Disco de Eels: “Electro-Shock Blues Show [Bonus Tracks]”

First I'll provide the track listing:

1. Cancer for the Cure

Bonus Tracks:

11. Flower

The first 10 tracks are from a few different venues but basically a little harder/rockish. The crowd heckels, yelling for the only song they know and when they get it they don't know how to react to it. As the liner notes say "At least the guy yelling 'Novacaine' isn't yelling Judas."

I had never heard an Eels live show before purchasing this and now i can't wait. A lot of energy, great sound, and they mix it up quite well. These recordings come from when "Electro-shock Blues" had just come out and they were introducing it in Europe. I love the 50's surf-rock variation of "Novacaine" and the very satisfactory version of "My Beloved Monster." Featuring a random fan on tambarine on "Everything is Gonna Be Cool This Christmas." There's also a very early take on Souljacker and it's really interesting to see how the song developed.

The second half of the disc is taken from a few more European venues and feels a little more intimate. Half the time it just sounds like E is up there with a guitar and that's it; no other instruments backing him. I actually like the second half more because of the song selection and the sound quality. Not to make it sound like the first halve's sound was bad; it's excellent. But the bonus stuff is the type of thing where you can just imagine E, on stage, just his guitar and a spotlight.

Definately something that ALL E and Eels fans should pick up. The comic-style liner notes about the creation of the band and the touring are worth the bucks anyway. Good stuff!