Reviews (page 5 of 10)
Som en trubbig american pie-tribute
Completely whatever forgettable 90s music. Nothing memorable or standout at all, just in one ear and out the other
One good song.
What a great indie rock album, I've not listened to a ton of the eels but this was a truly good album! I enjoyed it start to finish! It did sound just a little similar all the way through but I thought it worked!
Fint!
Fine. Why does the book’s author keep picking such early career (& 90s) albums? Gets boring. Three stars
Why?
29 years ago- no way! A great album and a great live entertainer.
Шрек. Лучшая песня - My Beloved Monster.
Reminds me of Marcy playground in their sound, I dig it. A few misses but mostly real good tunes, Not ready Yet is a realllll earworm. Top 3. Not ready yet, Novocaine for the soul, your lucky day in Hell
This is awesome!!
the song ‘my beloved monster’ is on the shrek soundtrack and i really liked it as a kid, so i remember wanting to listen to more of eels’ songs, but when i saw that THAT was the album artwork i was so repulsed that i never revisited them again. so here we are like 16 years later. also i have heard 'novocaine for the soul' and quite a few of these songs before in various contexts so i’m counting it as "partially listened." still i thought this was nice—not really markedly different from other alt rock albums of the 90s. i think the aesthetic sensibility of this album is very unsophisticated—i.e. it’s tacky—and i’m bothered by that. the lyrics are kinda try-hard/too emo-adjacent but the melodies are generally pretty nice and catchy. it’s definitely easier on the ear than earlier iterations of grunge. honestly i think it’s closer to pop… and unfortunately i’m always going to hear this guy’s voice and think of shrek so that’s another major barrier to my claiming to enjoy this record fully. but it’s better than i expected i won’t lie!
i really enjoyed that!! it was very beautiful and interesting although the lyrics weren't always my favorite. but i liked the blend of styles and at times it reminded me a bit of Garbage which I liked. fav tracks: novocaine for the soul, my beloved monster, flower
The album cover is definitely one of those things Album is fine though
Liked the vibes, hated the album cover, didnt absolutely love the lyrics. Pretty split about this album.
I was going to give this a 4 because it really surprised me. I've never been into grunge, but this was really good. I liked pretty much every song. I *was* going to give it a 4. That is until the last song. Now it may just be a cover, but any Futurama fans will recognise it as the song that plays at the end of the episode 'Game of Tones' when Fry is allowed to visit the dream of his mother who has been dead for a thousand years and Fry lacks any form of closure with. That scene absolutely destroys me every time and I felt it all flood back listening to it again. 5/5 would cry to grunge again.
Wasn't really impressed. Feels '90s in a corny and dated way. This schlock definitely belongs in like some Miramax romantic comedy from 1997 or something. I have a soft spot for that hence the 3 but it's not actually good.
If Beck and Rivers Cuomo had a love child it would sound like this. Very nineties. I like it.
Helt bra album med vissa memorable sånger och stunder
"Life is hard, and so am I." , that part about the 17 year old pushing a baby carriage, the mind-numbing repetition on "Beautiful Freak" - the lyrics, in places, have the feel of something scribbled in a notebook while the author was in middle school. Still, I listened to it all twice and never skipped a song. Guess it's not all bad.
The best way I could describe this album is it is the most gentle grunge album I’ve ever heard. It’s so easy on the ears and it’s quiet and soft. It’s actually kinda fascinating cause grunge is usually associated with deep emotional wailing and screaming a lot of the time. But this album is an exercise in the opposite, it’s gentle and fragile. It kinda makes me think of Pavement which is obviously a huge complement. The only thing I struggled with is I didn’t immediately love the lead singer. It took like a full day and a half for his voice to start to win me over. To be frank, on my first listen, I don’t think I got the album. I didn’t really enjoy it that first play through. But by the next day I started to really mesh with it. It might not be for everyone but it’s definitely the soundtrack for gentle moshing. Joking aside, look into this album if you are a Pavement fan, kinda similar.
Novocaine for the Soul Beautiful Freak
Ágætt. Ekkert sláandi að neinu leyti en alveg kósý. Fín vinnutónlist en ekki mikið meira en það imo.
Skemmtileg plata. Gott fyrir sálina að fá smá novocaine. Hræðilegt cover. 3,5
It was a cool album thought-provoking a little dark but fun at the same time sounded a little Lou-Reed-y
This guy sure is sad or something
As with Beck, Eels have an otherworldly feel to them, one that I love.
Really liked this one. Felt new and familiar at the same time and brought me right back to my childhood.
Good album, not a fan of all the tracks. Some iconic tracks on there I didn’t realise was the eels.
I've seen this album cover before and I can't remember where. The music doesn't seem familiar at all though. I'm wondering how this slipped through the cracks back then. I was listening to this style of post grunge at the time, but I was also drinking a lot, so who knows. But anyways, this album kicks ass. Another gem from the generator.
It's ok. Not a huge fan of the Eels sound, but overall it's a decent album.
Nice album. Catchy tunes and some storytelling that makes for some memorable lyrics. Very 90s musically though.
I find The Eels similar to Beck or Billy Bragg in that I always anticipate not knowing any songs, but a couple turn out to be surprisingly recognizable. In this case it was Susan’s House, which I added to playlist of favourites. The album overall certainly isn't spectacular, but I didn't mind it.
Mostly unforgettable tracks. 90’s guitar riffs and some plinky plonky piano but it doesn’t do a whole lot for me. Kinda like a harsher, grungier Weezer. Fave tracks: Novocaine for the soul, my beloved monster
An all-time fave since its release.
Eels' debut album, Beautiful Freak (1996), excels in its delicate balance between the genuinely strange and the effortlessly charming, a characteristic that defines its appeal. While the album frequently veers into dark territory with E's morose, quirky lyrics touching on loneliness and disillusionment, the undercurrent of infectious, lo-fi pop sensibility—especially on tracks like "Novocaine for the Soul" and "Susan's House"—ensures that even amidst the sonic shadows, there are immediately catchy melodies that captivate and delight upon the very first listen.
It's a great album. An impressive selection of songs in here in terms of variation, with a really unique sound. I really like their style, and his singing voice. It conveys a lot of emotion somehow despite sounding quite strained. Novocaine for the Soul and My Beloved Monster are my personal highlights, but I like a lot of the others. 4.5 rounded down.
Perfectly solid, light emo. Songs are alright, music is good.
I liked the beginning of the album a lot but got a lil bored in the middle
The vocal performance is a little grating by the end of the album. Good dynamic range, a couple of good songs
Depressing but original. Cobain, Elliott smith, beck, cake vibes. Maybe needs a second listen, thinking 3.6
Boring af. It's getting a 2 because the arrangements are good and there have been some true 0's on this 1001 list that I had to give a 1 to. I wouldn't group this album with them.
Some interesting musical ideas on this. Some of them worked, some of them didn't (RE: ukulele). The hushed singing (which has unfortunately become prevalent these days) may have been interesting at the time, but is nevertheless terrible - just as it is today. 2.5/5.0: Mixed
this one is a mixed bag. one great song, a few more good ones and the rest are best left in the 90s. the vocal delivery on the first track reminded me of len's steal my sunshine which came out a few years after this.
Kinda into this. Weird in a good way. Bit catchy.
This is great, I didn't know Eels too well before so the list has given me another cool discovery Love the driving guitars which build to give a real oomph in some of the choruses. There are some good drum bits, the band has a great dynamic in some of these tracks The lyrics are interesting throughout, dealing with some difficult themes in places. He writes some quirky and esoteric metaphors at times. I also like the vocals - it's not for everyone but reminds me a bit of Leonard Cohen or Matt Berninger. They're authentic and real Great album
Only knew a handful of Eels songs previous to this, and despite enjoying them and two close friends loving them (him?), I never bothered to delve further until today. Kicking myself I never did that earlier. This is a pretty perfect Indie pop record for me! Every track lands, from general sound to production to lyrics. Superb record, and this will definitely make the list of records I end up buying thanks to 1001!
Recognised a few of these tracks but don't think I've had much of experience if Eels, only vaguely recognise the name. Didn't mind it, was a bit Beck-ish. Some tracks were a lot better than others but overall still enjoyed it.
Goodness me - what an album. Really landed for me in the sweet spot between being interesting and slightly experimental, but also convalescing into something coherent. Beautiful Freak, Susan's House, Guest List, Flower, and My Beloved Monster were superb. Loads of different arrangements. Really, really good - and I enjoyed a lot of the lyrics. Classic post-grunge music. Wait - isn't that the Shrek song?!
Another band that I knew of when I was younger but was never into. I knew the opening track, but unfortunately I was a bit disappointed by the rest. Thought it would be more up my street than it was. Might give it another go but 3 for now
I hate this cover so much.
Not my cup of tea
Really great. Not a ton of range, but they're very good at what they do. Add this to the pantheon of albums I like whose album cover art I absolutely hate.
How have I had 132 albums so far, 28 from the 90s, and not gotten a single one of the great rock albums from that decade yet? I haven't seen either of Weezer's first two, haven't seen Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, no Nevermind, no Colour and the Shape, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, or Pearl Jam. No Red Hot Chili Peppers or Stone Temple Pilots. I don't get it. This often sounds like twee 90s film soundtrack rock. Doesn't sound like anything people would play just to listen to. I'm thinking of like Teenage Dirtbag or In Too Deep, but if they weren't any fun. Other songs sound like they're massive Lou Reed fans stuck in the context of 90s alternative rock. I'm tired of this "conversational" vocal style that really just sounds like they couldn't care less whether or not they hit the notes over uninteresting instrumental tracks. It's boring.
Susan's House is pretty amazing when you think about it. About as bleak as you can get lyrics and tone in the verse (apart from the young mother being 17, rather than 14 - which would make the lyric work), before the schmaltzy 80s/early 90s US drama jingle breaks in, going over to Susan's House it's all gonna be alright. I can't believe they played that on the radio all the time. Found out that piano bit is Gladys Knight. Feel bad calling it schmaltz but that's the effect of its use here. Novocaine for the Soul is a banger of a hit. I don't know any of the rest as for some reason I never got the record. I went out with someone once who absolutely loved Eels, and I'm aware he had lots of albums that were rated, and that one where he's dressed as the Unabomber, but it didn't last long enough for me to really get I to them. I don't even recognise 'the Shrek song' and I must have seen that more than once. Anyway, really good. Always planned to listen to some Eels records. Maybe I will. This record definitely loses momentum as it goes on (Lucky Day in Hell is good though), I'm going to listen to Soul jacker.
This is a beautifully written, performed and produced album. E paints ugly/beautiful pictures of underdogs like the Beautiful Freak in the title track, Spunky (who doesn't like her uniform) and a beloved monster. All of this accompanied by tight, simple and sometimes funky instrumentation. Not bad for a debut. Liked Songs Added: Novocaine For The Soul Rags To Rags Not Ready Yet My Beloved Monster Guest List Your Lucky Day In Hell
I wasn’t listening to this in 96. My 2nd kid was born that year, and I was spinning Raffi and the Wiggles. No that was a good fucking year for music!
I’m aware this is a band but it sounds like it’s made by one dude in his basement who has never seen daylight. Beautiful freak is probably about the poor prisoner he has in his basement.. Good album though. 3.5
This had some decent songs on it. But I really thought I would like it more than I did
2.5
As soon as i heard the first song, the voice and general vibe sounded really fimiliar. Then i heard the song "My Beloved Monster" and i recognized it from the Shrek soundtrack. I also found out that they made another song in the Shrek 2 soudtrack called "I need some sleep", which is a personal favorite on that record. Besides those facts, I really enjoyed that album. +1 star for the Shrek track. Fav songs : Mental, Your Lucky Day in Hell
Wow, I really enjoyed this album. I was happy to hear Novacine, Monster, and others. Not incredible but really good.
It had a pleasant jingly fairytale feel but mostly forgettable. I didn't find it very engaging. It was fine.
Other than the first song, pretty forgettable. High 2, but a 2 because I'm not likely to listen again.
Not bad, but not great. Had not heard of the Eels before "Fresh Blood" was used for the intro of "The Jinx". One of the best series intros of all time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAST6SgLmQg
I bought this when it came out, but I don't think i ever listened to it beyond 1996; I quickly tired of it. It's not that bad in retrospect, but it sounds quintessentially 90s.
I remember when this album came out. My friend Scott Hale got it and we listened to it playing video games at his house and it sucked. They sound like a Flaming Lips cover band. Novocaine for the Soul was the hit and it's terrible. Susan's House is another dud. Tape recorded talking over the music is not creative, it's lazy. This is not what makes art. I'm tired and this album is not helping. This looks like a solid 1 so far. There has not been a decent song on this album yet. It's like Beck if he sucked. I hope they had to pay Giorgio Moroder royalties for Mental because they totally ripped off the bassline. Another song that could very easily be a Flaming Lips song, Spunky. This album is terrible. Your Luck Day in Hell is the best song on the album and it's not that good.
Quite enjoyed this, quite a soft, lo-fi sound with restrained vocals, which works for this somehow. Not bad. High 3 low 4 - leaning towards 4.
Wtd
Alternative rock that really is alternative, it's out there but in a good way.
Meh
dude the cover... and the music is just a bit better than the cover, actually. 2.5/5
★★½
Sorry
Here's an album from a band I thought I had never heard before. I didn't really know what to expect with Beautiful Freak, the 1996 album debut album from the LA rock band Eels. Fortunately, what I got was pretty good! I like this album. It's nice. It's a fairly modern-sounding album as far as alt-rock is concerned. I enjoy it. The instrumentation is pleasant. The singing and writing courtesy of the band's front man and mastermind Mark Oliver Everett, otherwise known as E, is pretty good as well. Now I'm thinking about that weird "E" meme from like 2018. You know, the one that had that edited image of Markiplier and Lord Farquaad from Shrek fused together. Speaking of Shrek, you know how I said I "thought" I had never heard anything from Eels before. Well, as it turns out, I was wrong. I've heard one of the songs from this album plenty of times, and it's all because the song "My Beloved Monster" was included in Shrek, a movie that I have seen more times than I can count. I had a bit of a Shrek phase around late 2019-2020 or so. It's pretty weird that I got this one right after that Tom Waits album with the song from Robots (2005) in it considering both Robots (2005) and Shrek are movies that dominated my life during different points in my childhood. Well, okay, I don't know if Robots (2005) dominated my life at any point, but Shrek certainly did. I'm well past that phase of my life, but I still thoroughly enjoy that original movie. Oh yeah, the song is pretty good, as is the rest of the album. Good job Eels. High 3/5.
Excellent debut. So what happened? Would have been a 5 but lose 1 star for 15 seconds of pointless harmonica in Guest List.
Three listens and counting. Post teen angst but much cooler
I’ve tried numerous times to get into Eels’ music but it all sounds so forced to me. Like his voice sounds false, I don’t know how to explain this. I just think he tries to be smart and deep but it all ends being lukewarm
I don't get the appeal for this kind of albums, but again I don't get most of the Alternative Rock movement anyway. Still, the songs are pretty well executed and the overall feeling is nice.
While many songs remain forgettable stuff, I really loved the melancholic and introspective aspect of this album, it's overall very cohesive and well done.
Eels est un de mes groupes préférés; même si cet album n'est pas mon favori on y retrouve sa signature: les thèmes de santé mentale, la fracture entre retenue et fièvre, rock et électronique, dans une fréquence un peu dépressive.
имба. давно про них не вспоминал, а зря. надо будет заценить остальные альбомы.
The ennui, the ostentatious violent images, the touches of trip hop, the quiet-loud guitar eruptions, and the post-Cobain growl encapsulate what I wasn’t listening to and heard everywhere at the end of the last century. I had not expected to enjoy this so much: this is a strong and inventive set that makes me wonder how long Mr Eels had been tinkering with these tunes.
As if a lab full of Dreamworks scientists successfully hybridized Beck and Nirvana to optimize commercial performance à la mode. Eels are actually a bit better than that (next album in particular), and there's some ice cream here (esp. the evocative "Susan's House", although "Love Finds Its Own Way" was a nice find today), but it's not very distinct from other mid-90's wannabes.
It was alright I enjoyed the different sounding rifts throughout the album
3/4
Nothing really memorable about this album feels a bit distant and clean.
A little too much of a downer.
"60/100" - Alexander.
Interesting and fun
somewhat reminiscent of deathmetal by panchiko
Everything is always 10/10, I love Eels!!
Really enjoyed this. Solid from start to finish. It didn’t have any transcendent moments so I’m giving it a 4, but I’d say it’s more of a 4.5.
Kind of an offcut of 90s alt rock. Novocaine was a favorite when it was in the radio. I enjoyed the overall slacker feel of it, the sparse relaxed arrangements, the guitars' bright overdriven sound, and the high end slide/key parts, but it comes and goes without leaving much of an impression. Favorites: novocaine, guest list
I feel strange about this album. On paper, I feel like it's something I SHOULD like. I mean, there's some legitimately good songwriting here. And there are a lot of legitimately interesting elements that I like. The jazzy rhythm section in "Novocaine for the Soul" that abruptly shifts, the strings in a handful of songs that are used tastefully and not heavy-handedly, the jazzy piano in "Susan's House", the weird fuzzy guitar-mixed-with-vocals solo in "My Beloved Monster", the choir in "Flower". When I listen to these things, I really like them. Why, then, when I step back, am I filled with ambivalence about this album? I don't know. I really don't. It's a good album. It does not speak to me. I think it should. It does not. Perhaps, ironically, it's Novocaine for my soul. Fav tracks: Susan's House, Rags to Rags, Flower, Your Lucky Day in Hell
2.83
Freak indeed
This is nothing special
I assume that Dreamworks poured a truckload of cash into this project looking for the next 'alternative' trend. I hope that Mark Oliver Everett and Jon Brion and the other musicians involved managed to pay off their mortgages care of Dreamworks' largesse. But the album itself is dull. It is really of its time; based on loops and samples and atmospheric pads, with occasional bits of quirky instrumentation throughout. E's semi-spoken vocal style manages to wash the tunefulness out any hint of melody that might persist. The lyrics, though, are just a litany of "Life is hard, I'm sad". Ironically, that would be justifiable on their NEXT album, following the tragic deaths of E's mother and sister, but here it seems like he is just a whiny white man. I was talking to Hal, and he said it vaguely reminded him of Soul Coughing, a similarly hip-hop inspired, white boy, alternative speak-singing band of similar vintage. But in their case, their musical backing is more robust, thanks to a really tight live rhythm section. And despite a dry delivery, Soul Coughing lean into absurdist humour, which prevents their album descending into an hour of beige dirges, as with Eels. Not worthy of hate, but gosh, this is dull. Not hateful, but not much to recommend it.
Eels is able to take a lot of influences across sub genres and blend them into something wholly unique. I've always gotten a kick out of the left-turn instrumentation that was well ahead of its time. The songwriting here is subpar, but I think the direction of the songs makes up for it.
Better than the terrible album cover would suggest but not by much.
It's alright, might hit harder on another listen Will I listen to again: 30%
This is mean, but I found the lyrics across this whole album embarrassing and sometimes condescending. "Life is hard/and so am I"? Get the hell out of here. "This paint by numbers life is fucking with my head once again"--I've heard too much (better, more exciting, more thoughtful) music about the drudgery and isolation of modern life to accept this as some profound admission. There's no real vulnerability here. I think it's lazy. 'Urban dream or urban nightmare, amiright?' type of shit. Angst that doesn't reveal anything about the interior life of the writer besides the things that bum him out. "Flower" is particularly egregious. "And one day I'll come through/My American dream/but it won't mean a fuckin' thing." Dude, whatever. Join the club. The instrumentation and melodies are fine, but not interesting or dynamic enough to elevate this album to something I'd be interested in listening to again. I'm doing my best to not keep harping about the writing. I could go on all day. It wouldn't be so bad if it didn't take itself so, so seriously. I couldn't even enjoy the song from Shrek.
Aika mid alt rokkia. Instrut on ihan kivoja mutta laulu ei oikein nappaa. Parhaat: Rags to Rags, Beautiful Freak, Your Lucky Day In Hell
Umiddelbart så nittitalls som det går an hahah. Den late, tilbakelente holdningen deres var selvfølgelig i tidsånden. Den sære introen fikk meg på kroken, og de holdt oppmerksomheten min gjennom hele albumet. Digge gitartoner. De veksler mellom rolige låter med skjønne melodier og stilige slappe råkkere, derav er alt veldig behagelig å høre på. Bra saker altså.
I really liked this one. I listened to it twice, and their next album. It's definitely an odd one, but from a group that from their first album seems to have a solid identity. Added to my big list of liked albums.
is somebody gonna match my beautiful freak 3.5
Novocaine for the Soul was a very important song for my youth. I never listened to the rest of the album until now and while it doesn't quite hit the highs of Novocaine, E is clearly a talented dude and I can get why he has huge fans.
I never listened to the Eels before, but enjoy this and would return.
One of my favourites, rock/indie but keeps it interesting with blends of other genres.
This might be the easiest review I’ve done so far, as I’m a bit of an Eels obsessive. I have 9 Eels records on vinyl, with a fair few being special editions. Of all these, Electro-Shock Blues is my favourite, but Beautiful Freak is a very close second. There’s something just so very warming about Eels music, and E’s voice is perfectly imperfect at expressing his feelings through song. If you haven’t heard this record before, I highly recommend it. Try the tracks Novacaine For The Soul and Susan’s House.
I remember this band being a thing in the late 90s and early 2000s but never checked them out. Instantly I could tell this was going to be one of the more interesting and varied albums on this list. I listened to it a couple times today and it was great. Happy it's here.
So good!
It’s good, but dated.
Gear: DCA ÆON 2 Noire Artwork: 👀👧🥀 Production: 🤛😊👌 Music: 🥩🌧️🌈 Rating: 👁️👁️👁️👁️/5
Novacaine For The Soul was a medium sizes hit in the 90s and after listening to this album I can see why they are a one hit wonder.
Went with a slightly generous four over a slightly unfair three because I enjoyed it more than other things I've given three to, and I'm in a good mood
Really enjoyed this. Flowed really well and didn’t really have any duds
Great singles. Dip in the middle.
It was fine, I won't go out of my way to listen to it again
Front loaded. Good nonetheless
Thank you you Beautiful Freaks, I’ll be back to listen to more Eels.
Eels brings something new to late nineties alternative rock. The best I can do is "intellectual," but that's not quite it. Smart, for sure. Both lyrically and musically, there are surprising twists, sourness, and a droll flavor reminiscent of Cake. Odd and interesting with a cool new approach to the status quo. Not for everyone, but if you're in the mood for a little more to think about, Eels' Beautiful Freak will entertain.
I was expecting Shrek bangers but this fell flat.
Meh
Now that I think about it, I think I did own this CD at one point. It was recommended to me by a friend. Very good.
yeah, just not my thing. side note: pretty depressing
I don’t hate it but don’t love it. I faintly recognized the opening song. Interesting stuff.
A pretty good album, I liked Novocaine For The Soul, My Beloved Monster and Guest Lost the most.
This one really grew on me as I listened. I’ll need to return to it to see if I like it even more!
This album sounds sooooo 90s. In a good way Really good, consistent, good length. Good 4
the songs are obviously and unapologetically personal. which makes them pretty universal. you have to appreciate that and i do. the music just didn’t always do it for me and i didn’t love the voice. not a bad listen by any means though
Una voladura
I wanted to like this. I like the first track, I like Birds, but the whole album felt pretty contrived and hollow to me. Nothing hit after the first track
This album was mostly total and complete bangers. Starts amazing, but has a lull near the end (minus "Your Lucky Day In Hell" which is catchy as fuck). I've really never heard of Eels but they always have sounded so familiar. Like the template for what 90's rock sounds like to me
Hljóðheimurinn er næs, röddin aðeins tilgerðarleg en sleppur, lögin hér fín en ekkert er sérstaklega eftirminnilegt. Eels er líklega bara "best of band" fyrir mig, en þetta er fínn þristur.
went through it a couple of times and it was average pretty forgettable however the tracks were cool in someway
Cool
Another surprising album that I didn't know. Perhaps not the most diversity among songs, but good melodies.
Never heard of this band, but the vocals were distinct and captivating.
3/5
One of my favourites, rock/indie but keeps it interesting with blends of other genres.
p780. 1996. 4 stars. Quality songs on isolation and loneliness, interspersed with a sense of hope and longing. Point deducted for occasional filler.
Goede gitaar, zang moest ik beetje aan wennen, maar halverwege vond ik het al prima. Niet zo heel veel over te zeggen. Had het aan als achtergrondmuziek een groot deel van de tijd. Was net als de eerste heel goed daar voor. Zou hier eerder naar luisteren. 8/10
jaha että junamusiikiksi laitettiin tämä..luullan olla jotain taudetta tekevän. ollaan niin lauluntekijöitä olevinaan. tidellisuydessa aivam vitun sietämättömää lyriikkaa ja laulamista. instrumentaalit on osittain luunneltavaa. pianon pjojotuksesta plussapisteitä. toki amplifikaatio paskaefekti sillä nyt pakosti kuunnellaan niin tarkkaan niin kovasti.. annetaan nyt se kaksi mutta notaatio siitä että en koskaaan aikaisemmin elämässäni ole halunnut hirttää itseäni näin paljon että se antoi vähän niitä miinuspisteitä tällä kertaa. susan haus
Yes it's poppy but it shows how good pop can be, and I have a soft spot for this album (and for Eels in general). It strikes a nice balance between song variation (no bad songs at all on this album) and still having a coherent sounds album. Some interesting choices (instrumentation, some use of samples etc.) and good song writing elevate this above your run-off-the-mill commercial pop album. I should probably give it a 4 because is it really "must hear"? But I'll give it a 5 just because I love it and can't fault it, really.
Bland and boring. There is much better 90s alternative music than this.
When this was released, I copied it onto a cassette and listened on my Walkman on the bus to college every day for months. It became a weird obsession. The sad, melancholy "what's it all about" vibes really resonated with me. "Ready Yet" sums up those years so well. Listening today it still sounds great.
Godt album. Fortjener et lyt mere inden dommen. Det bliver en 4er. Det er et godt album uden tvivl!
Fed oplevelse. Det her album er meget mere end hittet. Der er en lækker Lo-Fi feel over albummet. Standout numre: Novacaine for the Soul Not Ready Yet Guestlist Mental
Who? Depressing Alternative Rock.
very cool
Great album. I bought it when it came out on the strength of Novocaine For the Soul, I wasn’t disappointed then and I’m not disappointed now.
2+ Stars (6/15)
Love it always.
This album was fun. Their singer's voice took me a long time to get used to, but I did like how their guitar parts sounded very...space-y. Some songs were really not my vibe and others were fun. Also, I think the song "My Beloved Monster" was in Shrek lol. Liked Songs: "Novocaine For The Soul" , "Rags To Rags" , "My Beloved Monster" , "Guest List" , "Mental" , "Manchild"
liked songs: Rags to Rags, Mental It was fine? Not a big fan of the singer's voice. Not the most interesting songs for me either. 2.5
Quirky Nirvana vibes. Love it.
I prefer "Daisies of the Galaxy", what the fuck is this —
Es un indie medio pop tranquilon que la verdad no me dejo gran cosa pero esta bastante chill.
This was a lovely album either a funny story behind it. I also gave a great speech at work on why we should listen to it at work even I'd never heard it before. Though if you're wondering what it sounds like we'll it sounds like all of 120 Minutes. Those who know know.
This is a bit cringe in a way, like whoever listens to it gets bullied in school. But if you ignore the whining this unironically vibes. Stand-out: Susan's House
This album was great!! I’d only ever heard one song from this one. That of course being Novocaine For The Soul. I really liked it.
Tender and introspective. Lovely use of samples. Knew the big singles, novacaine, Susan's house but hadn't experienced the full album.
Beautiful Freak is the debut album from the Eels, which is really the work of Mark Oliver Everett. This could have been a "one-hit" story; their "Novocain for the Soul" was one of the songs of the summer of 1996. The Eels parlayed that early exposure, and have recorded fifteen albums to date, and their style developed considerably over that career. This early rendition of the Eels made catchy, lo-fi alt-rock songs, that are comparable to some of the early work of Beck.
No private session used for Spotify. I love Eeels, have most of their albums, seen them in concert a few times, have even read Mark's autobiography. This isn't my favorite Eels album, but I do like it a lot.
I don't love it, I don't hate it. Fairly generic mid 90's indie pop rock. Feel they try hard to be unique but really don't lift themselves above other bands at the time. However it does say something about music at this time that even average bands made historically above average music.
Smart, quirky, indie songs. Only ever heard Novocaine before so enjoyed the record.
I knew more songs off of this then I thought. Pretty good, between a 3 and a 4 depending on my mood.
While this isn't my favorite Eels album, it's still great and I love listening to it. Glad to listen to it again.
Wasn't sure how well this album would stand up after all this time, but it was like slipping on a favourite old t-shirt. Melancholy, but that's OK
I always enjoyed the Eels. Listened to them a lot in the early 2000s but it's been a while. I've heard them referred to as a poor man's Beck and there's definitely something to that comparison. But still... this album is solid. 3.5 rounding up.
Pre streaming, I used to go to the music section of big bookstores and scan CDs at those little stations with headphones to listen for a few minutes before buying. I would always try to pick artists I'd never heard of to discover something new. I ended up with Eels' 2005 Blinking Lights and Other Revelations, which maybe wasn't the best introduction to the band, I'm not sure. I enjoyed it for a while, but I've never been motivated to revisit it, especially with its 1.5 hour run time. So I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. Novocaine For The Soul is a nice 90s angsty grungey song, and it reminds me of Collective Soul a little. I also really like My Beloved Monster because of Shrek. I love the haunting background vocals on Flower. But my favorite might be Your Lucky Day In Hell. I like when he uses his falsetto, and something about the chord progression, the pulsing bass, and the strings in the chorus make this the kind of song I could keep on loop for a while. This would be a 3.5 if we could do half stars, but I'll round up.
Very strong Uni / Mackie memories of this album. Have not listened in 20 plus years - but surprisingly it still sounds good - with lots of hooks. Just creeps a 4
More whiny white guy music. I liked it, but not completely sold on it. Standouts: Novocaine For The Soul, Rags To Rags, Not Ready Yet, Guest List, and Spunky.
Wasn't sure where this was headed with the opening line "Life is hard and so am I" but not to worry, it got great quick. How did I not know about this band/album? It's right up my 90s alt alley. Highlights: Rags to Rags, Novocaine for the Soul, Your Lucky Day in Hell.
Fantastically weird. I listened to it twice, actually, and then went on to listen to his secret solo work--MC Honky, which was also great!
I almost went with. High 4 mainly because the last half was not as strong as the first.. But I think all I all it deserves a light 4½ 9.2 ★★★★½
Enjoyable album. The best Eels album I have heard. 4 stars
A couple of good songs, but mostly sounds like B-tier Beck. 3 stars.
4.5
Electro-Shock Blues and Blinking Lights And Other Revelations get even deeper and personal and are arguably more incredible works but this one is just a conventional set of great songs and definitely my go-to Eels album. On here they cultivate a nice, classic, easy-going, kinda Beckish alt-rock sound but the best songs are so much better and more meaningful and resonant than what Beck was doing with Odelay for example. Novocaine For The Soul is probably the most iconic and invigorating track and along with Susan’s House, My Beloved Monster and Your Lucky Day In Hell are amongst my favourite songs of the decade. Mental, Rags To Rags and Flower also very strong and Spunky, Manchild and title track splendid, supple, slender ballads. As well as the cool, cool, poppy beats, guitar and production, lyrically is where the album really shines. Every wry, woe-is-me couplet Mark Oliver Everett aka E fires out is pretty much pure humorous diamonds.
it's like if elliott smith wasn't mid
Never heard this before but I love it.
наспрадві щось поки дуже депресивне і трішки схоже на суміш нірвани та радіохед щоь дуже під що можна романтизувати життя і тд
7.5/10 This was nice, I’m a sucker for genre-hopping albums. Alternative rock with hip hop, soul, country influences Extremely well produced, lush sound, excellent tunes with a pop sensibility The vocals from E are the best part of the album, get across so much soul whilst occasionally breaking into proper singing or pseudo rap This actually feels quite pretty and tender through its cynical veneer. I liked the ballad type songs the best Best: Beautiful Freak
Rock, I guess
Eclectic Indie. Pretty remarkable album by one Mark Oliver Everett DBA the Eels, musically diverse, lyrically interesting. Torn between 4 or 5 rating so let’s round up… this is a good one.
Interesting listen 3/5
12/3/24. Pretty decent album, good production and some enjoyable songs. Thought it was a little inconsistent.
Weird
I need to know more about Lola’s violent past.
Mixed feelings.. zoals eigenlijk bij alles van Eels. Ik vind het vet dat je hem eigenlijk niet goed kan categoriseren, en dat je direct hoort aan een Eels-song dat het een Eels-song is. Maar die unieke en herkenbare sound zorgt er tegelijk voor dat elk nummer verpakt zit onder dezelfde lo-fi stemmetjes, belletjes en beats. Ik ben daardoor eigenlijk nooit ondersteboven geweest van een heel album van hem. Individuele nummers doen het wel aardig, maar consistentie is ver te zoeken. 6/10 Highlights: Novocaine For The Soul Not Ready Yet
Eels is cult Friday Five artiest. Staat 12 (!) keer in de lijst der lijsten! 3x zette jij er een nummertje in, 9x ikzelf. Eels behoort al lang tot mijn favoriete artiesten uit de zeroes. En debuutplaat Beautiful Freak (1996 weliswaar) is natuurlijk een klassieker. Echter zit de kwaliteit van Eels echt verspreid over zijn gehele repertoire. Geen enkele plaat stijgt er voor mij ver bovenuit (zie je ook terug in de FF nominaties). Beautiful Freak begint heel tof, met de hoogtepunten van de plaat, maar is niet over de volle breedte van topniveau. Ach, hij zou later nog veel goeds afleveren, dus dat is gezegend. Eels being Eels zijn voor mij de hoogtepunten. Hij heeft toch een unieke sound weten neer te zetten. Een combinatie van zijn stem, lyrics en wat gekke muzikale dingen. Susan's House is wat mij betreft tekenend. Catchy en mysterieus ineen. 7,5/10 Highlights Novacaine for the Soul Susan's House Not Ready Yet
Comfy music, reminds me of Radiohead.
“Not Ready Yet” is a great tune
The whole album being introduced with "Life is hard, and so am I" was great, it really set the standard really high. Overall, it was a nice album to listen to in the background while you're doing something else. Definitely more thought has gone into these songs than some of the other albums that we get on here. The album artwork is a bit weird but that's okay.
To get over with the 90ies Beck comparison: this didn't click with me in '96, it doesn't now. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the more I listened to the album, the more these words formed under my fingers: mopey, languid. A damp cloth. Weirdly cold.
Pop as heck but quirky and original enough sounding to make me smile. 3 stars
Super record.
A lot of albums here start out strong then peter out. This is the reverse of that. The more I listened, the more I wanted to listen. From 'Oh, great background noise' to one of my favorite albums I've discovered through this site. 'My Beloved Monster', 'Mental', 'Your Lucky Day In Hell', a trio of songs I'd recommend to anyone.
Some really good songs
2+
Novocaine For The Soul // Beautiful Freak // Not Ready Yet // My Beloved Monster //
I’ve enjoyed Eels as a casual fan since I heard his awesome song Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues several years ago. Beautiful Freak is probably his best album that I’ve listened to. It works really well as a cohesive album and doesn’t contain bad songs. One observation from this listen that very few will care about is that I think Mark Everett sounds a lot like a less twangy version of Patterson Hood from Drive-by Truckers (see Southern Rock Opera from this list).
I only knew of the song novocain for the soul off of this album. Listening to this album in it's enteriety- it is great! A new favorite.
Super wacky in a really good way. Love nov for the soul and all it's stop/starts The rest is hit or miss if it does that wacky weird unique sound good or not some of it is just weird and has nothing actually good about it but a lot of it is good like not ready yet, it's captivatingly odd not just weird 3.5 overall
Love this album. It’s just an under appreciated gem.
Honestly, just not my thing
Great album, plenty of good tunes
I kind of liked this and I’m not sure why. Depressing sounding, but also interesting. 3.5/5
I knew they were a cult band, but was somehow expecting a mid album along with their great hit. Boy was I wrong... Great album, I actually think I heard it back then and forgot about it. great one. additional star for Novocaine and Beloved Monster
Although the album itself is anything but good it definitely isn’t as horrendous as this album cover. It doesn’t look like the album sounds, it gives me no hints as to what the album is and it just looks creepy but in the bad way. But away from the cover and over to the music, why is this so bad? Many seem to like and enjoy this record but to me it either seems tastless and boring or just terribly put together Indie Pop Rock with some hints of Electronic and Trip Hop here and there. It feels just not like this is how the album was supposed to sound. They definitely tried to make an album of value but all it is is a remain of a weird time in music history that ultimately didn’t matter because other artists did it better or with more effect on the music after. ‘Novocaine for the Soul’ opens the album with some really interesting music that starts with some vinyl noise and Rock & Roll drums before adding a glockenspiel as well as some organ. It’s really mystical right off the bat and the pretty silly lyrics at the start do make for a solid introduction. Overall, the song features a ton of really weird and interesting ideas that make for a really solid song. In fact, it’s really good but I think many people overrate the track. It’s solid and I like it a lot but it’s not as good as some people portrait it. With ‘Susan's House’ continues the weird samples and adds even more Trip Hop inspirations and interestingly enough, instead of singing, it’s mainly just Spoken Word that was passed through some sort of telephone filter before letting actual vocals do the chorus. I do like these vocals as well as the production with the Jazz bass but a lot of it feels overdone and in return more basic than intended. It just feels weird with some additions in terms of sounds and effects and it just doesn’t make sense. It’s not a bad song but it feels weird and not in the good way. I’d say that the good parts and the weird parts all come together into a slightly below average track. On ‘Rags to Rags’ they play a bit with Noise Pop which does add a certain interesting aspect to the track but for the most it just feels like basic Indie Pop Rock that at moments does more than it needs and just ultimately comes off as pretty bad. I wouldn’t say unlistenable but definitely not enjoyable. The songwriting is just really bad and basic and does absolutely nothing of what it intended to be. Nothing of value happens in this song at any point. Not with the chorus. Not with the instrumentation and definitely not with delivery of any of it. The title track ‘Beautiful Freak’ changes the sound and the genre into a more Chamber Pop and Singer-Songwriter oriented path and although the instrumentation isn’t bad at all, the songwriting, the vocals and the lyrics definitely are. It just really boring for the most part and the vocal delivery is just so absolutely annoying with how he tries to make the lyrics sound good that it just enrages me. The lyrics are absolute trash and I’m not even talking about the chorus which is just repeating and repeating the same stupid stuff over and over. This is genuinely a terrible song. The seem to go into a slight Grunge inspired sound on ‘Not Ready Yet’ which not only shines with the absolute terrible songwriting but also with the stupid vocal effect that The Strokes have so much on their debut but at least they were just boring. This on the other hand, is absolutely terrible. The songwriting goes nowhere and just randomly kicks into a loud and Grunge stye hook that serves absolutely no purpose except being there for the sake of having it. Seriously, this songwriting is so absolute garbage that even some toddler might be able to create something better. ’My Beloved Monster’ closes the first half of the album with a typical 90’s Slacker Rock inspired Indie track that tries hard to be much noisier than it is but is held back by the fact that it’s a Pop song. Not only is the songwriting just terrible right from the start but somehow both the vocals and the production have reached a new low. This is terrible to listen to at any second that it causes physical harm to my body because nothing seems to fit a bit with what it does. It just randomly does weird Noise Pop guitar sound effects that distract even more from the terrible song that it was to begin with. Why do they have choir vocals on ‘Flower’? I don’t know but they surely did not add it well into the Indie Chamber Pop song that it is because it just seems to be lurking in the background and distract from the actual song. Because the actual track isn’t as terrible. In fact, it’s a somewhat listenable song. The guitar is okay and even both vocals and songwriting are passable. It’s really these sampled vocals that destroy the okay song and make it bad. Surely not as bad as most previous tracks but also not good. ’Guest List’ then returns with more Trip Hop as well as some chill Country inspirations below the Indie Pop. The vocals are horrible but the songwriting isn’t as terrible. For once, it actually seems to follow a structure that tries to build tension that builds towards a release of some sort. They do edge around that with a break or a harmonica bridge but it isn’t totally bad. In fact, this song is okay. It’s pretty average because it just doesn’t do much but at least I don’t totally dislike it. The vocals get even worse on 'Mental’ and they also return to the Grunge inspirations and again, it sucks. The songwriting is really bad and the hook is probably as bad is it can get. I have no idea how they managed to pull it of this badly. Also, the bridge might be one of the worst bridges that I have ever heard. This is really a terrible song with pretty much everything that it does. Already the name of 'Spunky’ sounds like it’s going to be very unpleasent and the moment the vocals appear, that fear becomes reality. Not only is the songwriting bad but these lyrics as well as their performance especially that in the hook, are absolute trash. It’s easily one of the worst moments on the entire record when he tries to sing a somewhat functional melody and fails so unbelievably hard. The instrumentation is also really, really bad. As if it wasn’t enough with all these bad hooks, ‘Your Lucky Day in Hell’ just does it even worse. You really know for what type of chorus he was going for but it feels just so overly annoying that I can’t fathom how he did that so badly. Luckily, the instrumental saves a tiny bit of what is left but it’s still enough terrible execution for the entire thing to be better flushed down the toilet at whatever publisher decided to release this entire album. With the closing tracks, I always hope for a final somewhat good song to save at least a bit of an album but ‘Manchild’ does definitely not fall under that category. It tries so hard to be a quirky Chamber Pop song but does fail with a good portion of it. The lyrics aren’t totally trash although they don’t really help the song either. The chorus is also not the worst as is the instrumentation but I hate how the song seems to go into absolute nothingness. At multiple points the song seems to try to go into an emotional high point but just stops leaving everyone incredibly unsatisfied. It’s really stupid to end an album with a song like this that just leaves no one really finished with the album. Luckily, it isn’t the worst of all and still has enough qualities to barely scrape at bad. favourites: Novocaine for the Soul least favourites: My Beloved Monster, Not Ready Yet, Spunky, Mental, Beautiful Freak Rating: strong 2 (to light 3) https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes
Favorite Track: My Beloved Monster
fake beck does a rock album 2,5 para mi
Media estrella más, me gustó
che me gustó, es un 7,5/8 pero vamos a darle 8 porque tiene potencial. La tapa es perturbadora igual.
Boring. I can't think of why this is on here but Quicksand isn't. PRO TIP: Don't listen to this one while driving. I very seriously had to pause it to put on something else just so it didn't drag. "Your Lucky Day in Hell," huh? Sure feels like I'm in hell listening to this but I'm not lucky if I'm listening.
Opens up pretty nicely, Novocaine For The Soul hits all the classic tropes for '90s alt-rock nostalgia. Really slides downhill after that though and proceeds to just be really boring.
Bought this when it was released, but never really thought much of it at the time. Relistening now, I’m appreciating it more. Nice lyrics and melody.
I enjoyed this. Not at all what I was expecting, pleasantly surprised.
Good but not great. One of many "7 out of 10" albums that are very much worth listening to, but there's so many of those, so as usual rounding down.
Beautiful Freak More Proustian nostalgia with this, taking me right back to the 2nd year of A-Levels. This along with Blur by Blur puts me right back in my bedroom in the middle of A-Level mocks, listening to Radio 1 as well, and taking my driving test, and then on to Uni. Also think Mackie was a big fan. Anyway, interesting to revisit it as I have really listened to it since that time, although I remember liking the album after this, particularly Mr E’s Beautiful Blues. Novocaine for the Soul really does stand out, as it did back in 1997, the plinky piano and strings in the intro set a suitably spooky, eccentric tone ahead of the marriage of a catchy pop melody with a despairing lyric. Still a great track. Susan’s House is similar, a pretty, delicate melody and piano motif in the chorus with the offbeat and slightly sad spoken word verses. Like Novocaine this still sounds great. As Does Your Lucky Day in Hell, another track that still sounds great, an excellent atmosphere and another catchy hook. In fact I’d forgotten how many great little hooks and melodies there are on here, there’s a lot of pop classicism behind the quirky arrangements, subject matter and approach, which probably makes it endure better than some other albums in the same vein and sets it apart from a lot of other angsty american alt rock. Beautiful Freak, My Beloved Monster, Guest List, Mental are all examples of this, some great melodies and musical hooks and textures, the bass, organ and guitar on Guest List in particular are really good. Maybe it’s nostalgia, but this is a lot more enjoyable than I thought it might be, there’s a lot more of interest than I remember, and the combination of quirky post grunge angst with some charming melodies and offbeat instrumentation elevates it above a being a late 90s curio and shades it into a 4. 🧌🧌🧌🧌 Playlist submission: Guest List
I really liked this and listened twice. Added a number of songs to my faves playlist too.
I’ve quite liked this album since it came out. Catchy songs, lovely vocals, nice mood throughout. Surprised to see they have a 17 album discography.
I was introduced to Eels in high school when, I swear, even though this seems implausible to me, “Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues” got radio airplay. I have been a fan ever since, albeit an inattentive, not at all completist fan. Still, I’m thankful I worked my way backwards, because “Electro-Shock Blues” is a five star, stone cold classic album. This album is good. It will not replace ESB at the top of my Eels list. But it definitely has the same dark sense of humor and vibe that I love from this band.
Not bad. 90s totally.
Eels are great. E hadn't yet evolved into the lyricist he would become on the next album, Electro-Shock Blues (Instant 5), but the sound was present.
que album rui
"Life is so full of unpredictable beauty and strange surprises. Sometimes that beauty is too much for me to handle. Do you know that feeling? When something is just too beautiful? When someone says something or writes something or plays something that moves you to the point of tears, maybe even changes you." Mark Oliver Everett - Things The Grandchildren Should Know In a nutshell: warts and all. It's good but E's best is yet to come. I'd start with Daisies of the Galaxy and Electro-Shock Blues first. Overall: 6/10
Bien eels sin mas
I am not that familiar with Eels; I have no idea how I missed them in the 90S There are some stand out songs on this album, Novocaine for the soul is a brilliant opening track. I also loved your lucky day in hell and not ready yet, but there is quite a bit of filler. It’s an album of good moments. Favourite song: Novocaine for the soul. Least favourite: Manchild, I was not a fan of at all and Spunky was pointless. Album artwork: The album title is summed up in the album art
Good vibes, solid songs
My nightmares will now consist of this thing. Thanks 1001 list.
Album 564 of 1001 Eels - Beautiful Freak (1996) Rating : 5 / 5 I had never heard of this before I started listening through the list of albums. It has come to be a favorite. It probably isn't going to chart of someone's list of greatest albums but it certainly makes to my list of favorites. Novocaine for the Soul and My Beloved Monster are two of my most repeated songs and the others tracks are on par with those. Though provoking lyrics with some nice musicianship. This one really strikes a chord with me.
I don’t know what to think about this album. Not sure if it was me, but it just didn’t hold my attention very well. I didn’t enjoy the singer’s voice at all, and the music never carried the songs well enough that I could look past the vocals. It was like a sub-par version of Spiritualized or something.
First time i had heard of them - wonderful lyrics and sound
Not as awful as I thought it may be. Torn between 2 and 3. Feeling generous.
I didn't love this at first listen but it grew on me. There are some really beautiful tracks on here and it just encapsulates 1996 alt energy so well. Felt like a mix of Flaming Lips, Eliott Smith, and Beck all rolling around. I might listen again, 2.8/5 Listening notes: Not familiar with this band or album at all. Alright starting a little creepy. Oh yeah this is big 1996 energy, sounds like early Flaming Lips. "Beautiful Freak" is really pretty. Ending with Manchild giving some pretty Elliott Smith energy. Fun to learn Jon Brion helped produce this.
Great opener, and the rest of the album could be an anticlimax. But actually there is something novel and interesting in every track.
No me esperaba nada y salí con un tesoro entre las manos. El álbum debut de Eels es excelente. Una muy buena compilación de canciones bien pensadas, trabajadas y ejecutadas, con tintes psicodélicos que toman algunos rasgos de otros actos de los '90s, como el britpop y el triphop, que logra destacarse por sobre otros trabajos contemporáneos. Sumamente recomendable, escúchelo por favor.
Like being transported through time. But still sounds fresh. And definitely has an X factor. I liked the story telling lyrics.
8/10. It's another pleasant album. It's softer in some places, and heavier in others. It's not my favourite album of all time, but it's a nice album. :)
When I saw the album cover I feared I was in for a rough ride... and I was. Basically an album equivalent of Alice in the Wonderland, in a bad way. Feverish and dissonant, not at all to my liking. The singers voice also reminds me quite a lot of Elliott Smith, which I am not overly fond of. The only ray of light is 'My Beloved Monster', which I think I recognize from being in the Shrek movie. This recovers it from a dead 1 star to a weak 2 for me.
What a horrible album cover! Had really low expectaitions but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Sure the lyrics are pretty self-idulgent and dramatic, really not a fan of the spoken word, but the general feel of it was quite nice. Somerwhere between a 2 and 3. Giving it a (very weak) 3.
Kind of weird? I'm still wondering if I liked it or not
meh
This was actually quite good. I like how the play with the instrument location. For some reason the singer is ofter on the right and guitar on the left. Only complaint: a bit mellow at times.
It's decent. You can tell this is from the 90s. A solid 90s alt rock album, but I probably wouldn't listen to it again.
Like a lot of The melodies, but I'ddescribe most of the tracks as boring. I also don't like the vocals at all. Mostly just forgettable email alternative to me.
Different but fairly juvenile. Like Catcher in the Rye, what I would have fallen in love with if younger is just irritating.
Today I found out the piano in Susan’s house is sampled for Pez and 360’s Festival song interesting. The first half of this album is better than the second half
Nothing really notable except for the one song that was in Shrek.
More music I have zero opinion on except Pez stole Susan's house for Festival Song but that's all right, but then again I feel like these guys didn't write it either.
Was kinda like a lesser Beck. Wasn’t bad but nothing too much stood out Except for the surprise shrek song
I got a lot to say about this album *First two tracks sounded fantastic, pulled me in right off the bat, really high hopes for the rest of it *Third kinda falls apart a bit and by track four it feels like I’m listening to a song with no context. It sounded like all the instruments had a purpose but slowly it faded to the point where they were just making sounds for the hell of it. * Sporadically you see flash’s in the pan but nothing like the first two tracks until you get to your lucky day in hell, the penultimate song. The instruments have found their role again and the song has a nice motion of the ocean and is a nice segue to manchild. *Tonally this track nails it in terms of concluding the journey that is this album. The samples of the conversations and the slow progression of the song push all the right buttons in my brain to at least give me a somewhat happy, if not melancholic ending to the session. You’d think writing out my life story would result in a good rating but, at the end of the day, half of the songs, really, were kinda shit.
LOVED this album.
How do you make such downbeat music so uplifting? Utter genius 5.0
A generous 3, why is this on the list?
Mostly boring. Didn't care for the vocals much at all. I've heard mich worse. I guess it's a 2.
-not bad but not too many of the songs really stood out to me. I like the cool effects (samplings? idk?) though, and Guest List is a very very beautiful song. I wouldn’t really define any of the songs as “bad” though so that’s a win -Favorites are Beautiful Freak, Guest List, and Your Lucky Day In Hell
Totally forgettable for me.
Good mid 1990s stuff. Nothing groundbreaking. But still fun. Opening song is great. 3.75
The album art kind of creeps me out
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 have a great vibe.
Surprisingly good album holy smokes
Estuvo lindo de escuchar
It was pretty nice, with soft and rough songs. It was nice to listen to as an album
Rating: 8/10 Honest lyrics with catchy instrumentals. Amazing when it works and okay when it does not. Best songs: Novocaine For The Soul, Susan's House.
The at time trite high school notebook scribble lyrics prevent this from being a 4
Pretty good listen this.
Tim: "That guy's a bucket of cheer." Other than the depression, the music is pretty standard '90s indie rock, not bad but not great.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this album, another artist I've never heard of but I loved it! Will definitely listen again & check out other albums.
Olipa hidas levy, siitä en pitänyt. Tunnelmasta kyllä. Ei liian grunge, mutta atmosfääri on sitä. Tylsä kokonaisuus kuitenkin ja vähän masentava.
Tämä kuulostaa tavalliselta duunipäivältä. Osaisikohan artisti suositella hyvää efektipedaalia?
Proper good, very evocative of the time period and it has that song from Shrek on it. We enjoyed it a lot.
Beautiful and freaky
Really interesting indie band that I'm probably never going to come back to
Strange stuff.
Huh, I didn't expect to see Eels on here. I'm not too familiar with them, but they seem pretty niche. 'Manchild' holds a special place in my heart. This grungy, edgy stuff is my bread and butter.
It's very meaningful for a certain type of person of a certain age. And maybe other kinds of people can like it, too.
"Novocaine For The Soul" is a classic banger. The rest is good enough too. That cover is creepy as fuck though.
Indie emo band, it was ok. I thought I'd like it more since I was enjoying the more garage rock vibe, but it just didn't click with me. My favorites are Novacoaine for the Soul, Mental, and Your Lucky Day in Hell.
this was a weird album - at times it reminded me a bit of nirvana but other tracks were just meh 2.5 rounded up
Y'know, I'd just like to pull up two terms from one of the reviews of this album I read on this website: "Flaming Lips vibes" and "baroque-grunge." That about sums this album's appeal to me. It's the dreamty, contended sigh of melancholy, sometimes wrapped purely in the instrumentation of angst, and other times mixed in with more unique spices. Which, reading that back, sounds like a really pretentious way to put it, but that's the best way I can think of to describe it. Plus, of course—it has a song in SHREK. Nostalgia for that alone already garunteed this thing points, so it's nice to hear that the rest of it holds up as well.
As someone who only knew Susan's House from the track list, this is some pretty damn stellar alternative rock. 4.5 bumped to 5.
I’m at a 4. I need a hug. It’s just a sad album, you know? Right from the rip, “Novocaine for the Soul” is an obvious drug addiction parallel, and the album never really gets happier from there – the big peak of positivity is probably “My Beloved Monster,” and that might just be because it was used in Shrek. Seriously, the back half of this album is just a rough dose of suburban reality that never really brightens itself up. It’s a bold fucking choice, and it’s one I really deeply respect; this is a somewhat thought-provoking album for 1996. Taking this shit head on without really pulling any punches as to the nature of social anxiety and a desire to feel like one belongs stands out in the sort of commercialized rock and pop that was starting to come back into vogue around this time. I don’t think I can give it a 5; there’s a few tracks that hit really well lyrically and vocally, but are supplemented by instrumentals that don’t do too much to stick out, even when they get their little solo moments. Those types of tracks are really prevalent around the middle of the album, and they do make the experience slow down just a little bit too much, but this is still a really strong album. It can read as a bit generic and a little too angsty and moody in that teenage sort of way, but I think it’s possibly more relatable now in 2024 than it was in 1996 as far as the social dynamics go. It’s a very good 4, and it could be a 5 for people who really fucking relate to some of the subject matter here. It could also be a 2 for people who don’t relate to it at all and want to hear this guy shut up about his poor shitty life. For my tastes, I just liked it a lot, and I thought the storytelling and tone of the album was really well done. And now, I will go get that hug.
Remettons-nous dans le contexte, nous sommes en 1996. L'Angleterre, arrogante et fière, se paluche sur la Britpop, une resucée plus ou moins inspirée de sa propre histoire. L'Amérique, elle, digère encore la gueule de bois post-Nirvana, entretenant la flamme d'un rock alternatif qui commence sérieusement à sentir le réchauffé. Le Top 50, n'en parlons même pas, c'est un champ de ruines. Et puis, au milieu de ce paysage un peu morne, un objet musical non identifié atterrit, sans faire de bruit, mais en laissant une trace indélébile pour ceux qui ont eu la chance de le voir passer. Cet objet, c'est "Beautiful Freak", le premier album d'un groupe nommé Eels. Eels, c'était avant tout un homme : Mark Oliver Everett, ou "E". Un type au parcours déjà cabossé, un songwriter de génie qui bricolait des chansons dans son coin depuis des années. Et le voilà qui devient la toute première signature d'un label qui sort de nulle part mais qui fait jaser : Dreamworks Records, le monstre monté par Steven Spielberg, David Geffen et Jeffrey Katzenberg. L'ironie est totale, le label des futurs blockbusters hollywoodiens signe en premier un des disques les plus intimistes, bizarres et profondément anti-spectaculaires de la décennie. Car "Beautiful Freak" est une anomalie, une merveilleuse anomalie. C'est un album qui sonne comme s'il avait été enregistré dans une chambre d'ado sur un 4-pistes asthmatique, mais avec la science mélodique d'un Brian Wilson sous anxiolytiques. C'est une symphonie de bric et de broc, une fusion miraculeuse où les samples de hip-hop crades et le bidouillage sonore le plus inventif viennent se frotter à des guitares saturées à la limite du larsen et à la complainte mélancolique d'un piano Wurlitzer. À une époque où il fallait choisir son camp – le rock, le hip-hop, l'electro – Eels envoyait tout valser et créait son propre langage. Un son unique, reconnaissable entre mille, fait de boucles hypnotiques, de mélodies pop imparables et d'une production faussement naïve qui cachait une sophistication de tous les instants. Mais réduire ce disque à une simple prouesse technique serait passer à côté de l'essentiel. Car "Beautiful Freak" n'est pas qu'un son, c'est un univers. Un monde peuplé de personnages attachants, de "beaux monstres", d'inadaptés magnifiques qui tentent de survivre dans la grisaille d'un quotidien suburbain. C'est un disque sur la solitude ("Flower"), sur la difficulté de communiquer ("My Beloved Monster"), sur les névroses d'un voisinage observé à travers une fenêtre ("Susan's House"). L'ambiance est souvent sombre, dépressive, torturée. La voix de "E", fragile, éraillée, est celle d'un homme qui semble porter toute la misère du monde sur ses épaules. Et pourtant, ce n'est jamais un disque plombant. Chaque chanson, même la plus triste, est traversée par une lueur d'humanité, une tendresse infinie pour ses personnages. Il y a un humour noir, un sens de l'absurde et une autodérision qui sauvent l'ensemble du pathos. "Novocaine for the Soul", le tube improbable qui les a fait connaître, est l'exemple parfait : un rythme hip-hop lourd, un sample vocal inquiétant, et ce refrain désespéré qui devient un hymne pour tous ceux qui se sentent décalés. C'est un disque qui vous dit : "T'es bizarre, t'es paumé, t'es un peu à la masse ? Bienvenue au club. On est tous des beautiful freaks." Cet album est une pierre angulaire de mes années 90. Je l'ai usé jusqu'à la corde, je l'ai conseillé, je l'ai presque imposé à quiconque passait la porte du magasin de disques. C'est un de ces albums-refuges, un de ces disques-amis qui vous comprennent sans que vous ayez besoin de parler. Une perfection, un 5/5, sans la moindre hésitation. Ce qui m'amène à la question qui tue : POURQUOI ? Pourquoi un groupe capable d'une telle réussite, d'un tel équilibre entre innovation et émotion, reste-t-il encore aujourd'hui une référence pour une poignée de connaisseurs plutôt qu'un pilier de la culture populaire ? Et j'ai ma petite théorie, peut-être que Dreamworks, avec ses gros sabots hollywoodiens, n'a jamais su quoi faire de ce bijou fragile. Peut-être que l'album était trop subtil, trop intelligent pour une époque qui commençait à réclamer du bruit et de la fureur simpliste. Peut-être que la tristesse de "E" était trop réelle, trop palpable, pas assez "cool" ou "grunge" pour être vendue comme un produit. Eels n'a jamais été un groupe "sexy". Il a toujours été un groupe sincère. Et la sincérité, mes amis, ça ne fait pas toujours vendre des millions. Mais au fond, qu'est-ce qu'on en a à foutre ? Le succès de masse aurait peut-être dilué leur propos, les aurait forcés à se répéter. En restant ce trésor caché, Eels a conservé son intégrité, sa pureté. "Beautiful Freak" n'appartient pas à tout le monde. Il appartient à ceux qui ont pris le temps de l'écouter, de le comprendre, de se reconnaître dans ses fissures et ses fêlures. C'est une petite merveille, un classique absolu. L'un de mes disques préférés des années 90. Et si vous passez à côté, c'est que vous n'avez rien compris.
V good
Too weird
I liked this album a lot more than I thought I would. I was only familiar with novocaine for the soul before.
This is just a rock album that is good at what it does. Nothing bad about it, but also nothing truly amazing. 3/5
Cool
First listen. Decent.
Eels has some good songs, I like quite a few of there songs. However, I find them to be tiring for a whole album. Eels for me is great for a song here and there but it’s too samey when you listen to an hours worth.
not particularly inticing, okay.
Been awhile since I listened all the way through. Still solid.
Sounds like Ben Folds.
Solid album all the way through.
Beautiful Freak starts very Cake-y. Slow spoken word stuff didn’t work for me. But the album slowly gets going. Rags to Rags gets it’s going and by Not Ready Yet we are fully there. This album is a grower 7.5/10