Eels - My Timing Is Off / Fresh Blood (Dreamworks)
4/5
By: Stephen Maughan
BUY DOWNLOADEels are one of those bands that have always been there, and singer E remains the misfit at the back of the class who always gets top marks, but the whole school knows is fragile. His mother's early death and his sister's suicide are whispered throughout the school. Then there is his troubled maths genius father (documented in the BBC film Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives) who also died. Oh, and let's not forget his cousins death in the 11th September attacks. E remains in the midst of this, a creative artist.
It can all be a bit intense, listening to Eels, especially considering his family history, but what makes the band (and E himself) so fascinating and endearing is the sweet innocence softly scattered throughout the darkness. 'My Timing is Off' finds E singing a sugary lullaby to a girl not ready for romance, asking her to let herself be loved, but "I am not worried about a thing because she knows it is real", whereas 'Fresh Blood' is the dramatic tale of a rusty werewolf prowling the streets looking for victims, ("I know you're probably getting ready for bed, but I need fresh blood"). Wonderful - I can't think of another artist capable of such a creating such a beautiful, lost sound.
Did you know it has been 4 years since the last Eels album? The new album is imminent, and it feels like they've never been away, with tracks as refreshing and original as this.
Artists in this article: Eels
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