Which do you recommend?

[GreatMistake]

Yeah I didn't say Souljacker because I remember a lot of people were turned off by it. I knew a lot of fans of the first three albums who were really disappointed with it and were relieved when BLOAR was released.

I always liked it though, but because of that I wouldn't recommend it to begin with.

[Schlomo]

So what do you guys think is the "standard" type of song that you can point to as "Eels"? I mean, which song -- if you just had one song -- would you put up as the Eels example? I don't think you can say that E is too wide-ranging in his music; he's really not. He's great -- my favorite -- but he has clay feet, no doubt.

I usually think of something like "I Like Birds"/"Last Stop: This Town"/"Daisies of the Galaxy." Sorta fun, optimistic but not saccharine, and somewhat accomplished musically. It's for these reasons that the last three albums have fallen flat for me, but the older songs on them -- the ones we know are from years ago -- are pretty good.

Okay, maybe two songs. Which two songs are a good back-to-back pairing for recommendation to new listeners? Because even if his style doesn't range much, there's still a definite divide between tuneful, balladic songs and their counterparts that rock more.

I'm thinking "Daisies of the Galaxy," definitely, but I can't think of the right counterpart.

[tehdai]

So what do you guys think is the "standard" type of song that you can point to as "Eels"? I mean, which song -- if you just had one song -- would you put up as the Eels example? I don't think you can say that E is too wide-ranging in his music; he's really not. He's great -- my favorite -- but he has clay feet, no doubt.

I can hear it, I can't name it.

It kicks off with a clean guitar arpeggio, across four simple altered chords. The drums have a slight hip-hop feel, and there's some kind of vintage keyboard on it too. The first verse is in a low register. There's a line right at the end of the verse which gives me a dark, guilty laugh. A shaker and a vintage-sounding bassline come in under the high-register chorus, which ends with a few more keyboards.

In the second verse the vocals are double-tracked, and another drum loop is added along with some more keyboards. He chucks another few killer images and turns of phrase before the next chorus, where the strings come in.

Any ideas? 

[Schlomo]

Oh, you mean "Altar Boy."

[tehdai]

Oh, you mean "Altar Boy."

 

[JordyBoothy]

I think that, rather than suggest a whole album, try linking them to, or get them to hear, individual songs. The songs should be carefully chosen to suit your friend, and let's be honest, Eels have at least one song that everyone will enjoy.

That's what my best friend did when she introduced me to Eels. She gave me "Beautiful Freak" at first, because she thought we could relate to it. She then gave me "Mental" which at first I thought to be too much (I was into 80s songs at the time. yeah, quite a contrast) So she figured I'd enjoy a more upbeat track of theirs "Hey man (Now You're Really Living)". That song, like all the others before it, just felt weird to me. Not in a bad way, I just hadn't heard anything like it before.

Later on, after I matured a bit and faced some hard times, I remembered those songs and I did research on the band and this mysterious "Mr. E" as my best friend likes to call him. I was intrigued by the story behind Electroshock Blues and that became my first purchased album.

I never looked back.

tl;dr: Give your friends appropriate songs rather than albums. You can talk about albums if they're interested.

[sir-jonny-p]

For me, Flyswatter is the eels song, although it has no guitar. It just catches the whole feel of eels for me.

[Schlomo]

"Last Stop: This Town" is a good pick, too. It's fun, highly melodic and offbeat, and the lyrics are grounded but still have a lighthearted touch.

Plus, it's the song that got me hooked. Sharing a song like "DOTG" or "LS:TT" is like showing a friend some childhood photos of myself or taking them to a small restaurant I prefer to keep a secret.

[Scarlet]

I know this is an old topic but I was introducing someone to Eels recently and thought I'd see if I could track down what others on here recommended to people - same stuff as me, it seems!
I pointed them in the direction of Daisies to ease them in gently and because they like a lot of punky rocky stuff, then told them about HL, having prewarned them that the production was deliberately brutal.
I'm going to guide them towards SJ next and then (and only then) will I tell them of the majesty that is ESB.
And after that, it's all guns blazing with BLAOR, SN, ET and TM.
They have absolutely loved everything they have heard so far, which leads me to believe that although they are in all outward appearances a bit of a cock, they might just fundamentally be an alright person.

[lucy]

oh hooray, another possible eels convert.  some though are truly hopeless cases.. i had a similar experience with a punk music lover at this bar awhile ago and we were talking music and i mentioned the eels and he had obviously heard of them and disproved as he said, "eels?" . . .*surprised wtf sarcastic look on his face* "nah, that's alright". i was thinking in my head "dismissed!"  i think it's sort of like, remember that quote E once said about if a kid innately doesn't like the beatles, they are probably a bad seed?  i think the same applies to if adults don't recognize the greatness of eels-- 
 

[Devils Haircut]

I'm yet to meet a person that has heard of Eels and doesn't like them. Sadly, I am yet to meet someone who wants to listen to a new band. None of my friends like music the way I do and I'm not the kind to force my taste upon others.

Can one of you guys pretend you don't know who they are so I can introduce you them?

[lucy]

I'm yet to meet a person that has heard of Eels and doesn't like them.

how lucky you are.  actually, it's very rare that i find anyone around here who has even heard of them.  and this encounter with this guy is the only time i've met someone who didn't appear to like them very much.  Anyone else i've spoken to who has heard of and listened to their music--isn't near as gaga as i can't help but be--but have seemed impressed and spoke positively about it.

None of my friends like music the way I do and I'm not the kind to force my taste upon others.

i have one friend who's music taste is similar to mine, but most people i'm close to think it's (and I am) strange for what i listen to.  it goes both ways though.  when i'm with friends, we have an agreement to take turns being in control of the stereo.  but i don't like to "force" my music on anyone either.  everyone has different interests and tastes.  it's fine if you don't like what i like.

[Scarlet]

Well, my possible convert has become a fully-paid up fan in just a couple of short weeks. I spoke to him today and discovered that he has downloaded all the albums, apart from BF because he already had that, because everything I'd pointed him at, he absolutely loved.
Clearly much much much less of a cock that I had first thought.

[Berni]

Clearly much much much less of a cock that I had first thought.

haha, that made me laugh out loud 

[lucy]

So what do you guys think is the "standard" type of song that you can point to as "Eels"? I mean, which song -- if you just had one song -- would you put up as the Eels example?

i think 3 speed is your answer. . although yea you're right,  daisies of the galaxy does it too.  dead of winter really exudes eels as well.  can we just pick one from every album?

ok, my final answer is my first one: 3 speed.  if only because there's that definite sense of vulnerability and desperation admist the good things in life.