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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
E, the guitarist, vocalist and songwriter with LA band Eels, had already recorded two solo albums before teaming up with drummer Butch and bassist Tommy to produce Beautiful Freak. Opener and single "Novocaine for the Soul" set the tone: melodic, articulate pop that, like fellow LA musician Beck, makes startling and inventive use of samples, beats and odd arrangements. The Eels' music takes in post-Nirvana grunge, soul, country, hip-hop, and even jazz, all without sounding derivative; E's intensely personal lyrics are similarly multi-faceted, blending wit, angst, disaffection, and surreal urban detail--as in the mournfully soundtracked cross-city trek of "Susan's House". Throughout the eclectic swirl of musical influence and misanthropic irony the band never lose the ability to craft affecting laid-back pop songs and subtle, naggingly catchy hooks. An inspired album, and that rare thing, an art-house rock record full of memorable tunes. --Burhan Tufail
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is the first album I've bought through amazon links and recommendations. Its great. As someone who is now in his 40's, I'd started to lose the will to listen to the new, but its really difficult not to like this album. The lyrics are sensitive, witty and strangly uplifting, the music is eclectic with loads of influences which, as someone who grew up in the 70's, I could feel comfortable with. Absolutely recommend it.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I came across eels while browsing ('beloved monster' from the film 'shrek' led me to them), and bought the album on impulse. Listening to it for the first time was a wonderful experience. It is brilliant to find something completely new, completely honest and instantly recognisable. Nothing is held back: this music comes from the heart. The lyrics are intelligent, unpatronising and complex, while the music is wonderful, gentle, soothing, melodic. The songs vary from the uplifting ('beautiful freak' and 'spunky' are two of my favourites) to the more gloomy ('flower' and 'susan.') There are songs for good days, and songs for bad days. Every song rang a bell to me, and to find music which is so emotional and beautiful will be refreshing to anyone who just wants to be their own beautiful freak.
'One day the world will be ready for you, and wonder how they didn't see.' (Spunky, track 10)
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Why why why are the Eels not more popular? This album is an absolute classic. Go on give it a few listens and see if you dont agree.
Sad, Honest , funny. the lyrics are amazing.
Sad, Honest , funny. the lyrics are amazing.
Every song a masterpiece.
Novacaine for the soul is by no means the best.
I cant understand why it was the best known single.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Over and Over
Probably the album I have played over and over the most. One of those albums that sets a scene and draws you in to the curious little world it creates and shows you around. Read more
Published 6 months ago by MrT
A great fluke discovery
I was amazed the first time I sampled this album in a HMV listening post. Just browsing the music store, and I put the headphones on, tried each track and loved the uplifting... Read more
Published 7 months ago by K. L. Hopwood
Deserves to be listened to, again and again
This album really is a hidden gem. I decided to re-listen to it recently and was blown away by it. 15 years after it's original release and it still sounds amazing. Read more
Published 9 months ago by The Thin White Buk
Just love it.
I bought this after hearing tracks from the Hellboy and Shrek films. Those are quite poppy in comparison to the rest of the album but I just love it entirely. Well worth buying.
Published 20 months ago by Fragile Tony
Looks like E thinks the glass is half empty!
The album starts with a happy sounding plinky plonky tune on "Novocaine for the Soul" but before long an ominous string section comes in to darken the mood. Read more
Published 22 months ago by haunted
even better revisited
An amazing album rediscovered after 10 years, manchild still brings a tear to my eye.
Published 23 months ago by SE
Best of the 90's?
The thing is with 'The Eels' you either love them or just don't get it. There is something about 'E's' music and lyrics that totally draws certain people in and spits others out. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2010 by sirc
Don't let this slip by
I have an eclectic music collection yet somehow Eels had escaped me. I bought this a week ago and haven't stopped playing it. For me it is simply perfect. Read more
Published on 2 Mar 2008 by hungry sponge
Lullabies of loneliness
I don't think to this day you will ever hear any band or artiste like the EELS. What they do so very well is they have a sound of their own, and that sound is full of riffs on the... Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2007 by M. Summerfield
Brilliant album
One of my best albums. Give it a few listens and it will become yours too.
Amazing lyrics,
Amazing lyrics,
Published on 28 Feb 2006 by R. M. Morgan
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