Reviews (page 2 of 10)
Alternative rock, post-grunge.
Not what I expected from the name and cover. Pretty solid songwriting, 7/10
Quite an enjoyable album. Liked the track that was in Shrek. A solid 3 for now after first listen.
One of those how did this end up on a major label curios of the mid 1990s...I guess he was a bigger deal in the UK?
I think this album thinks its cooler than I think it is... 2.5/5
This wasn’t for me. Too depressing
Some good, some bad, and minus one star for making me look at the cover art for 45 mins
Quite sad sounding but really catchy as well. Like the odd bits of production.
Music about being a misfit that sounds good.
ok
Wow. Well color me excited to hear something new! That cover is… freaky- so I guess it works, cause I would reach out and put it back based on that alone. But it is titled “Beautiful Freak.” This is a band that was always on the periphery of what I listened to back then. Glad I heard this. My first thoughts: if Gen X were represented by a single album, this would be a good contender. 4 Boolean: True
Initially I was liking it but all the songs became same same.
Not bad at all. Some catchy tunes, one in the Shrek soundtrack. Lots of fuzz, mostly mid to slower tempo, some creative tracks. Songwriting was certainly fine. I don’t see this as an essential album but I’m not upset I spent time listening to it.
Starts with a couple of great tracks but overall I lost interest along the way
#263 Heard Before? I heard the first four or five Eels albums as they came out. Notes: - everything good he ever did is right there on the first track. even later songs that i truly love ("Cancer for the Cure", "I Like Birds") are just retreads. - "Manchild" almost works as a maudlin closer. almost. - i do appreciate the pop formalism of the songwriting, but without interesting sounds or anything to say, that only goes so far. Verdict: B-side Beck. Listen Again? No.
Eely depressing
Do not own it. I'm not sure if I've ever listened to this album front to back, although I'm familiar with "Novocai..." and "Rags to Rags" (the latter of which I had on a Sampler CD from the very first issue of Maxim magazine called Chill Out with the Class of 1997 - an incredible collection and the best thing to ever come out of that magazine). There is so much to be said about the production and songwriting here. Mark Everett is such a smart lyricist - you get the sense that there is more to gleaned from each listen. I love the 80s-electric-piano-sitcom-theme-song riffs in "Susan's House." "Rags to Rags" has such a great chorus payoff with a nod to the Pixies or Nirvana in the quiet-loud-quiet setup. I love the vulnerability in "Not Ready Yet" - this songwriting is so incredibly gen-x. The critics that called it pretentious or out-of-touch were clearly out-of-touch themselves with the most introspective, self-deprecating, and sarcastic generation. That said, the second half of the album is a bit forgettable musically, and feels very of-it's-time 30 years later, although much more sophisticated than the other jangle-pop of the 90s. I personally love the work that Jon Brion and E.Z. Mike (of the Dust Brothers) did with the production - sparse at times, quirky, balanced, just right for E's rough-around-the-edges vocals. Really good with a handful of great tracks. 4 stars.
I quite like this album. Not really similar to anything else I’ve listened to at all. His careless raspy voice fits very well
I know Novacane for the Soul. I remember hearing it played on the radio all the time when this album was released. There was something that kept me from buying this record and I couldn’t figure it out. I bought a lot back then. After listening today I realized that I’m glad I didn’t. The lyrics aren’t good. The music seems to be adding a bit of hip hop influence into some of the songs but it just didn’t work for me. There are other styles.
Deffo a good one.
Electro-Shock Blues is a top 20 album for me. This is still great but (unsurprisingly) doesn't have that record's emotional heft. Good to catch up again in any case.
No skips, absolutely beautiful album. This takes me back to my MP3 player days where I had a shitty MP3 player and I had Eels downloaded. I was traveling through China and listening to this a lot. Wonderful stuff.
You know when an album has a title like "Beautiful Freak" it's gonna be about an inch deep. This Beck knockoff has that typical empty 90s production that pushes the snare up to the front of the mix and tosses in some samples 'cause why not, it's hip and all of the cool kids are doing it. Lead Eel "E" (just "E"? C'mon, when is this pretentious nonsense going to stop) has a theatrical, affected voice that can't make up to the fact that he has nothing of value to say.
This was enjoyable. One of the songs from shrek was on here and was a pleasant surprise.
So, this is what the cool kids were listening to in 1996? I want chill them and I’m sure not now.
Starts off pretty promising but quickly just devolves to every single 90s alt rock cliche you've heard, plus with the added chamber pop elements they just sound like an inferior copy of the Smashing Pumpkins. The only thing that I can say that kind of makes them unique are the admittedly pretty interesting lyrics, especially on tracks like "Susan's House" and "My Beloved Monster", but other than that I can't really recommend this album to anyone else.
i'm really torn between a 2 and a 3 on this, like i think it's exactly a 2.5. pretty much background noise, but it at least felt more interesting than the queens of the stone age album. some of the lyrics felt cringy, and i'm probably not listening to anything on here again, but it wasn't like the worst thing which is why i'm torn.
I know they’re supposed to be ironic, but some of these lyrics. Oof
Reminds me a lot of music I love but doesn't quite make it there for some reason. I think the vibes are immaculate but the lyrics are lacking. I'm not against it though and I probably would listen again, there's just something more I'm craving that would push it to a 5. However, he does a great job taking music that SHOULD be annoying and somehow not being insufferable. Nice.
If I wanted to listen to sucky 90s music I’d listen to Moby
This reminded me of the whole crappy radio rock sound of the late 90's early 2000's. Hipster sounding garbage that tries to be eclectic and comes off like quirky ironic elevator music. Dumb lyrics sung by a cringe whiny vocalist that made me feel nothing besides wishing it was over.
One decent song here
dit was iets dat er toch wat uitsprong toen het uitkwam... hetzelfde maar net iets anders dan de rest... en het meeste heeft de tand des tijds overleefd
Goodness me, I’m getting on a bit! I’ve just realised that the Eels’ debut album is 30 years old! I can still clearly remember buying the CD all those years ago. It feels like it was only yesterday. The nineties were a difficult time for me musically. Pop had been saccharine since the mid-1980s, while traditional rock genres were either overproduced or trying too hard to sound modern. Grunge didn’t really do it for me, and neither did rap. The Eels hit me like a bomb in this void. Their artfully crafted pop music combined singer-songwriter lyrics with influences from rock and electronic music. Mark Oliver Everett's lyrics, clearly drawn from personal experience, covered themes such as death, loneliness, unrequited love, depression, mental health issues, freaks, losers and loners. That was new and unprecedented. It was music for people who had somehow lost their way while growing up. Music for real people with real problems. Naturally, it spoke to me because it combined the honesty of my favourite singer-songwriters with a modern sound. 'Beautiful Freak' was an excellent debut: visionary, and setting a new standard for intellectual pop and rock music. It still feels excitingly fresh and different. The album was unbeatable. In my view, Mark Oliver Everett never produced another album quite as compelling, both lyrically and musically. But he doesn't need to. This one is for the ages.
#11 The curator of this list really likes rock, huh? Peculiar album. I don't understand what it's trying to be or what kind of emotion it's trying to convey. It was just a chill listening experience in the end.
Rich, eclectic, interesting textures.
I have never connected with this album and this band. I find it a bit boring and bland. Kind of like a boring Beck….
Simply brilliant. Easy five stars. Have loved this for a long time.
3.5
The background music for every middle-of-the-road 90s teen drama. Songs for the angsty kids to rebel with when they're too scared of metal. The soundtrack of a teenager on a long distance bus, putting their hoodie up over their hair and wistfully looking out the window as they run away from home. Bland not-really rock that doesn't go anywhere as you keep listening and realise they only have one sound. Safe to say i didn't like it.
Eels are one of those bands where I've just had the one song that I've really liked for a long time (Novocaine For The Soul), but I never got round to really listening to anything else. I just sort of expected that to be their best song, and was prepared for most of this album to pale in comparison to that opening track... I was so wrong, every song on this is distilled mid 90s indie rock gold
love novocaine the rest is aight..
🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑 Okay, whatever, Eels. I remember hearing “Novocaine for the Soul” and “Beautiful Freak” around the same time—in high school—and loving them because I was just old enough to be emo and just young enough to lack discernment. I still stand by these songs, especially the first—I even wrote a short story that sucked called “Before I Sputter Out” ripped from its lyrics—but on almost every listen since my first, I’ve been really on the fence about a lot of aspects. I think I remember hearing that the frontman was, like, REALLY going through it, so I’m not leveling poser allegations against him, but there’s a certain put-on-ness about many aspects of “Novocaine for the Soul,” and, by proxy, the entire album, that I suspect is a transitional form between nineties grunge-y soft rock and the lab-grown whine of emo pop punk. His voice has always ridden the line for me—it just barely works, but I think it sounds purposefully strained in a way that makes me feel resistant to taking it seriously. There are a lot of musical cues here too that I’ve learned to raise an eyebrow at. I wouldn’t have known it in high school, but the drum-loop-over-grainy-strings-samples in so many of these songs read to me as sort of a disingenuous attempt at signposting something is indie these days, though I wonder if Eels started this trend. There’s a hint of “twisted nursery rhyme” cadence in several of these songs, once again chiefly “Novocaine,” and it’s something I think I was way more into in High School before I realized it’s kind of baby’s first subversion and almost always ends up corny. It’s a bummer, but I even feel that way about the entire “Beautiful Freak” motif in the album—a tough defeat, since it’s a concept I resonate really deeply with but that seems to be so easily commodified and clichéd. Even on this album, “Beautiful Freak” makes its unsubtle but sweet statement, and then is soon followed by “Beloved Monster”—huh?! Did we just look in the thesaurus? The titles really do reek of this sadboy wordbank: “Novocaine for the Soul,” “Rags to Rags,” “Beautiful Freak,” “My Beloved Monster,” “Mental,” “Your Lucky Day in Hell,” and “Manchild” all feel like cookie-cutter poetry from the antisocial, reject, outcast stereotype of the last few decades. I can only hope, once again, that Eels predates this and these were genuine statements before they became tragically flat. Then again, flat or not, there was a time in my life when this vocabulary felt heartfelt and honest, and maybe that’s the sort of mindset I need to return to when listening to Eels. All this harshness aside, I found myself liking the album in general through this critical haze. I think “Beloved Monster” (even if redundant), “Mental,” and “ 1: Bad | 2: Below Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities) | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing
3.5 - good
전체적인 몽환적인 듯한 분위기가 좋았고, 앨범 커버를 보고 좀 당황했지만 안에 있던 노래는 다 좋았던 것 같다. 뭔가 음악을 잘 모르는 내가 느끼기에는 오아시스 느낌도 났다. I liked the overall dreamlike atmosphere; although the album cover took me by surprise a bit, I thought all the songs inside were great. To someone like me who doesn't know much about music, it even gave off a bit of an Oasis vibe.
Užas, toliko loših tih rock ili kako uopće nazvati to, bendova, jedva čekam završiti ovaj projekt. 1/5, 1/10
Beautifully Freaky.
I knew one Eels song before hearing this debut album. Had no idea about the 30-year catalog of albums. How many good bands are lurking below mainstream popularity, creating solid albums year after year? This feels like one to come back to, sit with the ruminating lyrics, enjoy the studio noodling.
This album feels very of its time but in a good way. Thought this would be way plainer than it ended up being. Love that 90's alt sound Favorite Songs: Susan's House, My Beloved Monster
this is like if jughead jones moved to forks, wa, and did a bad acoustic nirvana impression
Like most people my age, my introduction to eels was "Novocaine for the Soul" all over radio/MTV in the summer of 1996. I liked it OK, but it didn't make me want to go out and buy the album. A few years later in grad school, a friend I met right before graduation was obsessed with eels and burned me a couple of CDs he urged me to listen to. It was the two albums after this one. When I finally listened to them, I didn't fall quite as madly in love with them as my buddy had, but I got it - this band was more than just a one-hit wonder. E's story is fascinating and tragic and he seems to be kind of a genius.
Pretty mid indie rock
Fine, whatever
Det e på en måte nostalgisk, men samtidig e det ikke egentlig så interessant, og tidvis enerveranes, så æ tror ikke det e nokka for mæ.
Such a good album. Hopefully Shrek fans go deeper than just My Beloved Monster.
Don't believe I knew of this band or album. I liked the sound of the music and vocals - classic 90s Indie/Alt rock sound that just throws me back to the era. Wasn't overwhelmed by it, though. Solid middle of the road.
Great vocals and some good flow to it I enjoyed it.
Did I like this? Yea I liked it enough. Do I think it should be on this list? Absolutely fucking not.
Probably would’ve liked more when I was younger. The Shrek soundtrack song still slaps
*Solid indie rock album
I recognize this cover. I know the first song but I didn’t recognize the title. Always like this song. Great hook. This album has a great groove and swing. I should have paid more attention to this band then. The sounds on this album are just great. The voice wears on me a bit. But the rest is really good.
I was both excited and disappointed when I saw this album come up on the list. I've been a fan of Eels for nearly three decades now. Mark Oliver Everett is a very prolific songwriter, and not everything he does works for me, but when he's good he's very good. But this is not the Eels album I would have chosen. "Novocaine for the Soul" great, but the rest of the album doesn't hold up that well for me. If there's one Eels album you should hear before you die it's the beautiful and heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting concept album about death, Electro-Shock Blues. The story is that he lost several loved ones in close succession and processed that loss and grief through his songwriting. Go check it out
Surprised I liked this half as much as I did. Feels very authentic.
18. avgust 2026. 14.33h soooo 90s and not really my cup of tea, mislim uglavnom kao 80% albuma best: not ready yet ili my beloved monster ali znam koja mi NIJE bila best a to je beautiful freak
Hadn’t heard of this at all, saw the album cover and a name I hadn’t heard of, but it was actually not too bad, listenable but nothing I’ll rush back to
Mixed bag of mediocre to blah. Why is it on the list? Who knows. Album cover art is horrible.
I'm a big fan of this exact flavor of Alt-Rock: that kind of psychedelic, chilled-out Alt-Rock where the singer always has unnecessarily raspy vocals. Stuff like Beck and The Flaming Lips. That being said, I don't know why this one in particular got to me so much. It started with that part in Susan's House about the kid getting put in a body bag and then it all kept going from there. I was surprised to see that this one was on the list instead of Electro-Shock Blues, given how much I hear about that one, but apparently their entire thing is "why is this affecting me so much?" so it's not like this is a downgrade.
nice enough
Mid
Mid
Okay, but not massive fan
this was good
Eels… I’d heard of them, and the LP cover looks familiar, but I wasn’t familiar with the music. I knew one or two tracks, and I wasn’t particularly disappointed either. Three stars…
Joskus musiikki osuu tietyllä hetkellä paremmin. Tämän lohdulliset Sävelet ja sanat osuivat. Soundit olivat paikoin täydellisiä.
Another good but not great album for me. The two opening singles were everyehere at the time and i remember them fondly. But the rest of the album reminded me why i'd never become a fan. It wasn't bad, and I dont mind their schtick, but i tried listening twice and gave up half way through the second time.
Appreciated it far more than I expected, bonus point for the Shrek connection. RYM: N Saved a song: N
I love this album from front to back. Such vivid stories and the epitome of 90s indie
6.5/10 - Pleasantly surprised. It was interesting and inventive.
Pretty solid album, I like the blending of different genres and the lo-fi nature of it. Tails off a bit towards the end. 7/10
From the studio that brought you... Shrek?... comes a pretty solid 90s alt rock selection. I was happy with this one. Highlights: "Novocaine for the Soul" (better than I remembered it); "Mental;" and maybe also "My Beloved Monster."
Wonderful mix of rock, triphop, shoegaze and indie. An absolute dream of an album.
Another one that just seemed safe. Didn't feel like something so special I had to hear before I died, but not really a bad album, either. 2 1/2 stars
I thought this list was 1,001 albums ... not 1,001 one hit wonders from the 90s? Saw these guys a few years back at some free food festival. Still not impressed.
I really liked the front half of the album but the back half was not the same sound or quality
Had no idea what to expect going in and was pretty pleasantly surprised
I had no idea what to expect but it's a great album. Four stars
Unique and beautiful
Tiens, encore un album de rock osef que Robert Dimery doit trouver absolument formidable. Bon, c'est quand même pas non plus aussi nul que certains autres albums. Celui-ci a un minimum de personnalité et même un tout petit côté grunge (c'est d'époque !). Donc mettre deux serait quand même assez abusé. Ce sera un petit trois, un peu tiède, mais en vrai, c'était pas un album si osef que ça.
very interesting instrumental noises at the start and end of songs. the songs sound very melancholic strong drums reminds me of Radiohead a little.
This is a 3.6 really but rounding down to 3 would be unfair
Another one hit wonder?
I knew this band by name but this is my first time listening. A really powerful aura from the lead singer, and nice crisp melodies with fairly spare production. The deceptive simplicity of the song construction and distinct perspective of the lyrics definitely called to mind songwriters like Mitski.
Shronk
Na ja. Mir zu düster.
I could never quite decide if I thought Eels were fascinating, or boring and listening to this record again today for the first time in YEARS, I still don't know. There's something unusual and compelling about this record, but I kind of wanted each track to hurry up and finish. I don't think it belongs on this list. On the other hand, maybe it does.
I suppose this is the album which launched the Eels to the next level in the UK and it is a great example of an indie rock oddity. Lyrically it is pretty dark and downbeat for the most part but it has some really interesting musical twists and turns. I can't quite see why it is on the list yet I do love it.
Enjoyed a lot more than I initially thought I would. Not a masterpiece but delivered everywhere it seemed to be trying to. Felt engaged the whole listen. Faves: Novacaine For the Soul, My Beloved Monster, Not Ready Yet, Your Lucky Day In Hell Rating: 8.2
I wanted to get excited and love this. Unfortunately, I fell right asleep instead. Monster one hit wonder. Exceedingly dull otherwise.
Probably won’t listen to that again
a couple of the songs Ive heard a bunch over the years, besides that, nothing else too interesting to me
Fine I guess. Catchy, tastefully produced, some ok lyrics, some terrible. But the kind of daily album I wind up resenting cos there are plenty interesting new things out just this week I probably should have listened to instead.
Mmm didn't like this - some moments were hints of music I do like but couldn't get past the pop punk American voice! Also horrible album cover
Find it so funny that Eels are so inextricably associated with the Shrek franchise
Great album. Classic indie rock with plenty of weird thrown in.
It’s been a while since I’d listened to this one, but I always liked it alright. For its time, it was a pretty unique record, though it did take a little getting into for me. I still like it pretty good; it’s held up pretty well for a 30-year old record. Eels made some pretty interesting choices with the music and it’s got some decent hooks to it. 8/10
Cozy.
It was honest and of the time for sure 3+
90s nostalgia bumps this up a tick
Really intrigued me on the first listen, definitely a fan of the use of weird audio and how the vocals aren't but have so much depth - Will prob revisit and I think is my first 5
Very beautiful music, had me wishing for more darker feels but the hope and the lighter melodies suit it. Enjoyed :) Cat named Lola mentioned 🗣
I really liked this album very chill. Nice atmospheric music.
I'll be honest, this is so, so, so much better than I remembered it being. I never got massively into Eels first time round, and feel like maybe I had a copy of this CD but it hadn't stuck in my brain. Anyway, the singles are really strong, if classically frontloaded in the track list, and it's got some moments of surprising delicacy, particularly Flower, which I thought was great. It's not quite a five, but it's definitely at the top end of four.
I was introduced to this album by my then Manager of WH Smith back in 1996. David Baraclough was his name. Turns out he was way cooler than me and now I am the around the same age now that he was then. I really liked this album then and I think it still holds up 30 years later. Weirdly never really got into their other albums except the one with Birds on it.
A bit Weird but musically and lyrically interesting
grappig
2.8
Weinerlicher Emo Dreck
ganz nett, aber auch nicht mehr
Ist doch cool + Shrek
The album is very well produced, but unfortunately it did not spark much for me.
Never really listened to Eels before, it's started off reasonably well so I'll probably stick it out to the end... I did, and it was OK
In what appears to be a regular occurrence this album is deeply connected to a period of poor mental health I had. I’d left London and was back at my parents house and the night time radio shows of Steve lamacq and mark radcliffe were a life line for me. This is where I first encountered Novocaine for the soul and Susan’s house. I loved how up front they were about the grimness of life but their willingness to find beauty in it too. Really important stuff for me at the time. The album doesn’t always maintain those highs but it’s an album that welcomes you in
A few incredible songs mixed with some boring ones.
Not a huge fan of the singing but I got used to it. Everything is fine, nothing amazing really about this album.
Trying way too hard. I remember the hype of this record and not getting it then either
I really liked this.
Pretty cool. Vibe kinda drags by the end of the album
real bummer vibe.
What a relief, hearing an album that doesn't feel like a chore to hear all of it. Very listenable and inclined to listen again.
Instrumentally rich and catchy, and lyrically endearing in an unsettling way.
Rock. It was kinda cool hearing a song from Shrek, but kinda boring otherwise.
Myen. Je n’aime pas tout
haven’t heard this in decades. holds up remarkably well. “novacaine” is a good single but I really dig “beautiful freak”, “my beloved monster”, and “your lucky day in hell”. A solid to great record all around
This is alright music. As too often, I don't really understand why it's here but I can now say that I've listened to (the?) Eels and they're alright.
I had not listened to this album from start to finish in more than a decade, but what a treat it was. I listened through FOUR TIMES yesterday. Nearly 30 years on, it still holds up. It's brooding, technically proficient, catchy and original. Lyrically, the content is dark. Very dark. However, it is approached with such care that it doesn't come across as navel gazing self indulgence. There is a touch of humour, a hint of tongue in cheek which makes the album really poppy and accessible. It's fantastic.
Veel nice melodiëen, minder strak uitgewerkt
I really liked the Eels song that was in Shrek 2, but this earlier album is just fine.
really enjoyed this album
I think it's both trying too hard and a bit lazy at the same time. Didn't click for me.
Boring
Snoooooooore 😴
My Beloved Monster is in Shrek. That bumps this album up a star.
Abysmal cover. In the running for worst on this list. Eels have always been a band I enjoy but not enough to pursue beyond going hey I liked that. I actually like the way a song like Susan’s House sounds but the lyrics are so fucking stupid. And then a song like the title track. We know nothing about this freak! Are they smelly? Addicted to glue? Just kind of clumsy? We don’t know! YOU! Don’t know. It’s just meant to be a thing you can attach anyone to. Is my beloved monster about a complicated relationship? Or an actual monster? I can’t tell! Either is fine but neither fucking sucks!
It's liek Beck meets Bright Eyes
Quirky with interesting lyrics but does get a bit bland and slow musically. 3/5
4/5
Minulla oli ihan hyviä hetkiä tämän levyn kanssa. Kuulosti paikoin ceeämäxältä.
Ei oikein lähteny alt rock, post grunge mitä onkaan. Näitä bändejä tuntuu kans hirveä lista olevan mitkä on same but different. Alotuskappale on nimeltään tuttu, mutta ei kyllä paljoa herättäny muistikuvia, että olisin monesti ainakaan kuullu. Kertakuunteluna meni taustalla aivan ok, mutta ei oikein herättäny kiinnostusta artistia tai levyä kohtaan sen enempää. Levynkansi creepy ahh.
Amazing. Genuinely. The title track sucks though
It’s my kind of music, but I don’t think there was any one song I particularly latched on to. It has a good sound overall, and I didn’t find the lyrics to be too off putting, but I’m still just kind of wondering what value it has on a list like this. I won’t completely pan it because it wasn’t a talentless affair, but it also was just another album that breezed by with little to remember.
Love this album...
1. zoul - 0 2. houze - 0 3. ragz - 1 4. freak - 1 5. ready - 2 6. monzter - 0 7. flouuer - 0 8. guezt - 0 9. mental - 0 10. zpunky - 0 11. hell - 1 12. child - 0
This grew on me quite a bit over the course of the listen; this will be listened to again.
i genuinely liked this album. weird enough to be unique, commercial enough for each song to be likeable. finding out it's also a one man show added to my appreciation of the music made.
Great album. Hell of a debut too. Most of their best singles on here. Not my usual style, but really enjoyed it.
11/1001 Uma grata surpresa, abrindo com duas pedradas como Novocaine for the Soul e Susan's House Novocaine for the Soul - 80 Susan's House - 80 Rags to Rags - 75 Beautiful Freak - 75 Not Ready Yet - 80 My Beloved Monster - 80 Flower - 75 Guest List - 75 Mental - 75 Spunky - 75 Your Lucky Day in Hell - 75 Manchild - 75 Media: 76.6
Fine. It has the general alt-rock sound of my youth, but I doubt I would have been that hyped about it at the time.
Knowing nothing about Eels, this sounded similar to a lot of things I do like, but do it better. Lyrics were sometimes laughably trying to be sad and haunting
My dad used to listen to this band, I get why. Great stuff
Благородная ностальгия. Приглушенный звук инструментов, хрипящий надрывающийся голос и очень знакомые мелодии. Не сказал бы что этот альбом чем-то выделяется с первого прослушивания, но в сочетании с довольно пугающей обложкой помимо ностальгии чувствуется страх и тревожность. Это наблюдается не во всех песнях явно но весь альбом точно обладает описанными качествами. Голос ощущается так, вокалист поет последнюю песню перед смертью и прямо сейчас истекает кровью. На самом деле не передаваемое ощущение от прослушивания, но только непонятно когда послушать это ? Исключительно фоновые композиции но очень четко передающие эмоцию. Ставлю альбому 5.5/10
3,5
feels like I'm in a early 2000's am to a degree lol, lyrics are nothing meteoric but they hold impact and weight just not the greatest song writing I've ever heard, this is staying in rotation in the car for sure tho, great work.
Interesting album. It’s a tad on the dark side; however, it is a testament of the social, political, and economics of the time.
Pavement/dinosaur jr. Novocaine for the soul Beautiful freak
I definitely had this CD when I was young in the ‘90s, and even then I remember being underwhelmed. Is this the book people trying to be cool by including a relatively forgotten “cool” song? Because don’t let’s act like the whole album is anything special outside of the big single.
The album art was creepy as hell. The songs are low bpm which I liked. This feels like a multiple listen album for me to honestly like songs out of it. It was a good listen. Songs I liked: Susans house Flower Spunky Review - 8/10
ahead of its time!
gefällt, und trotzdem nicht einfach zum hören.
Ein grossartiges Album als Startpunkt von vielen weiteren.
Enjoyed more than I was expecting. First time listening to Eels.
Kind of bad no
2 out of 5. The sad guy indie rock doesn't do it for me.
Wasn't a fan of this 30 years ago and nothing has changed
Last song amazing other songs boooo lyrically sonically p good last song tame impala type shit 4? 3? 3. Man early lyrics sucked.
I always felt Eels were underrated, this fine introduction and their next two albums, Electro-shock Blues and Daisies of the Galaxy are fantastic so I never got how their sales dropped off so steeply after Beautiful freak. A great balance of hooky, interesting edgy, melodic, perhaps there is a slight tendency toward slightly dour tones but overall definitely one of the 90’s under appreciated bangers in my opinion 4.2
This band passed me by but I wish they hadn't. I really like this. It's got a cool, trippy relaxed vibe about it. Like wilco meets avalanches or something.
For a debut this album feels really weird because it’s already so formed and experimental. It’s got both simple instrumentation but also a wide range of different genres and feelings all covered by lyrics that talk about drug abuse, loneliness, and isolation. At least I think that’s what it’s about idk I listened to it pretty much twice but I didn’t have the lyrics up to my eyes or anything so I might have missed or added something. It’s good shit though I appreciated this one a lot. It’s a little off for this list though. We’ve got alt rock albums like this but not a single Ween album? No Mollusk no Chocolate and Cheese? That’s their problem not mine. Would have a lot more 100s if they added those to be fair. Anyways, on the types of songs they have. There’s a song that really sounded like a James Bond intro parody (Your Luckiest Day in Hell), a sort of twisted pop ballad (Beautiful Freak), some hip hop type vocals mixed with pianos (Susan’s House) and even some gospel influence (Flower). They crammed a good bit into this one so you won’t feel bored or anything. Although on the other hand like I said the instrumentation is pretty simple so don’t expect like a crazy masterpiece or anything. It’s just a pretty artistic good little album.
The songs are dark and serious but I close my eyes and all I see is Shrek
My favorite Eels album is the greatest hits album. Why? Because E is definitely a hit maker. However each one of his albums has certain songs that just drag on. This one really only has "Rags to Rags" in my opinion. Every other track is well written or well produced, or both. Nostalgia clouds my judgement, so my 3.5 rating is knocked down to a very solid 3
This was a wild ride. Very shocking and crazy lyrics at times, but the music itself is good! Your Lucky Day, Mental, and a couple other tracks stood out to me as really well done. The whole album ended up being a grower - 7/10
What makes this essential? Clearly not the lyrics. The singing isn't that great, music doesn't stand out.
4/5
I'm from Belgium and over here Eels is damn popular. It's even more popular over here then in their own country. And yes still to this date. Really enjoyed this album. 4/5
Novocaine For The Soul has been added to my Dental Playlist.
Very standard mid-90s fare. Good for what it is, but not the greatest genre.
Loved this as a kid, definitely holds up!
I was expecting the worst based on the spooky ghost opening in the first track. But what I got instead??? Mid-to-pretty-good rock.
Twin maybe I am a freak after all
Pleasantly surprised by that, it was beautiful, also cool that a song from shrek in there. Standouts are susan’s house, beautiful freak, my beloved monster and your lucky day in hell.
A perfectly serviceable album. The one interesting thing is that the lead singer of the band father came up with the many worlds theory in physics.
A little monotone, but i love Shrek
Dark lyrics over interesting music
8 - GOOD
Another one I've never heard of; keep 'em coming! Apart from the distinct basslines played on the cello in "Susan's House", you could easily mistake the first 3 tracks as being one long thing. Instrumentals are serviceable, but his airy flat tone never changes from song to song, making it feel impossible to know when one track is ending and another is starting. "Not Ready Yet" caught my attention though, with it's distinct notes at the beginning, bleeding into reverbed effects chords. The slight distortion affect on the vocals also fits his voice better too. Then came the chorus, and he showed some more range! This almost had Radiohead energy. Easily the stand out track for me so far. Any more like this and the opening tracks may be excused. Instantly (maybe unfortunately) recognized "My Beloved Monster" from Shrek, it is a good track, another with interesting guitar sections and the way the rasp in his voice escalates in time with the drums is a stroke of genius. Unfortunately "Flower" was much like the beginning songs for me, but the hip-hop drum roll and moody bass of "Guest List" worked for me, despite vocals being relatively the same as disliked tracks. The harmonica sections were also appreciated too, blending well with the drums. More of the same disappointment with "Mental" and most of "Spunky", though the wibbling distorted guitar notes flanked by the piano notes were a fun surprise. Even so, it couldn't save the song for me; beautiful lyrics though. "Your Lucky Day in Hell" had some unique arrangements and fun lyrics; lots of cool things going on with a deep bassline layered with angelic strings and distorted guitars. Enjoyed this one. "Manchild" was weirdly beautiful, his voice working in this soft higher pitch accompanied with the organ. Thankfully a satisfying end to an otherwise mediocre album for me. Overall, there are things to enjoy here, but much of it is surrounded by the sands of some generic vocals and instrumentals. Would love to see how this band evolves, as I get the impression that their is more to this band than this album has you believe.
Another album new to me...and this one I rather liked. Wikipedia says this is post-grunge. Well I don't know about that, but I will be adding it to my Qobuz favourites. Ans I love the cover.
This felt like it was trying so desperately to be off-centre and quirky, but in actuality it was all just mildly boring and non-committal. Unremarkable slacker-ish indie disguised under a veil of meaningless sound effects.
Not bad but, by the end, not very interesting.
Interesting 90's melancholy vibe, but that can only go so far, amirite
Sing. Or don't.
Novocaine For The Soul was huge, but I don't think this album held its weight in comparison
Eclectic Indie. Pretty remarkable album by one Mark Oliver Everett DBA the Eels, musically diverse, lyrically interesting. I'm caught between a 4 and 5, and 4 it is...this time.
This is a very intriguing album. It feels like it wants to be a serious grunge album but the band just doesn't have the chops for it. This doesn't make the album bad, but puts it in a unique place. The sound is accessible, interesting, and compelling despite the lack of strong lyrics. Still, it has a great vibe.
Eels have always struck me as an extremely solid if oddly dull indie rock band. This debut sets the template - some truly memorable and eclectic songs like "Novocaine For the Soul" and "Susan's House" but also true yawners that fade into pleasant background hipster coffee shop music. A mixed bag overall.
Novocaine is awesome, I still think the rest of the album is a little underpowered though.
Proto quirk chungus ahh music shrek 2
Love this musically and the very 1996 writing and vocal suit it perfectly. Solid opener, Rags to Rags is great, Mental is great, there's a lot of good moments throughout
shrek moment
manchild indeed. this is giving losercore (derogatory); i feel like there's some potential sonically, i enjoyed the weird spoken word bit in track 2. self-pitying pick-me boy malarkey is not done here in a way that works for me, spoils the vibes of something otherwise tolerable. self-loathing i will indulge but self-pity? higher bar. fav: mental
I mean it’s ok.
Nothing special
They had some good songs and then some others that seemed to drag. They are not bad but would not seek it out to listen again.
It wasn’t beautiful but it was still decent
Surprisingly good. Really liked the moody slow rock, great for driving across North Dakota under a heavy gray sky. I liked the dude’s raspy voice. Really liked the lyricism too.
This was an enjoyable listen. Liked the variety & his voice grew on me. Not really sure why it is on this list but it’s still mikes better than lot of other drivel we’ve suffered thru
A 3 for Novocaine For The Soul and My Beloved Monster. The rest was ok. I do love his voice.
1. Novocaine For The Soul (★★★★★) -Favorita del álbum y más -El videoclip también me pareció creativo... 2. Susan's House (★★★★⯨) 3. Rags To Rags (★★★★★) -Fav 4. Beautiful Freak (★★★★★) -Fav 5. Not Ready Yet (★★★★★) -Favorita del álbum y más 6. My Beloved Monster (★★★★★) -Favorita del álbum y más 7. Flower (★★★★★) -Fav 8. Guest List (★★★★★) -Fav -Me gustó cómo parece iniciar, como si fuera una canción de otro género, hip-hop, boom bap quizás, y después ya vuelve a lo convencional sin perder el ritmo inicial. 9. Mental (★★★★★) -Favorita del álbum y más -Por la parte final, con el "Not at all", me encantaría escuchar cómo la cantaría Kurt y qué energía podría darle Nirvana si le hiciera cover en otro universo... 10. Spunky (★★★★⯨) 11. Your Lucky Day In Hell (★★★★★) -Fav 12. Manchild (★★★★⯨) TOTAL = ★★★★⯨ (5)
Like an emo Lo fi beck, but kind of shittier. I get this connected with people and had a very particular aesthetic but it hasn’t aged well and kind of seems like an amateur go at sampling. The songs themself aren’t bad though but the production places it at a certain era. Not bad not good.
I did enjoy this one and listened to the recommended for much longer than i thought
Great, solid indie music. Surprisingly consistent. Another great find for the effort. 4 "lucky day" stars.
to freaky for me, it's rock but too chill. Eels had that banger from shrek tho, and all these songs are like that one. For that 3 stars
Tienen cositas pero no lo volvería a escuchar.
Conocía algunas canciones de Eels, pero las de este álbum me decepcionaron un poco en comparación. No estuvo mal, quizá si me termina interesando la banda/artista termino volviendo a escuchar el disco, estuvo bueno, pero nada wow ni tan destacable.
No pude esucchalro
I was ready to give this a 5, especially because of Novacaine. Just the right amount of 90s melancholy. But by the end of the album it felt a bit "sputtered out."
I was not at all familiar with Eels previously, I think I had heard the name but no songs. I really enjoyed this listen, but admittedly can't discern why this is included in a list of greatest albums -- on first listen it sounds like a lot of other 90s rock.
Surprised to find I still know most of the melodies on here by heart!!! This was little 13 year old me’s JAM and although I can’t find it within me to muster up the same enthusiasm for it now I had a generally pleasant time revisiting this 3.75/5
Nice, quirky album of alt-rock from the mid 90s. Not going to be my new favorite album, but very much of its time.
Novocaine for the Soul 4.5 Susan's House 4.3 Rags to Rags 4.2 Beautiful Freak 3.4 Not Ready Yet 4.2 My Beloved Monster 3.2 Flower 3.6 Guest List 4.2 Mental 4 Spunky 3 Your Lucky Day in Hell 4 Manchild 3.2 Score: 3.816666667
beautiful feek
..
Good album. I had listened to some stuff by Eels already, but never paid much attention. Songs I enjoyed: "Novocaine For The Soul", "Susan's House", "Not Ready Yet", "Guest List", "Spunky", and "Manchild". This is in the 3,5 range, but leaning towards 4 (also because, after listening to this, I'm interested in listening to other material by Eels).
Shrek 2 kino
A nice surprise.
I think Eels is one of the most underrated bands of the 90s. That being said, this is probably not even in my top of eels albums. A bit more catchier than others
I quite surprisingly liked this album. They has a soothing vibe.
Nice
I bought this album and still like it. It's pretty dark, and a couple of the songs feel more like spoken word with some background music, but on a particularly bad day (which today happened to be), I really *really* appreciate Novocaine for the Soul. I ended up listening to that song 4 times today just for good measure, before I sputtered out.
Started strong. Very mid
It's okay. Better than its opening single would suggest. 3.5, rounded down.
Twas OK
Laid back.
With the exception of some brief moments, this album is ass. Almost in one star territory
Fine 90s indie/alt rock sound pulling with an artier and poppier approach, with fairly eclectic songs that are well crafted and fairly rich. The singer can be both sincere and use that dry-delivered irony that became some common in later indie rock. Overall Unmemorable, but fine I guess. Definitely not a neccary listen prior to perishing
**Eels – *Beautiful Freak* (1996): An In-Depth Review** *Beautiful Freak* is the major-label debut of Eels—the project led by Mark Oliver Everett (stage name “E”)—and remains one of the most distinctive albums to emerge from the mid-1990s alternative landscape. Released in 1996 on DreamWorks Records, it is technically Everett’s third album (following two solo releases as “E”), but it established the Eels moniker and the collaborative identity that would define his career. What makes the record endure is its tension: it is a pop album marinated in despair, a grunge record with a toy piano, and a deeply personal statement dressed in sonic eccentricity. --- ### **Production & Sound** The album was produced by a team of four, including Everett himself, alongside Jon Brion, Mark Goldenberg, and Michael Simpson of the Dust Brothers. This collaborative approach yielded a sound that is deliberately patchwork yet cohesive. The production layers distorted guitars, trip-hop beats, vinyl crackle, spoken-word passages, and unexpected instrumentation—such as the glockenspiel and toy piano on “Novocaine for the Soul”—over a backbone of concise, melodic songwriting.citeweb_search:1#1web_search:1#2 The result is what *Q* magazine praised as “a complete musical vision, a genre-spanning soundscape that reels you in with its myriad hooks.”citeweb_search:1#2 The Los Angeles Times connected this maverick approach to a lineage of outsider Los Angeles bands, noting that Eels chronicled “the outsider, underdog attitude in the shadows of a record industry that never embraces them commercially.”citeweb_search:1#2 --- ### **Lyrics & Themes** Lyrically, *Beautiful Freak* is obsessed with ugliness, anxiety, outsiderdom, and underachievement—but it uses these dark themes as a canvas for flickers of light and childlike tenderness.citeweb_search:1#0 Everett’s writing is starkly observational, often walking a line between empathy and detached narration. - **“Novocaine for the Soul”** opens the album with the unforgettable couplet: *“Life is hard / and so am I / You’d better give me something / so I don’t die.”* It sets the tone immediately—cynical, needy, and darkly funny. The song became an unlikely international hit, driven by its dreamy chorus and toy-piano intro. - **“Susan’s House”** is a narrative spoken-word piece set to a sampled Gladys Knight piano loop, detailing a walk through urban misery—dead bodies, arguments, drug dealers—before arriving at a place of fragile connection. It is one of the album’s most distinctive tracks, blending trip-hop rhythms with literary storytelling. - **“Not Ready Yet”** captures the paralysis of mental illness and self-doubt, its hesitant dynamics mirroring the lyrical refusal to engage with the world. - **“My Beloved Monster”**—later immortalized by its inclusion in *Shrek*—is a tender, almost nursery-rhyme-like ode to a partner who is as damaged and unique as the narrator. - **“Your Lucky Day in Hell”** opens with the surreal, darkly comic line *“Mama gripped onto the milkman’s hand / and then she finally gave birth,”* showcasing Everett’s gift for jarring, memorable imagery. The album’s childlike elements—toy pianos, simple melodies, wide-eyed cover art—serve as an idealized counterweight to the grime. As one retrospective noted, “childishness is presented as a kind of ideal state, the thing we’re all trying to achieve even as the world continues to slap us silly.”citeweb_search:1#0 --- ### **Musical Style & Influence** *Beautiful Freak* is often described as post-grunge, but that label is reductive. The album incorporates elements of hip-hop, soul, spoken word, chamber pop, and noise rock, often within the same song. The rhythm section of Jonathan “Butch” Norton (drums) and Tommy Walter (bass) provides a live, muscular foundation, while the production team layers samples and atmospheric pads on top.citeweb_search:1#1 The record’s influence is diffuse but significant. It anticipated the genre-blending, emotionally vulnerable indie rock that would flourish in the 2000s, and its mix of melancholy and quirk can be heard in artists like Beck, Car Seat Headrest, and The National. For many listeners, it serves as a gateway to Eels’ broader, equally eclectic discography; one fan noted that *Beautiful Freak* functions as a “microcosm” of the band’s next five albums, containing seeds of the electro-shock blues, daisy-pop, and souljacker experiments that followed.citeweb_search:1#3 --- ### **Critical Reception** Contemporary reviews were largely positive but occasionally polarized. *Entertainment Weekly* praised the “postgrunge pop melodies and quirky, intelligent production,” though critic Ethan Smith felt E’s urban narratives could come off as “a disingenuous, arty pose.”citeweb_search:1#2 The *Chicago Tribune* was harsher, suggesting Everett came across as “either naive and self-absorbed or patronizing and calculating,” while *The Village Voice*’s Robert Christgau dismissed it entirely with a “dud” rating.citeweb_search:1#2 Retrospectively, the album has gained stature. AllMusic’s James Chrispell noted that “tinges of despair and downright meanness surface just when you’ve been lulled into thinking this is another pop group,” while *Trouser Press* observed that “E’s material works best when he finds the rare balance between his misanthropy and his capacity for warmth.”citeweb_search:1#2 --- ### **Pros** - **Inventive Production:** The arrangements are consistently surprising—harmonica bridges, gospel choirs, vinyl crackle, and jazz bass lines appear without feeling gimmicky. - **Melodic Strength:** Despite the experimental touches, the album is built on strong, concise pop hooks. Songs like “Novocaine for the Soul,” “Your Lucky Day in Hell,” and “Guest List” are immediately memorable. - **Lyrical Distinctiveness:** Everett’s writing is darkly funny, surreal, and emotionally raw. He avoids generic angst by grounding his misery in specific, often bizarre imagery. - **Cohesive Vision:** The album flows as a unified piece. The tension between sweetness and grime, pop and noise, gives it a singular identity. - **Emotional Resonance:** Tracks like “Not Ready Yet” and “Flower” articulate depression and alienation with genuine empathy, making the album deeply relatable for listeners who feel out of step with the world. ### **Cons** - **Vocal Limitations:** Everett’s weary, semi-spoken delivery is an acquired taste. Some listeners find it overwrought or “whiny,” and it can flatten the melodic potential of certain tracks. - **Inconsistent Pacing:** The middle of the album—particularly around “Rags to Rags” and “Mental”—can feel monotonous to some ears, with similar tempos and emotional registers blurring together. - **Pretension Risk:** The spoken-word passages and urban-misery narratives occasionally tip into self-consciousness. As one critic noted, the “warts-and-all portrayals of urban life” can feel like a posture rather than lived experience. - **Sample-Heavy Texture:** The reliance on loops and atmospheric pads dates the album to its mid-’90s moment. For some, this gives it a nostalgic charm; for others, it makes sections sound like “beige dirges.” - **Polarizing Tone:** The album’s relentless focus on despair, even when leavened by humor, can be exhausting. It is not a record for listeners seeking catharsis or uplift—it is more interested in sitting with discomfort. --- ### **Verdict** *Beautiful Freak* is a masterpiece of flawed beauty. It captures a specific post-Cobain moment in American rock—when grunge’s aggression was mutating into something more introverted, sample-based, and emotionally literate—while remaining utterly singular to Mark Oliver Everett’s vision. Its greatness lies in its contradictions: it is radio-friendly yet uncommercial, childlike yet steeped in adult misery, poppy yet poisoned. Nearly three decades later, it remains an essential, if sometimes uncomfortable, listen for anyone drawn to music that finds light in the margins of darkness.
Hadn’t really taken the time to fully listen to this record, but after a proper listen I felt like a joint and bourbon. the record swings between cracked humor, self-loathing & tenderness. Shoutout to Susan. 2.5/5 (I know you can’t do that but that’s my rating)
i think this album really starts to take off on track three, "rags to rags". that, "not ready yet", and "my beautiful monster". saw them once. it was a good show, had never listened to them. also never listened to them again until now, but that was before streaming was a thing.
All time terrible album cover but a really enjoyable album. There wasn’t a track on it that I didn’t enjoy but it needed a few that I really loved for me to give all five stars. Haven’t listened to Eels in forever so will have to go through their albums at some point. Top Track - Mental
Love this album cover first and foremost, it's so goofy, like who are you? Get away from me. Overall, though this was a pretty weird record, I think I'll need a fair bit of time to wrap my head around it. But first impressions were generally positive; it's definitely unique in its own twisted (freaky) little way, and also undeniably disorienting. It was sort of Weenish at times, with its consistently facetious presentation, in even some of the most serious songs. 'Susan's House' was maybe the most glaring example with this cutesy piano prop'd up against this very dark spoken word piece, making for an uneasy listening experience, but it's certainly effective. Even after finishing this, this album evades easy genre-classification - there's a bit of trip-hop in here, but also weird alternative and grunge spins, like with the catchy 'Rags to Rags', maybe my favorite song here. 'My Beautiful Monster' has a weird outro; it's just another song that feels super unsettling given its twisted depiction of love paired with these cacophonous, feedbacky guitar interjections. The album itself is filled with this sort of imagery, a lot of harsh depictions of self and growth, coming to a head with the subdued 'Guest list' and further tied in with the following 'Manic'. Kind of reminds me of "M&A" by Modest Mouse, given its very minimal sublime and personal nature - 'Spunky' here sounds very much out of that album. It's really not a very layered album (musically), has that old-school hip-hop ethos where there really is only one melody, or sample looping, and not too much in terms of standard song structures. But the stark nature of it all only added to the album's appeal for me. I dug this thing for the most part. Actually, while listening to it, I didn't notice that it was from all the way back in '96, which makes it even more impressive. It sounds like the type of lowkey, soft-spoken, experimental indie that would start popping off in the early to mid '2000s.
novocaine for the soul
Another one that I think I'll love more than I did. I really need to have lower expectations going into these. 3/5
Would give 3.5 if I could.
Not my cup of tea. Sounds to 90:s for my taste
This is tough because I listened to this constantly when I was 16/17/18 but haven't heard it since. The songs are so so interwoven with my time that I can't objectively rate them. I can't even pick it a favourite. Maybe Susan's House? It's so good. So so good.
J'adore déjà eels Donc c'est un grand 4,7 qui sera un 5 parce que c'est pas parfait mais ça reste insane
C'est cool, on sent dès la première chanson que c'est déjà la voix signature de Eels. Après le reste ne m'emballe pas tant que ça, mais bon album. Malus pour la pochette dégueulasse. Playlist pick : Novocaine For The Soul
In the labyrinth of despair that is this album, each song a melancholic maze, with an uncanny grace. Seems to have found the 'off' button on the hope meter and left it there. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Novocaine for the Soul - My Beloved Monster - Your Lucky Day in Hell
Another clinker I’d never heard
Great
Beautiful album, I've never listened to it before but will be back for more
Needs more songs from shrek
Liked it, was surprised I’d never heard them before.
This is one of those albums I never really heard of outside of this list but I find very interesting. The music sounds very different than everything coming out around this time and holds up fairly well all these years later.
creepy
Not bad.
I had never heard of this band, or this album, and I liked it quite a bit. It's unusual, and a bit weird, and yet, it's using fairly conventional instrumentation, vocalization, and modes. I'll definitely have to give it a few more spins, and see if they've got other albums.
Average 90s alt rock album. Some inventive sampling/cross genre sounds, but nothing that feels like it breaks the mold. I like their sound. But this came out in the middle of my musical development. I still enjoy the single. Novocaine for the Soul
Competent enough 90s "slacker"/alt. rock, but even some of the tracks that should grab me just make me wish I was listening to better bands. Susan's House in particular just makes me want to turn the record off and go listen to Soul Coughing instead.
6/10
Mild
beautiful album
Not the most glowing review but definitely better than I expected it to be
Not my style and a little dark for me.
Easy listening. Nothing mind blowing.
This was interesting. I’ve heard of this band and wanted to listen. I don’t feel like I’d want to repeatedly listen though.
good listen, 3.7 id say
So I volunteered to watch my neighbor's kids last night and I put this on while they were over, and they jumped right up and said "I know that song!"
This was surprisingly good. A bit unexpected. A great debut album for this band. Felt a bit experimental, too. A pleasant experience, all in all.
Not bad, but nothing remarkable.
My seventh album of the project, and the first time I've gotten one by an artist I've simply never heard of. This was very cool! I do see myself getting back into this one and turning it over in greater depth. Really cool songs. The first tune kind of turned me off, but I'm glad that I stuck with it.
a weird mix of art rock and butt rock that i didnt expect. pretty cool (?)
3.5/5
pretty solid, a few stand out tracks.
Don’t you think I know? If you had heard Flower before hearing Eels debut record, you might have thought that the album was a bit morose. Well it fucking is. Don’t you think I know. Beautiful Freak sums up the record - it is definitely a beautiful sounding electro-pop record but also freakishly shaded with sorrow. The guitar work and tone on Guest List is another highlight. Even if you have become a little disenchanted with the hit Novacaine For The Soul which had massive airplay, the rest of the album is filled with gems. Along with the above tracks, the back half is truly great. Mental and Your Lucky Day in Hell are easily as catchy as Novacaine. It is the guitar tones on this record as well as E’s vocal approach that make this record pretty special. E’s vocals are simple and expressive and the phrasing makes the hooks on tracks like those on Susan’s House both pleasing and emotional. There are no hints at all as to what will come next in this record and that is what makes it a record you should spend time listening to rather than playing in the background. Not a perfect record but a great one. Don’t listen though if you are already feeling a bit blue. You’ve been warned. 4/5
sorpresa total, no me llamaba para nada, terminó siendo un discazo. experimentación, plots y temones a lo largo de todo el disco
did not know anything from this except the funny shrek 2 song going in. having listened to it, it’s still the only one I remember :/ not actively bad but sooooo forgettable I almost wish it was. what a waste of 40 minutes. also holy shit that has to be bottom 5 album covers of all time who the fuck drew that
This was a really good album by a band I’d never heard of which timewise does not make sense. Glad it was on the list.
I knew I was in for some shit when the line "Life is white And I am black" was said by the whitest man. This is something that my 13yr self would have loved, especially the track "Mental" which I can't help but fw hard. 3/5.
I was surprised how much I ended up enjoying this one. They have a unique 90s sound and for whatever reason I didn't bounce off it this time like I had in the past.
This came out at the tail end of grunge and got bracketed in with it, leading to a surprise hit for the single Novacaine for the Soul. However, the rest of the album is considerably quirkier, both lyrically and musically, than the typical output of the usual Seattle cob nobblers. The music includes strings, odd little jazz breaks and almost spoken narration on the track “Susan’s House” where the protagonist takes a pleasant stroll though a nightmarish landscape of urban decay and degradation. Lovely. The only really off putting thing about this is the cover, which has an uncomfortable image reminiscent of a 1930s freak show or similar, which I’m guessing is deliberate given the subject matter of the title track.
I hate the album art. Truly one of the worst from this list so far. It set my expectations for some real crappy 90s guitar. It was better than i expected and tapping into my love for the Shrek soundtrack gives it extra credit. Still not really my thing but not the garbage I went in expecting.
Didn’t expect to like this as much as I did. 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 has that slightly scruffy, lo-fi feel, but it never comes across as unfocused. The songs are simple, a bit odd, sometimes even awkward, but that’s exactly what gives them their charm. There’s a mix of melancholy and quiet humor running through it that keeps things interesting. Not every track sticks, but the overall mood really works, and I’d definitely like to hear more in this vein.
Decente, tiene el sonido característico del alternativo noventero pero con una calidez adicional de pianos y arpegios de guitarra muy lindos, las letras en su mayoría hablan de la desilusión del mundo americano y las injusticias de la sociedad, que van muy marcadas a su época ya al dia de hoy.
Correcto
I liked this, a good listen on this mornings early morning walk
Waking up with an ugly face Winston Churchill in drag Looking for a new maternal embrace. Banger lmao. Good listen, doesnt feel too long, perfect for rotting.
A solid surprise.
anyone else think maybe the members of this band listened to some beck? idk just throwing it out there... also why is the cover so scary 😥 the cover for tubthumping used to scare the shit out of me as a kid and i think if i ever saw this one when i was younger it wouldve scared me too
Meh, bien
Immediately obsessed! 5
Better than I expected, actually. 3.5-ish