Reviews (page 9 of 10)
Not bad, but not really great either. Favorite songs were Flower and Manchild.
Great album. Wonderful production. The opener is a (25 year old) modern classic.
Freaky and beautiful.
freakily beautiful
Enjoyed this album, but wouldn’t listen to every song
3.5
I don’t know if I love or hate that cover… The album opens on novocaine for the soul a rather creepy track that does this cool emulation of vinyl pops and crackles that evolves into this really well played 90’s pop rock track . The only problem is that it’s not that great lyrically. Susans house is a more deeper sounding drum and bass based track that has spoken word verses the chorus is very different to all of this though being quite harmonic and piano led. Each bit is slightly too separate but not bad It flows perfectly into rags to rags the transition between verses and chorus is still oddly separate but they’re actually executed well ( especially the kick arse chorus). The album’s title track is slow and dreary yet emotional and hopeful at the same time I hope the songs stay at the quality of these last two songs. Not ready yet is just what you would want at this point in the album it’s fairly slow but explodes into this grand, spectacular chorus with amazing guitars. Just what I wanted! My beloved monster ends the first half of the album a mostly slow track with brilliant guitars but a booming epic chorus. Flower is a rather angelic, beautiful relaxed track that brings the mood of slowly waking up on a warm summers day. Also the lyrics are some of the albums best. Guest list is quite a good idea for a song thematically. And all is good ( a nice slow burn) until the dam harmonica. God those things can be annoying. I enjoy the bass line and the slow build up of metal it’s a great song, good lyrics good chorus it’s all you need. May have swapped this and flowers positioning on the album though. I thought with a name like “ spunky” that this song would be song youthful burst of energy but what we actually get is a semi mature slow burn that isn’t a favourite but I like it. The penultimate track your lucky day in hell is an amazing song that slowly builds up throughout the intro. It’s so sad probably the album’s best song! I love a random lot of samples like the beginning of manchild it’s a brilliant close off kinda feels like the aftermath of the whole album putting everything to a gentle resolve. There’s so many songs that I enjoy on here but it’s definitely an album where the singles aren’t necessarily the best as it slowly reveals its best cards rather than throwing it all in your face making some moments rather boring. But the majority was great!
What a cracking album. Not a bad track on it.
Let's talk about that album cover. Actually, let's not. A few good songs, but mostly forgettable. "Novacaine for the Soul", "Susan's House" and "Mental" were my favorites. Not a huge fan of the singer's voice - he sings like he's just going through the motions most of the time.
I like Eels, but I'm still not convinced about the many worlds paradigm.
Depressing, but good...
not bad
I enjoyed this so much, I listened to it again immediately after my first play. Lyrically & melodically unique and adventurous. Totally enjoyed it, and have added this and two additional Eels albums (so far).
Kinda cool, not what I expected. Saved one song.
Alternatywne rokowanie jesli kiedykolwiek slyszalem jedne, jest to pierwszy album grupy Eelsowej, chociaz wiki mowi, ze jest to bardziej solowy material pana Mark Oliver Everett, pojawiajacego sie tu pod tajemicznym E, jest on autorem wszystkich trakow, gra na gitarce, klawiszach i byl odpowiedzialny za produkcje i mikserowanie, jak alternatywny rock to dodatkowymi instrumentami bedzie oczywiscie bas i drumy i to by bylo na tyle z zespolu, dodatkowo muzycy sesyjni wnosza dodatkowe klawisze, elektroniczne lub synthowo brzmiace, no i jakies dodatkowe gitarki czy inne tamburyny jak chocby na your lucky day in hell, ktory jak dla mnie prezentuje co najlepiej robi ta banda, czyli buduje sarkastyczne moodowe utwory, ktorych ironie mozna czuc zarowno przez melodie jak i slychac lirycznie, a taka synchronizacja to prawdziwe zaskoczenie, nawet nie sluchac, tylko czuc, ze robione mysla jednego czlowieka, pana E, moze taki akurat mam nastroj, ale trafiaja do mnie takie moodowe uzalania sie nad soba przedstawione w ciekawy sposob, bo tutaj jakies tamburino, tam brzdakanie akustyka czy banjo nadaje unikalnosci temu nagraniu, calosc ma 44 minuty na 12 trakach, wiec dosc standardowo jak na debiutancki material pod szyldem wytworni, poza wspomnianym lucky day in hell dodam jeszcze openingowego novocaine for the soul, ktory jest jednym z najpopularniejszych trakow zespolu, a nie wylacznie tego krazka, ktory jest specyficzny, ale sluchalny, pomimo tego ze pan E brzmi jak wyciety z szablonu brodatego okularowego alternatywnego grajka
Susan's House is such a standout for me, just a perfectly delivered narrative. Novocaine For The Soul is great and it was nice to dig in to the rest of the album.
Ja känner att de finns int rikit makten å känslan i musiken här för att de allvarliga ämnena ska kunnas tas på allvar… tbh!
Not sure about this one. I find it difficult to describe the way this album keeps changing it’s sound song for song. The variety produces some great songs like ”Not Ready Yet” and ”Mental”. Also not too fond of the vocals on some songs, although they’re better on others. Idk It also feels strangely long for it’s length. I don’t think it’s a bad thing, but it’s worth noting
Låter som att det inspirerade ett visst LUM album men det här är inte alls lika bra.
2.5/5
I liked the song from Shrek. Other than that it's pretty boring music, honestly.
Wondering if the singer ever feels embarrassed at some of the lyrics on this album. They remind me of a high school student trying to write deep poetry. Some of the lyrics in "Susan's House" were almost laughably bad. Musically, however, this is pretty great. Genre-flipping, sometimes grungy, sometimes shoe-gazey, sounds very of-its-time (which is good because 90s alt is my personal favorite)
Interesting album, enjoyed it. Very 96 in the alt distortion, good chord progressions, sometimes the singing was good, overall catchy. Would possibly listen again
Genre: Alternative Rock 3/5 Now a 3 might look like I didn't enjoy this album all that much, but I did enjoy it! Even more after recognizing one of the songs in the tracklist was in Shrek, and even a bit more so after realizing that they also had a song featured in Shrek 2, which was hilarious as those movies are emblazoned in my memory forever. Leaving that aside for now, Beautiful Freak, the debut album from the Eels, a group built by a singer/songwriter who goes by E, is pretty good all things considered. The first 3 tracks, Novocaine for the Soul (started slow, but grows into a solid jam), Susan's House (one of the best 90s alt rock songs I've heard in a while), and Rags to Rags (another solid pop/alt rock flavored track) do a very good job of making it seem like this album would turn out to be an alt rock masterpiece. After those 3, though, it fell into what ended up being a fairly decent alt rock experience, but nothing too much to write home about. My Beloved Monster, the song used in Shrek, was very funny to hear pop up, but isn't paritcularly enjoyable. All in all, not a bad record. A gem or two short of a 4, and should be entertaining for any average rock fan.
Interesting music, interesting lyrics, totally listenable but never boring. It's a perfect choice of 90s alternative and "Beautiful Freak" is an apt description.
So, if you had asked me yesterday if I know about this band called Eels, I would have shrugged and said "nope". However, when this album popped up with the cover staring me in the face, it struck me as somehow familiar. Then I started to play it and was singing along...not just to the first tune, but the second and the third... Thank you to this project for bringing this album back into my life!
This is adorably creepy and misanthropically cute. The comparison to a David Lynch movie is apt with darkness behind white picket fences --- Susan's House in fact sounds a lot like A Real Indication from the Fire Walk with Me soundtrack. This Could Be Your Lucky Day (sounds nice!)...In Hell (uh oh!). I truly love Novocaine for the Soul, My Beloved Monster, and Spunky (a cat named lola with a violent past is balled-up asleep 'cross her knees). There are a handful of songs that are a bit of a wash for me but I like the general feel.
Eels can be relied on to provide playful tunes that shimmer and shine instrumentally while delivering dark lyrics struggling to make sense of life and the world. It makes for a very engaging listening experience!
I must confess to be at a bit of a loss about how to review Eels’ 'Beautiful Freak.' I can’t think of two more apt words to describe it, though. It is often beautiful, if framed in melancholy, like a flower garden shrouded in the morning’s mist. In fact, on ‘Flower,’ lead vocalist E images himself as one, but in a hailstorm rather than the gentle dew. Accompanied by the mournful chorus of a ghostly choir, one gets the feeling his self-image has taken a beating by his life’s situations in general, but in particular, by women. ‘I’m never even on your (guest) list,’ he laments on ‘Guest List.’ ‘Rags to Rags’ pronounces his prior rags to riches plan a sour bust. He’s ‘Not Ready Yet’ (by a long shot) to reengage with the outside world. And, hitting rock bottom- literally- ‘no one will know my name until it’s on a stone (‘Your Lucky Day in Hell’).’ He sings all these tales of woe with a beautifully wounded voice that evokes an image of an abused, frightened puppy. The freak component of all this, however, is his unfortunate over identification with all these unrealized desires and dreams which has caused him to feel as if he’s deserving of all this misfortune. Essentially, the entre LP seems to be your invitation to his grand pity party. Don’t worry, though, there’s plenty of mood altering depressants to go around. The tiny band is certainly munching on some meds with rythym section Butch and Tommy Walter, and E himself on guitar and Wurlitzer electric piano, performing sparse arrangements with much restraint. There are little instrumental solos to speak of, with the exclusion of ‘My Beloved Monster,’ which delivered one the oddest sounding little breaks I’ve heard in a while. (I liked it, too, by the way.) ’Mental’ also featured some action towards the end, but I couldn’t figure out if the soloing was avant garde or just a lack of proficiency. Either way, I wished Eels would have stretched their legs a bit more on most of these songs. There’s some untapped potential in there, I reckon. I didn’t not like it. The question is: did I? And E, I’m puzzled by this about-face lyric on the concluding song, ‘Manchild,’ when you suggest to your negligent lover that ‘when you forget I’m here, I’m not. It isn’t really me that you forgot.’ Maybe the pity is finally being escorted out of this party?
Really strong start, I thought we might be on track for an unexpected 5 stars after hearing jazz, rock and trip hop in the first 2 songs. While the rest of the album was perfectly enjoyable, it seemed to settle into pretty standard fare, 4 star stuff. I will try and revisit this one though.
Tuttu bändi aikojen takaa. Beatiful Freak ei itselleni koskaan ollut se läheisin tai tärkein Eels-levy, jota ihmettelenkin suuresti nyt jälkikäteen. Tämä levy nimittäin on juuri sitä rauhallista Eelsiä jota olen aina arvostanut. Mark Oliver Everettin kitarointi on soundiltaan jumalaista. Levyltä ei löydy suuria huteja. Hittejä sen sijaan enemmänkin. 4,5 joka nousee ylöspäin.
2, I like but not as much as other stuff
Better second time around- feels like an album that gets better the more you listen. Pleasantly surprised. 7/10
Not bad. Is it his best? Cover art: 4/5
Remember the two big hits of this album - never really got into Eels at the time but they were never a band I would turn off if their song came on the radio. Novocaine for the Soul still plays in my head on occasion, although I had forgotten about Susan's House until I listened to this. The album is pretty solid but doesn't feel like anything that would make it on to my regular playlist... don't think it would have at the time it was released either, had I bought it way back then. I definitely appreciate the craftsmanship in the lyrics more now than I would have then... Funny how some things just connect with you and others don't.
Better than I though, given the terrifying album art. Also hey! That one song from the Shrek soundtrack, a surprise to be sure-but a welcome one
3.3 - Unremarkable besides “Novocaine for the Soul.”
Pretty good, some nice sounding songs on this, especially liked Novocaine For The Soul and Susan’s House.
Alright. Nostalgic. Nothing really special.
First time really listening to Eels. I feel like maybe I would of enjoyed it more if I have a past connection to it. I didn’t hate it, but didn’t love it.
Great to listen to while working on taxes! X)
A quiet-ish listen while working earned them a full-volume listen while on the trainer, but for whatever reason it just didn't land. Feels like a "you had to be there" sort of album. *shrug*
I never owned this one but always wanted it. I realized listening to it that I must have accessed it at some point because every song was familiar. Beautiful production (such clarity) and it’s definitely unique and fresh.
My initial thought about this album is that it is more pop rock than I expected. I of course love the first song, but I find the rest of the album hit and miss. It will be interesting to hear other Eels albums against this one.
One of those things (like more famously, Semi-Charmed Life) where the whole color of the room changes depending whether you're paying attention to the lyrics. I listened once about halfway through before I realized this and decided to try it again once I had time to focus a little more on it. I appreciated it a lot more then, it's deceptively dark. Though I can't imagine when I'd want to return to it. One song is enough, and Novocaine for the Soul plays that role just fine!
Eh. 5/10
Beautiful Freak is just okay, radio paint-by-numbers soft indie rock. Vocals are compelling, rest is meh, 2/5.
Don't actually have a huge amount to write about that one. Opening track is good, but goes a bit beige after that. Not unpleasant to listen to, but in no way memorable. Could have waited until after my death. 2/5.
Listened to on 3/31/22 1.5/2 Favorite song: your lucky day in hell Absolutely not - I’m worried for all of their mental wellbeings
Just flat out odd and depressing.
Novocaine for the Soul is like Lou Reed meets Beck or Cake. This is some quirky, dark stuff. Initially, the songs are listenable and toe-tappers, but if you listen to the lyrics, these are dark, sometimes devastating songs. That irony is unsettling but also imaginative and intriguing. Also, unlike a lot of albums, this one builds as it goes. Some of the better tracks are in the middle/towards the end!
This was great no wonder they're in Shrek
Aikas outo levy ja en ole tainnut ikinä ennen kuulla. Alkuun vaikutti ihan lupaavalle, mutta loppua kohden kuivu kasaan. Ei ehkä ihan kolmosen arvoinen mutta menköön.
Löytyy tämäkin hyllystä. Ehdottomasti 5*
amai een heel tof album
Steaming pile of poo
Mon adolescence Prefs: Novocaine for the Soul, Susan's House, Rags to Rags, Beautiful Freak, My Beloved Monster, Flower, Guest List, Your Lucky Day In Hell Moins pref: Not Ready Yet
Fairly mediocre, a lot of the songs sounded the same and were fairly boring/standard for the genre unfortunately.
Not bad at all- wasn't my favorite alt-rock album ever, but was certainly above average. Would probably give 3.5/5 if I could be more specific with my ratings.
It is really important to kick off an album strongly, and Beautiful Freak understands this very well. From the very first second I am totally hooked! This is exactly what I expect from a pop record: quirky, versatile, surprising, filled with twists and turns, off-kilter. I had heard the following album to this one and the first thing that came to my mind was Beck; but when was that a bad thing? Also, I am reading that Mark Oliver Everett (the brain behind Eels) is from Virginia, USA, while I was convinced that he/they were British. They somehow sound British though, think of bands like Super Furry Animals or Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. No surprise then that opening track Novocaine For The Soul was a hit in UK). Track 2 features an upright bass while Mr E walks us over Susan's House all while taking a heartbreaking polaroid of a cruel, everyday suburban reality (There's a crazy old woman smashing bottles on the side walk/where her house burnt two years ago/people says that back then she really wasn't that crazy... Here comes a girl with long brown hair who can't be more than 17/she sucks on a red popsicle while she pushes a baby girl in a pink carriage/and I'm thinking that must be her sister, right?). Yup. I too have seen things while going over to Susan's house. The title track brings together Beach Boys arrangements, accordions, a spooky piano coda, and a lament about loving people when they are "different". My Beloved Monster instead is about that (beautiful) freak we all carry inside, begins with a banjo, that is soon left aside and adds some noisy flourishes. Flower is a nice update on American folk with a processed choir that points out at how we get slapped since day one and so on forever and ever. I really don't know weather someone else has ever sung the words "this could be your lucky day in hell" over such moving, lush melodies, and then go back to some distorted parts with such nonchalant elegance, but it works brilliantly. I wish I had more than 24 hours to spend with this album and write more about it, but I guess that is part of the challenge. Without any doubt, another essential that I surely need to add to my collection. On to the next one, but, hey, Beautiful Freak, see you soon, I hope.
"Novocaine for the Soul" and "Susan's House" made some big promises, and this album delivers. Mark Oliver Everett's laid-back and introspective vocals, melodic arrangements are smooth and consistent against the chaos of his broken characters.
This album is a fun throwback to the 90s. The musical part of it is really good and contains a lot of interesting elements for the time in which it was made, especially the samples used on a few tracks. The lyrics are...I think too obvious is the word I'm looking for. There's very little craft to them, and it made the album hard to get into 3/5
Surprised we didn't already know this band. How do you miss a strong alternative group from the 90s completely?
The lyrics can be rather compelling, but I don't find the songwriting all that engaging.
Hirvittävä kansi. Absoluuttisen kauhee. Musa taas seilaa jossain indien, radioheadin ja REM:in maastossa. Ei valittamista. Suht jees. 3/5
Täähän oli ihan jepa. Hyvät saundit, tarttuvia kertsejä, miellyttävä lauluääni. Sisällöllisesti biisit aika +-0, mutta eipä se mua haittaa. Mainittakoon että tässä oli kokoajan semmonen taustaviba että tää on jonkun disney-leffan soundtrack, tyyliin Monsterit OY, ja tälle löytykin selitys, My Beloved Monster oli tietenkin Shrekissä. Tästä vois antaa miinuspisteitä mutta oikeestaan siitä tuli hyvät nostalgiat.
Hmh, hetkittäin ihan kaunista kitarointia, mutta aika vaisua menoa keskimäärin. Ottaen huomioon, kuinka kovia indie-levyjä ysärillä ja nollarin alussa tehtiin, on tän listan valinnat kyseisestä genrestä ollut tähän asti ihan kummallisia.
Hmm, tää levy oli tullu mulla jo kertaalleen eli ilmeisesti tää ryhmä sekoittelee uudelleen näitä mulla jo tulleita levyjä. No, tän suhteen on kyllä kääntynyt mielipide aika voimakkaasti kun on kuunnellut enemmän näitä levyjä. Aika laiskaa eikä juurikaan puhuttele tämmönen "cool" apatia, joten 2/5.
This is good… I’ll defo listen to this again!
Este disco me costó conseguirlo. Sonaba mucho en Radio3 pero en las tiendas habituales no lo tenían. Un disco que desde el principio enamora y suena diferente. Años después leyendo el libro de Mr. E le cogí aún más cariño al este trabajo. Libro por cierto 100% recomendable: "Cosas que los nietos deberían saber" de Oliver Everett, Mark. ► Imprescindibles: "Novocaine for the Soul", "Susan's House", "Rags to Rags", "Beautiful Freak", "My Beloved Monster", "Flower", "Guest List" y para terminar "Your Lucky Day in Hell".
Eels sind irgendwie immer da aber nie im Fokus. Liebe ich schon ziemlich. wenn man mal auf die Texte hört teilweise echt überraschend düster, v.a. im Vergleich zu den layed-back sounds. Schön
Okay - bit dull
Haven't listened to this for quite a few years! I thought I was fairly so-so about it, but actually this listen triggered quite a lot of affection. I can still get down with the affected hipster ennui... Fave track - "Novocaine for the Soul" was traditionally my go to, but this time around "Rags to Rags" takes the crown!
'Novocaine for the Soul' is an absolute banger! Nothing else hits that hard but this is a neat experimental album that was a hugely pleasant surprise. A couple of iffy tracks but similar vibes to Syd Matters which I'm here for.
Honestly surprised me a little bit, reminded me of radiohead?
I really enjoyed this album. I saw it pop up and immediately recognised it. As it turns out, it was incredibly popular in Belgium when I was growing up. Every once in a while I'm reminded of just how foreign I am, and certain things, like these things that I subconsciously grew up with, remind me of that
this album hits you in the feels and keeps you entertained with its jank metaphors and grungy, monotone vocals to convey the feeling of being of not good enough for love
Haven't heard this album in quite a while. Reminds me of Tom Waits and Blur in places.
Not sure why but not the biggest Eeels fan
I really enjoyed this. Most tracks were a bit different. Not quite a 4 but definitely a high 3*
Nothing here for me to grab on to. Nothing stands out. Dull.
Well, this is a nice find. All completely new to me, and this album is very well done. I really like the overall sound and style. The performances and recordings are excellent. Giving it another listen now. Thanks, 1001 Albums project!
Wow what a cool, fun trip-hop jam! Some of these tracks were entrancing, like "Your Lucky Day in Hell" and the title track!
Þessi plata er bara helvíti skemmtileg, hlustaði á hana einu sinni í gegn og mikið eins og síðasta plata heyrði ég mörg góð lög, get léttilega hugsað mér að hlusta aftur á þetta. 4 stjörnur, gæti verið 5 ef ég myndi hlusta oftar en ég efast um það no offense
A+ stand out tracks: -Novocaine For The Soul -Susan's House -Beautiful Freak -Mental -Spunky (one of my favorite, lyrically) -Manchild (loved the instrumentals)
4/5. I mean bruh it’s got a Shrek song on it. Automatic classic 👍
Forgettable.
omg love
Wel lekker alternatief zweverig sfeertje maar niet echt herluisterbaar
Classic Eels here, with the lovely "Novocaine For The Soul." opening. So reminiscent of REM (No Pun Intended) this is a delightful, funny, scary and intriguing album. I want it on Vinyl Now! Highlights "Susans House" which is Velvety if you know what I mean. "Rags to Rags" another glorious eant from E himself. Love it all, rightfully in this list for all the right reasons!
Good stuff
I feel like I should have heard of Eels before but I can't really recall them. Maybe the name is familair. Kind of nice laid back album though.
It was pretty good, I think I would need to listen to it another time. His voice was raspy and unconfident, but that is kinda his style from what i am getting at from some of his other songs. I liked Novocaine for the Soul, My beloved Monster, and Man Child
I have a soft-spot for 90's rock music, especially corny alt-stuff (akin to things you would hear in Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and this album hits that spot perfectly. It's not a great album, but it's not bad by any stretch. I enjoyed it.
This is okay? Has an early Ben Folds vibe. Spunky Is probably my favorite track, but the whole album is at once pleasant and forgettable.
I liked it. Close to 4 stars, maybe 3.75
I enjoyed this. Like Beck for people that want to understand the lyrics
Not bad! Immediate throwback to their song from The Grinch soundtrack. Novocaine For The Soul is my fav on the album, the rest are pretty moderate.
Liked it a lot, despite the cover art making me hesitant. Good vocals, and some really interesting vocals. Favorite Songs: Susan's House, Rags to Rags, Guest List
Enjoyed it throughout! A pleasant listen. The Eels have a very dependable chill vibe.
Love this album. Great at the time and still sounds great.
Good voice. Good songs. 90s.
Best Song: Susan's House. Down-earth lyrics that don't tread so heavily on cliché ideas. Worst Song: Beautiful Freak. Cheesy and massively overplayed lyrics. I think the writer thought the juxtaposition of "beautiful" and "freak" was a lot more unique and poetic than it is. Overall: Sounds like the soundtrack to a movie I wouldn't like. Feels as though the music derives its whole purpose from believing it is counter-culture.
Eel man
Taugt nach zweimaligem Hören nicht ganz als Klassiker, Novocaine for the Soul habe ich aber damals schon sehr gemocht.
Bueno, interesante
This one was kind of fun. No recognized songs
מיוחד בטירוף, אהבתי מאוד את הקצב בשירים, נשמע קצת כמו ערבוב של הרבה להקות כמו רד הוט, גורילז, פיקסיז, יש כמה שירים לא ממש מעניינים
Wow, never heard of this guys, but after a couple of listens, I'm hooked. Beautiful and quirky songwriting, I'm going to download and dive into the whole catalog!
Great album - unique sound that is as fresh now as it was on release.
A very weird alt. rock album. I loved it.
I was too busy listening to Leonard Cohen in 1996 that I never gave this album a proper listen, but was excited to explore it. I came into the Eels late, being introduced through the song, "I like the way this is going" a few years ago and then digging into some of their older stuff (but not this album). I loved that song for it's tentative and nervous sweetness, a feeling that carries through so much of their work. I'm sure that "Beautiful Freak" was the song that I had always wanted a boy to sing to me in 1996. I love the juxtaposition of the sweet & gloomy moments with the angsty moments on this album. I love the grainy quality of the vocals on "Not Ready Yet." I haven't had such unprepared delight ever in a song as when the harmonicas came on in "Guest List." I think that this band stands out for its unique mix of grunge and emo that gives them a unique sense of vulnerability. Plus, I want a cat named Lolita with a violent past and their use of "mint chocolate chip ice cream" was brilliant. What a great listen.
Loved Novocaine for the Soul and Susan’s House- the big singles!
I have liked eels since Novocaine for the Soul - I had the single on cassette. I love the off kilter ness, the humour and the depths of misery it plumbs, without ever being po faced. And they're all singable pop songs too. Their first 3 or 4 albums are all essential imho.
2021.12.22
Some of this kinda reminds me of Spoon and some of it kinda reminds me of Summerteeth era Wilco.
Lyrics were strange. Music was good. I liked it.
Beautiful Freak, the debut album of Eels, was an epiphany at the time of its release. A complete unknown artist debuting with such strong material. The strength of this album is in the weakness and uncertainty it shows in its lyrics in mesmerizing songs like "Novocaine for the Soul", "Rags to Rags", "My Beloved Monster" and "Manchild"
3 1/2
Nostalgia classic
Ja, richtig, diese Kritiker Darlings gab es auch noch. Anfangs ganz schön catchy, aber nach 2 Songs sind die Strukturen doch zu einfach gezimmert. Indie Rock halt zu einer Ben Folds/Beck‘schen Post-Crossover Zeit ehe Neues von Dandy Warhols oder Grandaddy den 90er ins neue Jahrtausend verhalfen. Die letzten beißen auch Super Furry Animals’ Golden Retriever. 2.3
Hat mich schon bei Erscheinen nicht sonderlich interessiert.
Eels are a classic 90s alt band but also do just enough to push beyond the genre to set them apart. Big fan.
I’m into this - but I’m also a little high. I’ll try again later to make sure
Eels are a band I often forget about and then I remember them and I say "how come this isn't my favorite band?" I like Hombre Lobo and End Times both more than this, but this is still such a GREAT album.
Excellent & quirky album.
Misery loves company and 90's alt-rock. It has a strange feeling of almost childlike nursery music with dark lyrics. Like a creche run by Jimmy Saville. Best Tracks: Novocaine For The Soul; Susan's House; Mental
Solid sounds.
6/10
Uso inteligente de samples e boa e surpreendente sequencia de rock.
Great album. I listened to it multiple times that day.
I mean, it's pretty good! like the emotion.
Knew a fair few of these, and love the vibe. Fav new track: Your Lucky Day In Hell
Rock lento que intenta parecer trascendental. No me ha gustado mucho.
Muy indie noventero. Además, como me gusta bastante la portada, le pongo un 5.
Was not pumped on this album during the first song or two, but I grew to like it more as the album progressed.
che je voi di'
I don't even know how to name this music style? post-grunge? pop-punk? However, this kind of music that remembers me of some rainy afternoon watching "How I Met Your Mother" and eating some pizza deserves some respect.
Marvelous roll lately with these minor chord pieces. Super happy this was on my play list today. Great change up for road music
Mi fanno venire in mente i Placebo. Però più lamentosi. Anche gli smashing pumpkins. Non penso che siano male, ma mi annoiano.
So good I listened to it 3 times in a row. I can hear Flaming Lips, Beck, and early Wilco in their music. Susan's House is my favourite here. Definitely got me curious to hear more Eels albums.
Quote enjoyable
Mwah, 2 aardige nummers, maar dit is net niks
A great album
Liked it more on a second listen
Cage the elephant/Cake hybrid. Great album.
Wasn't crazy about this one -- a little too indie for me I think. Almost sounded like Wilco but I didn't find as many songs I loved. Cool cample of that Gladys Knight song that Atmosphere samples -- and I didn't hate the two songs at the end.
I thought this album was interesting. Not amazing but worthy of a re-listen at some point 3.5
Starts off strong, but falls off later. Some great hooks and songwriting on the first half of the album though, almost a 4
I've got this on CD somewhere I think, possibly in my parent's attic. Always had a soft spot for it, has some interesting songs on it, interesting structures and sounds. Bit of a shame they were never as good live. Songs that bring back good memories of my life in 1996, which was one of my very favourite times.
Sounds a bit like Soul Coughing making a Babybird album, but without being quite as good as either.
Can't believe I've never listened to this before. Only ever heard one track before on the Skrek soundtrack. Really cool, dark sound.
Very quintessential 90s with some interesting sampling, but not overdone. Reminds me of Beck, if he was a little more focused. The lyrics occasionally paint a great scene. Favorite tracks: "Susan's House", "Mental", "Your Lucky Day In Hell"
I have been a fan of the Eels since I first saw the video for "Novocaine for the Soul", the first track from this album. I'll listen to that track every time it plays. I've seen the Eeels in concert once, and I've listened to at least a few of their albums all the way through. I'm not absolutely sure if I've listened to this album as a whole, but I know I've done repeat listens to later albums from the band. On this album, like the later albums, there is a bit of darkness to many of the tracks backed by gently up-beat music. All of the tracks on this album are good enough for a second listen. This album is easily a 4-star album for me.
Fairly decent. Beck does it better
I don't know why I didn't listen much to this - I think it's because I didn't like Eels fans much. But some truly ironic mid-90's tracks like Novacaine For The Soul. Angst ridden, iconic, etc etc... Enjoyed!
Actually really enjoyed this. Heard the songs before but never knew who it was.
Pretty good, does some really interesting stuff. Favorite tracks are Not Ready Yet and Mental.
Annoying dynamics - just when you start to get into the tune, it stops dead. Completely. Then starts off in another direction. But overall its really good, and the sound is unique, in a good way. Mixture of synth/guitar sound is unmistakable and appealing. I really like this, though you definitely have to be in the right mood. It isn't background music.
no conocía a la banda, por lo que no estaba esperando nada en particular, pero debo admitir que este álbum me sorprendió completamente.
Cool beans
Enjoyed listening to this. Creates a nice overall sound but without too much stand out tunes. Liked mental best
First listen. I *think* I've heard the band name before, but not familiar with the songs at all. Immediately, loved the sound of the album. Kept listening back-to-back. Loved the sound and feeling of it. Can't wait to listen to it again. This is one of my favorite new first listens. So many great songs. 3/5 (for now)
Not listened to this in years. Still as haunting, melancholy, and beautiful as it ever was.
Fucking brilliant
It was ok
smart, artsy, and enjoyable back to front.
28th September 2021 Listened in the morning before work, chilled one before one of jen's boys came for the evening and Liverpool smashed Porto away again. I like the juxtaposition between the innocent melodies and lyrics and the darker themes. Very autumn 90s.
Må have noget imod diskant på guitar. Det er noller. Über-USA. Emotionelt men tomt.
glimrende rock, lytbart
Indie-pop, melakolsk, melodisk
To be honest I kind of wanted this one to be over pretty quickly. I feel like I've been recommended a bunch of albums from the 90's performed by a bunch of dudes who are decent at writing, but fucking suck at singing. Like, I don't even think this guy would be that bad if he sort of stayed in his lane. But he decides to do some highs that I find feel like nails on a chalkboard. It's also got my beloved monster. Which I first heard in Shrek, so that's kind of fire.
Was nervous about returning to this one, as I suspect I'd overlistened to it in the past. I suspect that remains true, but it was a pleasant surprise even if it won't be back on heavy rotation.
Fun quirky album
260921 16:45 4
Kinda reminds me of beck.
wow i really loved that maybe it’s just late and my heads a little fucky but that really felt like a magical experience listening to that such beautiful, unique, diverse compositions with every track like every time a song would be near the end I would get very excited wondering what fun surprise I would get next he often mixed together genres that shouldn’t work but HOLY SHIT do they work well i’ll give it a 9/10, it’s almost perfect, I have two minor complaints: firstly his vocals aren’t very diverse, I don’t hate his voice but I don’t necessarily love it, he regularly uses effects to spice it up and compensate for the lack of diversity but still i’d like a little more effort from his voice I guess and second isn’t really a flaw, more just preference but the rock genre isn’t really my favorite, it’s not bad but it’s not really something i like listening to normally still this is such a great album, i’m very glad I listened to this, such amazing song writing and surreal story telling with the lyrics, just awesome I’ll definitely be looking into more of Eels’ discography
It's got the Shrek song on it, extra star.
Like it for the first minute and a half, then meh.
Novocaine for the soul is a classic 90s slacker tune - and definitely the highlight of the album.
Great album like it👍
Pues está entre masomenos a chafon ... Cómo llego a la lista?
Creo que está bueno pero
A little sacred feeling over the whole dish. I like it 👍
Novocaine For the Soul is a fantastic 90's alt-rock for me, but I wanted to be blown away by the rest of this album and didn't quite get there.
Если вы думаете, что ни разу не слышали эту группу, то вы ошибаетесь: их песни звучали в первых трех частях Шрека. Но ни в этом их главная заслуга. Уже на данном дебюте 1996-го года Eels показали как должен звучать альтернативный рок. Песни разнообразны и держат ваше внимание на протяжении всего альбома. Звучание опередило свое время и при слепом прослушивании будет сложно понять в каком году выпущен альбом. Рекомендую всем поклонникам The Smashing Pumpkins и The Flaming Lips
J’ai bien aime dans le style et l’album est tres bien construit. 4.25
molto particolare, tranquillizza, fuzzy
Brilliant opening. Sputters out but some good moments
Another one I've never heard of - album cover is creepy. It's indie rock, first song vaguely familiar but that could mean nothing, it's suuuuper generic alternative rock. I kept thinking the next song was gonna be going the distance by cake. 2/5.
The lyrics…..no….. Good first song though. It was promising but plummeted. But the lyrics were cheesy / 16 year old bong hit (as Ian says) vibes.
Fedt album med mange gode 90er lyds sange
Life is hard and so is this guy
4/10 eh
Feeling pretty tired of this style of depressed, quirky white-boy genius type, which seems heavily over-represented in this list.
First listen to anything by Eels. I'm not sure that I liked this one. The lyrics are pained, but musically there is very little catharsis, and the vocal delivery is often overwrought in its expression of self-pity. It's a sad little wilting flower of an album, and on first pass it didn't do much for me. There were a few songs where it came together, namely the saccharine "My Beloved Monster," the withering "Manchild," and lone rocker "Mental."
Before I sputter out........ Novocaine for the Soul was absolutely everywhere of course, and if you wanted to introduce people to what was going on in the late 90s music scene, then this wouldn't be the worst place to start. Can't sustain the magic of the title track over the duration, but certainly warm & strong nostalgia vibes
This is definitely something I could have gotten into when it was big.
Better than I thought from the name and the album art, but cant tell if this is just a better/more influential album in a genre I cannot appreciate or just a mediocre album.
“Novocaine for the Soul” was always my favorite song by The Flaming Lips until I just learned it was by the Eels. It’s probably my 20th favorite Eels tune. This album is pretty good, but below the quality of other Eels albums (Hombre Lobo and especially Wonderful Glorious). Disturbingly coolish artwork. A solid 3⭐️⭐️⭐️
90's sadboi
Enjoyable, but got a bit lost on the way.
Novocaine for the soul.
Rock indie.
The album has a juxtaposition with the dark lyrics and melodic instrumentals and chorus’. The chorus’ seem too repetitive. The album has a sense where it’s easy to listen to but it’s hard to enjoy. 5.6/10
Seems to me like Eels' trademark is on an album with one incredibly good song followed by other good but not good enough songs. This album is a bit of an exception: everything is better than average.
Grew on me a good bit in the second listen. Still dragged a lot and struggled to contain my attention much. One of the albums where I kinda wish the ranking system was out of 10 - I've given so many 2s and 3s that it's hard to distinguish between the both of them. Saved: Susan's House*
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Susan's House, Your Lucky Day in Hell Cutting Edge: Flower, Guest List Overall Notes: Very mellow indie rock. Some of the lyrics are fun and cute, others are just odd. Not really my thing.
Unusual and beautiful. Plenty more albums to discover.
Really enjoyed the instrumentals, and the singer was great vocally. Lyrically it did feel like it tried too hard to be edgy and deep though, but that can be ignored by just not paying attention to the words. Still a shortcoming of the record though.
Meh. One or two good tracks.
I love this album. Beautiful melodies and lyrics to match.
I went through an Eels phase earlier in my life. I've always liked a handful of songs (Spotify tells me I "liked" 4 before listening to this album). I ultimately decided Eels is watered down Beck, and this album proves that theory. Not like that's a bad thing, I still enjoy Eels and this album. It's just not a desert island album. Definitely belongs on the list. And Novacaine For The Soul is an all-timer.
There is so much potential in this music. Having said that, the lyrics are weak and trying too hard to be edgy. I can't help but compare this album with other music from the mid nineties that successfully capture feelings of isolation and sadness without becoming heavy handed. As for the music itself, I really enjoyed the first half of the album, but it just doesn't fulfill what it could be. By the second half of the album, it starts to fall flat. Guitar arpeggios are great, but not when they make up the entirety of the album.
I like Eels, favourite ablum is Daisies of the Galaxies, but I also like Souljacker, Electro-Shock Blues and Hombre Lobo. Not sure why I never listened to this one before but it<s another fine Eels album.
Very nice songs. I liked that.
Most 90s thing I’ve never heard
Pretty good, 90s alternative. 4
Thought it was alright. I could hear glimpses of music I like but not enough. No song got above a three.
Spoken section of "Susan's House" reminds me of "Shia LaBeouf". Sounds like 90s alt rock, quite pleasant. "My beloved monster and me" is the hit(ish) that I recognise. Very good closing track, feels exactly like the end of an album.
A solid album. After the first listen, I enjoyed the first song but overall felt the album was unremarkable. Listened to it again on a whim and it really got a lot better. Some nice, unique songs
Loved Susan's house
Susan's house was a great song. I enjoyed the album. I thought there was good emotion in the lyrics and also the composition felt complex. Nice to my ears
2.5 Everything was just kinda alright... Better that System of a Down because I could actually finish it
Good album. Listened a second time.
Feels like a 90s emo album. Nothing to write home about. Novocaine For The Soul really only hit.
i like the obvious 90's sound to this album. pretty decent albeit forgettable.
First time listening to an Eels album front to back. I liked it a lot! Great flow, great overall production. Thumbs up!
Ok, a few good songs
Good 90s rock sound, a bit more sweet and less dirty and grungy sounding.
I remember the opening track. Brings me back to when I first started driving. Mostly forgettable.
Nostalgic 90s
Grungy/rock, Nirvana feels Its good, but not amazing. Will need to listen to again.
It was alright. 7.3/10
I love this album, the lyrics, the music, the Gladys knight sample on 'susan's house', the distorted riff on 'not ready yet', all of it
Völlig unterschätzte Band! Mag den Sound gern
La pochette est pas seulement moche, elle est aussi carrément dérangeante. Les instrumentales sont diversifiées mais semblent toutes assez moroses et neutres. Le son a globalement assez vieilli je pense. Les chansons sont assez répétitives, ce qui amplifie la morosité. Mais si on ne rentre pas dans la chanson ca rend l’écoute longue. La voix du chanteur y est pour bcp. Globalement l’écriture ne m’impressionne pas, c’est très littéralement « le monde est méchant ». On a quand même des tentatives musicales éparses dans les morceaux, qui captent l’attention, et l’album se tient en 45 min, c’est loin d’être le pire. Quand même je souligne : le chanteur parolier a 33 ans quand l’album sort, c’est impensable à la lecture des texte ! Parfois les paroles sont pas juste immatures mais juste mauvaises et énervantes, elles gâchent des chansons potentiellement sympas (Guest list ?). D’habitude je peux très bien écouter un album sans porter particulièrement attention aux paroles mais là c’est carrément distrayant. Et pour finir car ça ne suffisait pas de commencer par ça : c’est quoi cette pochette infâme, avec le titre « beautiful freak » à côté : eurk
The album cover sums it up - wide eyed & legless. Not my kind of music
Pretty good album! After I finished listening, Spotify started shuffling other Eels songs, almost all of them I liked more than this album. Overall, glad to get to know Eels better than I did previously.
Que buen disco. Muy fino
Liked this! Some good pop throughout and a few trippy songs.
I always liked the song 'beautiful freak' and it's good to get the chance to hear the others. I expected it to be a bit 90's rock/pop and samie but actually I found it quite varied. There was a line about there being truth in lies or something which set me off on a right ponder.
Not Es best, but palatable.
some nice sounds. Muted ELO style at times. soulful and sad
Um álbum que inicialmente soou muito a Shrek, até que chegou o My Beloved Monster e ai era demasiado parecido, uma breve pesquisa permitiu apurar que a música entrou no primeiro filme do nosso ogre verde favorito. O Álbum com esta comparação só lucra, é um elogio. Curioso e agradável no geral. Nota: 7/10
Hey, it's been almost 20 years since I listened to this. The opener, "Novocaine for the Soul", still sounds good. The rest is boring middle-of-the-road alt-rock. His gruff monotonous voice starts to grate. The music sounds dated and flimsy. The songwriting often seems to aim for the profound, but ends up being the ramblings of a bore. 1.5
Surprised me
Love it!
Een leuke variatie in de nummers van dit album
Didn’t like this one
I liked this one, had some great songs. Will definitely give it another listen
Sounds like an early 90s alt rock album. Wasn't really thrilled or disappointed with this one. Made me wonder about people that say "yeah, eels is the best band, imo"
Sounds a lot like Radiohead
lol nov 4 the soul
En album dat met zorg en emotie is samengesteld
Cool album, adding to the library. Enjoyed a unique sound and interesting lyrics
Nummers met veel emotie en een unieke, herkenbare sound.
prachtig album
I have a thing for artists that make me say "You must be quite fucked up to write this stuff" . Nova and Susan's House fit perfectly. I really like how the dreamy almost fantasy like music camouflages the angst. Think of a suicidal Mr. Rogers. The Guitar sound on Rags2R, Not Ready and Mental is quite amazing. Not sure if this shows producer rather than guitarist talent. Anyone notice the words “Winston Churchill in drag” on Your Lucky Day in Hell. The brother must be a fan of Supper’s Ready and P. Gabriel.
Largely forgettable pop-pish songs but a few good ones (eg. Manchild, Novocaine for the Soul)
It's okay. The vocalist can get on my nerves at times and the songwriting isn't all that good either, but it keeps things interesting enough to maintain some semblance originality. I doubt this is anyone's favorite album though; it certainly isn't mine.
Surprisingly accessible and enjoyable. I was impressed - listened three times.
Decent for 90's Alt rock I've never heard before.
Would love it if I was a lot more angsty
hmm
This album certainly has a lot of personality and it was a fun listen. Great opening few tracks. All in all some majestic keyboard riffs accompanied by rather avant garde lyrics. I Listened again on Sunday night and the album only got better on the second pressing (unlike olive oil)
Like Beck but more uncomfortable.
Eerie and accessibly brooding.
Blast from the past. Remember it being a bit better if I’m honest.
A bit samey throughout
I wanted to like this so much, but it was too grungy for me. Kinda bummed me out to listen to it, and I felt like I couldn't relate to the content at all.
Didn’t realise it was on
Interesting, nothing crazy for me though. Raspy voice kinda gets old imo
Songs are pleasant enough but it just sort of floats along in the background and never really grabbed my attention. Stoner music.
No like
tooo sloooooow
A tough one to judge. Pleasant enough but not much caught my attention, even after two listens. Sounds more like the work of a solo artist than a band. I liked Mental. I would have given this a higher mark, but I didn't like to title track, especially the lyrics.
Cuoricino per My Beloved Monster. Degli Eels però preferisco gli album Electro Shock Blues del 1998 e Blinking Lights and Other Revelations del 2005.
Buenas melodías. Tranquilo de escuchar. Pop relajado. Algo novedoso. Sin sobresaltos
My only hearing of Eels was from a song on the Hole’s soundtrack which, unfortunately, is not on this album. But I’m excited to listen to this since I enjoyed that song a lot. Creepy cover of daddy’s little beautiful freak crawling around on the ground. This feels like classic 90’s alternative in the vein of Sugar Ray and Shawn Mullins which I like. These alternative albums always remind me of hanging out by a pool in the summer or someone skateboarding through their neighborhood. I lied when I spoke earlier, there was a second song I had heard from Eels! My Beloved Monster is also on the Shrek soundtrack so it’s a good day when I can talk about Holes and Shrek in the same post. I hate to constantly bring it up, but this another good album. I say that because I thought this list would be the best albums. I’ve had it on in the background and have enjoyed it thoroughly but this is going in the same bucket as many other albums have so far.
Je débuterais en me plaignant de la voix du chanteur, ark. Les pianos, banjos, et autres sont souvent wack. Je l’évite, la maison de Suzan, n’y aller c’est pourri, beautifull freak Je lévite, not ready yet, c’était bon
Pretty good, maybe a 3.5
Eels és un grup que cau bé. La biografia del líder, Mark Oliver Everett, llegida fa pocs anys, va afegir valor a un àlbum que en el seu moment vaig comprar, atret pel single "Novocaine for the soul", i que sempre m'ha semblat agradable i inspirat.
Great, unique style. I had not heard this album fully, and it is great
Melancholy pop about fun topics such as unrequited love, suicide and mental illness is usually a downer, but Eels does a great job here on their debut album. Their sound becomes more fully formed in their later releases but this is solid effort. You can hear the late 90s lofi influences here ... Sparklehorse, Mercury Rev, Yo La Tengo etc, it was a pretty good time for the indie music scene IMO.
j,ai trouvé cela tres relax j.ai aimé . la pochette est déroutante versus la musique
don't like this one. final result is worse than the sum of its parts, 2/10
The album has a vibe and an emotion throughout which is so real to me. I can feel this album. Very unique sounding and enjoyable, with a good run time.
J'ai bien aimé écouté l'album ce matin avec mon café. Un beau petit album.
Happy!
Probably the most modern-sounding album we've heard so far. I like the style, a bit jazzy, a bit indie rock. And the band is American, there's a change of pace! Altogether though, it isn't very engaging. Background music in a good way, but still background music for me. ALSO, I must note that there is a sound of children cheering on "Susan's House" that is 100% without a doubt the same sample used for the Grunt birthday party sound effect in Halo. Favorite tracks: Susan's House, Spunky, Manchild Album art: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH 3/5
Really nice! First one I was totally unfamiliar with. A good representation of 90s alt rock. It requires a few more listens, I think.
Nope
I think I enjoyed this album, it was fun and weird - which I liked. I doubt I'll listen again, so I can't go 4 or 5 stars but I was pleased to hear the Shrek song.
Not terrible, just not for me.
Some of these songs were featured in the 2001 hit film Shrek. Some of them were also not.
Not my type thing
Manchild and Novocaine For The Soul were the best. Mental was ok.
Enjoyable
Very nice. I like the Eels but haven’t delved too deeply into their catalog.