(Track from album, “Wonderful Glorious”)
Upon the release of "Wonderful, Glorious", it will have been 16 years exactly since the release of the Eel's debut single, "Novocaine For The Soul", which peaked at #7 in the UK. The band's come along a lot since then and, frankly, this song isn't going to chart; the music's a bit more conceptual now, however, lead singer/songwriter E, despite approaching his 50th birthday, is sarky and sharp as ever, the grim poetry of his weathered wisdom still the shining beacon of indie musical genius that makes the Eels...well, the Eels!
So, the sound? Well...to put it simply...DISTORTION! DISTORTION! DISTORTION!
Since 2001's aptly titled "Souljacker", the indie, poetic, distraught and violent American Eels sound has been heavier and there is a lot less jangle and meandering as is common on the songs from 1997's debut "Beautiful Freak", and 1998's depressingly truthful "Electro-Shock Blues Show". Some aspects are similar though; the typical druggy, trippy section in the middle, which incorporates the use of a 70's electric piano and a tremolo heavy guitar lead remains, and the vocal is still just as raw, with added synths on top to just pack the sound out even further, with extended druggy, drop sections scattered throughout the remainder of the track.
The lyrics are great, and so much better than the standard mainstream, pop output (or even indie for that matter). 'Open the window and smell the peach blossom, the tiger lily, marigold' - its sounds so juxtaposed, so wrong coming from the grainy, aged voice of Mark Everrett, withered and wained by the tragedy and disappointment you encounter on past Eels tracks. Its got real attitude; and the spoken word verses are much like those found on the 1997 track "Susan's House", especially when followed with that slower, calm, out-there section of piano.
If you ever think about; 'where did punk lead us?' - 'what happened?' - this is it. 2013's best crunchy punk song.
If you've never heard of the Eels, as I much suspect, or you liked "Novocaine For The Soul", the best new entry of the week that I was born, and just forgot about the band, listen tot his - its got soul, a fat sound and real energy and attitude. More than anything, for Eels fans, this a top return to form. Its one of NME's tracks of the week this week, and you can listen to a streamed version on the Eels website. Its a great insight into what the band has been up to, and, from what we hear, its more of the same - yummy...
★★★★
Versions of "Peach Blossom"
Album Version – 4:05