have been put in my selection of top musicians by now), which was already availa- ble in Belgium in February, goes back to the nature of music. Beautiful melodies, simple but strong texts and you have to admit, E's voice may not be a beautiful voice, it's very pleasant to listen to his singing.

Also the guest musicians (like Peter Buck from R.E.M.)are top notch. From the great openener (Grace Kelly' Blues), to the emotional numbers (Daisies of the Galaxy and, the best song, Jeannie's Diary) and more happy and cool tunes (The Sound of Fear, Flyswatter and Tiger in my Tank), every song is most enjoyable (also the great bonus-single Mr. E's Beautiful Blues) and you will return to them over and over again. You will lay this CD in your player more then you realize and I think many will find this music more satisfying than other so-called "great" bands.

In my opinion, you can't buy wrong with this CD. The cover is also in the spirit of the CD itself: sweet, gentle, nice, beautiful and enjoyable. A great difference with their prequel Elektro-Shock Blues. One of the best CD's of 2000 already!

Oh, I can't wait for their 4th offering!

One of those intriguing albums that makes you wonder how you missed it when it first came out. Ambitious and clever, full of wry sardonic tunes. Another reviewer described the music as breaking and "quivering with emotional instability," and that sums up the moody melodic tension perfectly.

Despite the sarcastic / bittersweet feel to most of the disc, the final cut "Mr Es Beautiful Blues" is one of the most optimistically melodic post-depressive songs I've ever gotten stuck in my head. God-damn right, its beautiful day.

Bonus: The band's alter ego, MC Honky (http://www.eelstheband.com/honkycontent.html), put out the retro tune "Sonnet no. 3 (Like  A Duck)." The video is way beyond amusing. http://www.eelstheband.com/likeaduck.mpeg

The driving force behind the Eels, is a man known simply as "E" (aka Mark Oliver Everett). For "Daisies of the Galaxy" he is joined by Peter Buck of REM fame, and many others. The album tells funny stories, speaks of sincere emotions of love and the fear of rejection ("Jeannie's Diary"), happiness ("A Daisy Through Concrete"), sadness, and all with a sardonic sense of humor. E is the first artist I've ever heard to rhyme "bird" with "turd" or make me feel sad for lonely truck drivers "truck driven' the black night away, waiting for the light of day". He's also the first artist to make a song ("Flyswatter") that is musically just spooky. The song just sounds spooky, and it's lyrics are very angry, but too difficult to figure out. One of 2000's hidden gems that is worth taking a look at.

E and Butch return in eels' third album, and the songs are as beautiful and haunting as ever. Wonderfully different, yet reminiscent, of eels' first two albums, Daisies of the Galaxy reflects E's happy side -- or at least, happier than we have seen him in the past. From the haunting, Descent into Madness-like "Sound of Fear" to the beautiful, hidden song, "Mr. E's Beautiful Blues", Daisies acts as a compliment to eels' second album, Electro-Shock Blues. Where E-S B was desolate and dark, Daisies is hopuful and bright---but not too bright, still reflecting E's sadness and brilliance in the depressing-song department. In E's own words: "If Beautiful Freak was our wake-up call to the world, then Electro- shock Blues was the phone call in the middle of the night that the world doesn't want to answer, and Daisies of the Galaxy is the hotel wake-up call that says your lovely breakfast is ready." I look forward to many more excellent albums by these two in the future.

I must start off by saying, " I love the Eels." I have all but one of their albums, which will be remedied soon.

I am partial to this CD. It's deceptively simple in its orchestration. It's subtle but powerful. I could go on and on, but what's the point?

It's unfortunate that this band never got its day in the spotlight. Sure, " Novocaine for my Soul," off their " Beautiful Freak" CD, is the song that turned me on to this band and did have some commercial air-play; but, as great as that song is, the Eels offer so much more.

This CD is unique. In many ways, its apparent simplicity is what smacks you silly.

This band is worthy of many accolades. Please, if you truly are a connoisseur of music, listen to this CD and their others.

It's absolutely great stuff.