eels... who what where when ?

positivenote

guys, just been listening to bits of Eels new album and its really good. There a band i wasn't really clued into before so can someone give me the lowdown on where to start as theres afair amount in their back catalog. Im still a vinyl purchaser so thats what i'll be looking at getting... oh and they're playing the picnic later in the summer.

Howard the Duck

Not a huge Eels fan but i do have a lot of their albums as i thought they sang A.M 180 (Grandaddy) and i didn't know the name of the song so i just bought all their albums.

Can't really recommend an Album but this is my favourite Eels song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQwsiIlIfH8

Hill Bicks

personally beautiful freak(96) and daisies of the galaxy(2000) are my favs but most of their stuff is great, saw them in vicar street a few years ago there was fellas playing saws and dustbin lids and they still sounded class. cant go wrong with any of the albums really.

Hill Bicks

from beautiful freak:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2yy141q8HQ

Read 'Things the grandchildren should know'..
Mr E's autobiography...an exceptional book..starts with the line 'my father was a mechanic, a quantam mechanic...'
Really, i cant stress this enough, read the book, and go back and listen to electro shock blues..

Dennis the Stone

Deleted User wrote: »

Read 'Things the grandchildren should know'..
Mr E's autobiography...an exceptional book..starts with the line 'my father was a mechanic, a quantam mechanic...'
Really, i cant stress this enough, read the book, and go back and listen to electro shock blues..

Been following Eels for quite a few years now, and there is a wealth of great material.
My advice would be to try the obvious three first: Beautiful Freak, Electroshock Blues, Daisies of the Galaxy. I highly recommend reading that book also. Electroshock Blues is my personal favourite.

Ooly

I'm a huge Eels fan. Would definitely recommend you to check out all of their albums. It's a shame that most people only know them for Mr. E's Beautiful Blues.
I've been following them for years. Mark Oliver Everett (Mr. E) is an extremely talented & intelligent man. He's had a heartbreaking life which he explains through his songs.......do read his book "Things the Grandchildren Should Know".

I've seen the band play once (at Oxegen about 5 years ago) and an acoustic gig with just E & some other dude (Paddys day 2 years ago in Vicar Street). Both amazing gigs - I actually have E's drumstick from Vicar Street.

Counting down the days to the Picnic.

These are some of their best in my opinion!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TfqbuTBqX8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNEVbhqkKhY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC3MH-U6yDk

Spiritoftheseventies

Hill Bicks wrote: »

from beautiful freak:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2yy141q8HQ

This is a truly truly great song. One of the greatest lines I have ever heard from any song comes from this
"Jesus and his lawyer
are coming back"
The mini guiitar solo here is just blliss.

rcaz

I'd echo a lot of the posters here by saying Beautiful Freak and Daisies of the Galaxy, but I think Souljacker is under-appreciated...

Spiritoftheseventies

Is little bird going to be their new single or is that a re-issue?

one man clappin

This is one of my favourite tracks by eels. The lyrics make the hairs stand on the back of my neck.

Howard the Duck

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

Is little bird going to be their new single or is that a re-issue?

I remember seeing the video for that a few months ago i'd be surprised if it's going to be the new single

Spiritoftheseventies

Howard the Duck wrote: »

I remember seeing the video for that a few months ago i'd be surprised if it's going to be the new single

Have heard the song before and on Dan Hegarty last night. Pretty sure he mentioned something about it being a new release. But just checked was released in January.

positivenote

thats it chaps im sold... really surprised at the amount of tracks i know from the albums mentioned above. roll on the picnic indeed.

Spiritoftheseventies

This is a more poppier moment from them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ud-pdJh8S8

take everything

Not Ready Yet from Beautiful Freak is one of my favourite songs ever.

The guitars on it- i could eat them they're so good.

Edit: Here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MCe7-58QqY

Just listen to the beauty of that intro alone.

problemchimp

saw them live a couple of times, brilliant.

fillmore jive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxNB_sEKdXk

OP you'd spend an arm and a leg on Eels LPs!

Dennis the Stone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh6Qla-OQ-M

monkey9

These have been going since the early 90's. They have written some great songs!

Mark E Everett is an absolute legend. His dad was a scientist who was some sort of genius in quantum physics. A legend

All you need to do is buy Live at Town Hall, and there is now way you could not like this band

GopErthike

I'd say check out a few albums first, then read the book. Talented, likeable bloke, crazy life story.

Miguel_Sanchez

monkey9 wrote: »

Mark E Everett is an absolute legend. His dad was a scientist who was some sort of genius in quantum physics. A legend.

I saw Eels live in San Francisco a couple of years ago. E came on stage and said something to the effect of "I know why you're all here - don't worry, I don't mind being the Julian Lennon of the physics world."

Great opening line.

lordgoat

I can't stress enough how important the book is, you think you like and understand the songs and then you realise where they come from. He really puts it all in there. It's amazing really at times, you just go, oh that's what that line means, and you're floored. I'm surprised how much more i now appreciate him as a song writer.

I do some stupid things
But my heart's in the right place

Spiritoftheseventies

lordgoat wrote: »

I can't stress enough how important the book is, you think you like and understand the songs and then you realise where they come from. He really puts it all in there. It's amazing really at times, you just go, oh that's what that line means, and you're floored. I'm surprised how much more i now appreciate him as a song writer.

I do some stupid things
But my heart's in the right place

So whats the deal with the book. Is it a book explaining his own lyrics?

kagni

monkey9 wrote: »

These have been going since the early 90's. They have written some great songs!

Mark E Everett is an absolute legend. His dad was a scientist who was some sort of genius in quantum physics. A legend

All you need to do is buy Live at Town Hall, and there is now way you could not like this band

There was a documentary about him and his dad on TV a year or two ago.
Some of the things that have gone on in his life definitely throw new light on the songs.
Here's the trailer for the documentary...

Earthhorse

lordgoat wrote: »

I can't stress enough how important the book is, you think you like and understand the songs and then you realise where they come from. He really puts it all in there. It's amazing really at times, you just go, oh that's what that line means, and you're floored. I'm surprised how much more i now appreciate him as a song writer.

Hmmm. I don't know. I think it's all there in the songs; all the emotion, all the mearning you need. The book is great and well worth a read, and yes, it will tell you a little more about where a particular song or line came from but I'd agree with GopErthike...

GopErthike wrote: »

I'd say check out a few albums first, then read the book. Talented, likeable bloke, crazy life story.

And I'd recommend Electro Shock Blues as the album to get too.

MsMoo

One of my favourites on Beautiful Freak is Rags to Rags. Can't find a decent video on youtube, but if you go to this link and right click on the first song, you should hear the song in pretty good quality.

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/songs/?query=eels%20rags%20to%20rags

I saw him in Dublin during the Beautiful Freak tour, think it was in the Ambassador. For some part of the show he sat at a desk with a fire-engine red telephone as a microphone, and barely looked at the audience. For the other part he was crouched down in the foetal position in the corner of the stage! Such an eccentric character, but after reading his book I understand him better. He seems like a really kind, witty, loving person who feels deeply.

Spiritoftheseventies, just get the book - you'll love it, I promise.:)
My pick from Electro Shock Blues:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbmhs0nHY3I

monkey9

kagni wrote: »

There was a documentary about him and his dad on TV a year or two ago.
Some of the things that have gone on in his life definitely throw new light on the songs.
Here's the trailer for the documentary...

He looks like the kid from The Sixth Sense in that photo

positivenote

thanks to one and all. been listening to some stuff over the past few days and tbh im freaked that i wasnt into them first time round. 'That look you give that guy' is a beautiful song...
really looking forward to seeing them at the picnic now and getting some Vinyl.

thanks again guys/gals

pugwall

Excellent thread. Awesome band. I've been into them since beautiful freak although I never bought any of their other albums or saw them live. I just read "Things the Grandchildren Should Know" and loved it. Great read. Now I must buy me some more eels albums!
Cheers.