This week we delve back into the box once again, and it’s
another tape that David copied for me in the summer of 2001. What we have here
is a twofer, with Daisies of the Galaxy by Eels on side 1 and Knock
Knock by Smog on side 2, so without further ado let’s get to it!
Artist: Eels
Album: Daisies of the Galaxy
UK Record Label: DreamWorks
UK Release Date: 28th February 2000
UK Single Releases from Album: 'Mr. E's Beautiful Blues' and 'Flyswatter'
Mark Oliver Everett (aka E) has been making music since
the mid-1980s, he signed with Polydor in the early-1990s and released two solo
albums A Man Called E (1992) and Broken Toy Shop (1993). Whilst
touring in support of the latter he began working with drummer Jonathan “Butch”
Norton, and in 1995 the two of them teamed up with bassist Tommy Walter to form
Eels. Shortly thereafter they signed with the fledgling DreamWorks label and like
most people in the UK, I’m fairly sure I first heard Eels when Radio 1 started
playing ‘Novocaine for the Soul’ in early 1997. I was immediately intrigued by
it, there was something captivating about E’s vocals and especially about his
lyrics. This was particularly apparent on follow up single ‘Susan’s House’ with
its unusually candid approach to storytelling. On the strength of those two
tracks I bought debut album Beautiful Freak (on cassette rather than CD,
presumably because it was cheaper) and it really is a very good album. Follow
up Electro-Shock Blues is a much darker affair, written by E as he was
coming to terms with the suicide of his sister Elizabeth, and also with his
mother being diagnosed with cancer, it’s a much tougher (though still
rewarding) listen.
That brings us to their third album, 2000’s Daisies of
the Galaxy. Tommy had left the band between the release of the first and
second albums, so the only permanent members are now E and Butch. Opener ‘Grace
Kelly Blues’ is a really sweet little track and immediately sets the tone of
the album as more upbeat and positive than that of its predecessor. That’s
followed by ‘Packing Blankets’ which is another really strong track, and I’m
very much enjoying listening to this so far. Probably my favourite track on the
album is the verging on ridiculous ‘I Like Birds’ featuring the so bad it’s
great line of “But it’s alright if you act like a turd, ‘cause I like birds”. Second
single ‘Flyswatter’ is reminiscent of something from a horror film soundtrack,
at least musically in any case, and it’s another one of my favourites on the
album. ‘Co-written with R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, ‘Estate Sale’ is a beautiful
wistful instrumental (save for the faint background sound of what appears to be
children playing). ‘Tiger in My Tank’ is probably the catchiest song on the
album, featuring E playing Wurlitzer organ along with a horn section, it’s one
you could be humming along to for days quite easily. ‘Wooden Nickels’ is
another sweet song with a wistful orchestral backing, “Don’t take any wooden
nickels when you sell your soul, a devil of a time awaits you” sings Everett. Oddly
the first single released from the album (and I would guess the band’s best-known
track) is also a hidden track at the end of the album. ‘Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues’
(co-written with Michael “E.Z. Mike” Simpson of the Dust Brothers) is glorious and
a great way to end the album, re-affirming the positive message prevalent
throughout Daisies of the Galaxy. God damn right, it’s a beautiful day!
Links:
Artist: Smog
Album: Knock Knock
UK Record Label: Domino Recording Co.
UK Release Date: 1st February 1999
UK Single Releases from Album: 'Held' and 'Cold Blooded Old Times'
I think I first heard Smog when ‘Cold Blooded Old Times’
was Mark and Lard’s record of the week on Radio 1 in 1999. I thought that track
was excellent and was eager to hear more, so was pleased to receive this tape
(albeit two years has passed by that point). Nominally a band, but mostly the
work of one man - Bill Callahan - Smog have variously being described as lo-fi,
alt-country and underground rock, and whilst there are aspects of all of that,
there’s a unique element to his work that makes Callahan stand out from his
peers. ‘Let’s Move to the Country’ is a strong start, lo-fi and sparse with Callahan’s
vocals looped in the background, a good introduction to his/their sound if
you’ve never heard Smog before. ‘Held’ was the first single released from the
album, and its ace! Callahan’s unique vocal style really shines through on this
one. Musically ‘No Dancing’ sounds like someone has put a T. Rex track in a
blender, throw in a kids’ choir and a string section, and you have a really unusual
song. ‘Cold Blooded Old Times’ still sounds great, I never tire of hearing it,
a chugging insistent guitar, whilst Callahan sings of bones being turned to
glass, an excellent song. ‘Hit the Ground Running’ is a definite stand out, a
tale of having to get out of a small town, I love the imagery Callahan’s lyrics
evoke: “I was raised in a pit of snakes, blink your eyes, I was raised on cake,
I couldn't memorize a century of slang, or learn to tell the same story again
and again and again”, maybe the best track on the album for me. Knock Knock
closes with ‘Left Only with Love’, a downbeat track featuring just Callahan’s
vocals, lamenting a lost love, over a barely strummed guitar, it really is
quite affecting.
So two strong albums today then, and in both instances I
quite often found myself (to use a cliché) lost in the music. Just listening
along and enjoying, unaware of the passage of time, which I suppose is the
great pleasure of music (although if you’re trying to blog along whilst
listening then not always ideal!).
Links:
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