Music
Store

The subtitle of SHOOTENANNY!--"Everybody Knows These Are Rock Hard Times"--says it all. The album plays like a deep blue depression on a sunny day, pounding along across it's own unique aural landscape. Some of the more fatalistic stuff is hard to take repeatedly, but "Saturday Morning" is stunning and, while most of the rest of the album is sure-fire Alt Rock, there are moments towards the end, like "Numbered Days," which have some kind of late 60s/early 70s atmosphere to them.

SHOOTENANNY! has been in my short stack of CDs for a month now; it's inspiration may not be unique but the effect the Eels create is.


rock hard times once again   June 4, 2003
 10 out of 15 found this review helpful

I have waited for this release for what seems like forever. It was worth every day!

1) all in a days work: twisted blues in a "the the" kind of vein

2) Saturday morning: upbeat rockin eels, catchy hook. should be a hit

3) The good old days: perfect eels love song full of longing and love.

4) love of the loveless: E pure and simple, just of center. once again loneliness and longing

5) Dirty girl: another hit pure pop fun.

6) Agony: wow a new twist on loneliness and longing, beautiful.

7) Rock hard times: coulda been of daisies, but fits well here too.

8) Restraining order blues: sad sad ballad from the mind of E.

9)lone wolf : perfect;y describes the eels, E, and me :) perfect.

10) Wrong about Bobby: once again pure eels.

11) Numbered days: break up ballad from hell. Wonderful!!!

12) Fashion awards: again 100% pure eels little kids lullaby from the demons loll I love it!!

13) Somebody loves you: your not alone in your longing and loneliness excellent!

another perfect CD by one of my fav bands


Best of the Year??   June 5, 2003
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

I've always enjoyed E's stuff, and the Eels...very good indeed. But, this is perhaps E's masterpiece and arguably the Best Album of the Year thus far. At just over 40 minutes it doesn't overstay its welcome (like so many who think they must use 50-60 minutes of a CD, even if half of it is filler), and leaves you coming back for more time and again. Great E-Pop with some very hard-edged guitar riffs thrown in - a perfect balance, really. Don't miss this one - all of E and the Eels promise finally comes together. Awesome.


EELS BEST   June 13, 2003
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Every time an Eels CD comes out, there is ALWAYS the usual grumbling about it not being up to par, etc. It was that way for every release. Then, in time, the album shows itself for what it really is. I believe this album is the best Eels album to date. Clearly he is going for a succinct, direct sound and message without pretense. It's direct, human and great! I could hear Muddy Water's singing the lyric of "Love Of The Loveless." Well done, again, Eels.


Gets better with every listen   August 30, 2003
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

This is a rare artist where it's best not to decide which single album is best. Doing so only helps those unfamiliar with the artist decide which ONE album to buy. Spend the money and buy ALL of the Eeels albums out there - you won't be disappointed. Unless of course you don't enjoy strikingly insightful lyrics wrapped in musical arrangements that defy nearly every other artist working today. Need proof of his lyrical talent? From "Somebody Loves You":

This nagging malaise
Is more than a phase
It feels like a job
But no boss ever pays you to lay there
And think how you'll die
While the tears start to well in your eyes

Depressing? Yeah, when read like the poetry that it is, but coupled with the sweeping orchestral chorus that reinforces the message that "somebody loves you, you're going to make it through" - it's hard to not to feel invigorated by the talent of this artist.

EBHP