When the world stops making sense, it creates a new alphabet. This is roughly the message in the new single ‘New Alphabet’ by Mark Oliver Everett, better known as E – the heart and soul of the American band Eels.
And indeed, just as they sing, Eels are having a good day, with a positive outlook. The new album ‘Wonderful, Glorious’ is excellent and fits beautifully into the musical narrative of Eels. Behind all 13 songs lies exceptional creative energy, and E’s deep voice serves as the foundation for instrumental rock stories that are, in many ways, an emotional progression from previous, much more depressing works. No more lyrics about death, unhappy loves, and how hard life is.
‘Peach Blossom’ and ‘New Alphabet’ are instantly likable songs about new beginnings and the importance of stopping to smell the world, while ‘On the Ropes’ and ‘Bombs Away’ complement the array of beautifully rounded melodies and deep messages (E is no longer a little gray mouse burdened by pathos).
Fans of Eels will surely enjoy the album, and something new will certainly be found by listeners eager for playful music for an adult audience. Wonderful, glorious, perfectly titled.
Eels
Wonderful, Glorious
E Works/Vagrant
