Eels

Daisies of the Galaxy

it's a beautiful day

Review Score:

(8/10)
The album begins with a New Orleans funeral march, a stroke of genuis that sums up the album perfectly. This album is the light at the end of "electro-shock blues" tunnel.

The song "Grace Kelly Blues" itself is unbelievably chipper, unlike anything on electro-shock. Conceptually, the song is kind of like "Susan's House" in that it describes a series of vignettes, only this time, E doesn't have some stupid post-modern point to make. People are down on their luck, but he makes it seem okay. Things just work out this way.

E follows this up with a song about going on a picnic. Who could've imagined it? You can hear him leaving behind all his sadness, making a new life for himself. It's absolutely the perfect song to listen to if you're experiencing a big change in life. E's talking just to you. He reminds me a little of Stephin Merritt in songwriting style, always approaching cliched sentiments, but always able to pull it off successfully. Well, maybe not always. A song called "I Like Birds" does sound a little forced. But I guess it's okay. Who doesn't like birds. But what's this? E whistling a bird song? Cute... I guess. We see another example of E's sentimentality in songwriting with "Daisies of the Galaxy." It's a heart-breakingly sweet song about going to the Galaxy movie theater and picking some daisies for someone. Not enough saccharine for you? The daisy makes another appearance in "A Daisy Through Concrete," something I guess E wants to make the symbol of the album. The final song, a hidden track was actually the single for the album, sounds just like an attempt to create another "Last Stop: This Town," which, by the way, may be one of the most perfect songs I've ever heard. Who can blame him? "Mr. E's Beautiful Blues," however catchy and poppy it is, cannot compare to the original.

So, to wrap it up, if you can stand all the sweetness of the songs and you don't mind listening to really weakmusic (and I mean that in the best way possible) by all means, pick up a copy of Mr. E's rebound album.

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