I want this space to be personal. I want to share my feelings and what’s important to me. And there aren’t many things I love more than music. So, like it or not, I’m going to share my favorite music (it’s my blog, after all).
I’ll start with one of my all-time favorite artists: Eels
The above song, “Novocaine for the Soul”, is perhaps their most notable. But that’s because it was all over the radio in the mid-1990s. For some, the song is representative of a one-hit wonder. Eels (and leader Mark Oliver Everett, aka “E”) are so much more.
I was a high school senior when “Novocaine” was released. The song was catchy, but the lyrics are what got me hooked. E’s self-deprecating words and deadpan delivery were a perfect match for my teenage apathy (props to GenX).
I got my first taste of the album, “Beautiful Freak”, while driving around with my friend. Song after song connected with me. It was like E said the things I couldn’t. The feeling of being isolated and outcast. Being a fly on the wall as the world went by without him. Did I have a long-lost brother?
A Few Words About Loyalty
At this point, I should tell you that I’m a fiercely loyal fan. If an artist or athlete becomes a favorite, I’m with them for life.
I don’t care if they ever have another mainstream hit song. I don’t care if they ever lead the NFL in touchdown passes. I don’t care if they win awards or if their next album bombs commercially.
That brings me to the Eels’ touching (and depressing) second album: “Electro-Shock Blues”. It was written during an incredibly challenging (to put it lightly) time in E’s life.
He was coping with the loss of his mother and sister. His father, famed physicist Hugh Everett, had passed years earlier. E was a young adult – and also the last living member of his immediate family.
I recall the album receiving critical praise. But the mainstream wasn’t interested in such heavy subject matter. Songs like “Last Stop: This Town” and “Cancer for the Cure” weren’t exactly meant for the pop charts, anyway. The latter did have a cameo in the great film “American Beauty”, though.
The album was released at a sort of crossroads in my life. I was a thoroughly depressed 20-year-old, searching for my identity and purpose. I also started to shun the radio in favor of music that didn’t fit in (thanks to Britney and the boy bands). “Electro-Shock Blues” was music to my ears.
That preference didn’t start with Eels but it’s a great example. I still have unwavering loyalty to the artists I love.
Waking up to Optimism
The beauty of E’s music is that there is always a little light in his darkness. This was on full display in the band’s third album, “Daisies of the Galaxy”.
The songs represent coming out the other side of grief and loss. It’s about making it through a living Hell and realizing that there’s still more to do. I think “A Daisy Through Concrete” is a great representation of this feeling. It was so impactful that I started an Eels fan website of the same name (it’s no longer with us).
The album’s release also coincided with meeting my future wife. So, my life was taking a more optimistic tone as well. Funny how that happens.
Comforted by Eels
I think that headline would make an incredible T-shirt. That aside, I continue to love E and Eels as they release new music. Every album has memorable moments. There’s laughter, tears, and reasons to smile. I don’t know what else I could ask for.
Sadly, I haven’t seen the band in concert (they have a few live albums, though). That’s on my bucket list for sure. E, if you’re reading this, please come to Central Pennsylvania!
Music comes and goes from our lives. That song we were obsessed with can disappear into obscurity. But these Eels are sticky. 30 years on, I still can’t shake loose from them. I’m good with that.
Note: E has had quite an interesting life. You can read about it in his book, “Things the Grandchildren Should Know“. I highly recommend it.