Share your review!

[GreatMistake]

I just think it's so soon to call it one of your favorite albums, it has been released for two days. Albums like esb and dotg especially took years to give me the meaning they have to me now. How can you make such a decision so soon?

And no, it is not too soon to be disappointed, that's something else. An album that is really one of your favorites is a much deeper thing than not feeling attracted enough to the new release for it to become ever one of your favorites

[Cal50]

because there's no point in waiting a year to rank an album whose songs i've already heard hundreds and hundreds of times.

[sw0mgt]

It's one of my favorite Eels albums. 

Each to its own, how anyone can say this completely bewilders me.

I felt the same when Souljacker came out.  Like I say, this one was made for me

[sw0mgt]

I just think it's so soon to call it one of your favorite albums, it has been released for two days.

I love the album.  It's the first time I've loved an Eels release since 2004.  I've waited 5 years for an album that grooves me.

[ccsparks]

Hombre Lobo is a good album.

It's not the best Eels album, but it certainly beats Shootenanny and the soggy middle parts of Souljacker: a collection of, as someone else said, fun rock songs, sweet melancholic numbers and maybe, just maybe, a couple of future classics.  The songwriting is great, classic E, simple melodies, clever harmonies and rhythmic syncopation and some cracking lyrics ("I'm a don't do it wrong do it righter"... amazing), symptomatic of a man kicking back and having fun to move away from the tragicomic autobiography that so closely influenced BLAOR and manifested itself in Things The Grandchildren Should Know.

I won't attempt a track by track review, but Prizefighter, Tremendous Dynamite and Beginner's Luck are all particularly fine, fitting into the first and possible the last of the categories above.  It's going to take a few more listens, but currently, I cannot get it off my iPod or stereo.

There seem to be a few people here who are being a little too harsh on the album, and GreatMistake seems to be taking it as a personal slight upon him/herself by E.  To say that, "E is clearly lacking the ability of making a new step forward, and has absolutely no new and fresh story to tell" is cynical in the extreme.

The problem seems to be that we've waited for four years for a record which is not as good as BLAOR.  But how many records have been released in those four years, by any artist, that are as good as BLAOR?  I can count them on my visible digits.

To conclude, E does not owe us anything.  We are not forced to buy his records or attend his shows.  Whilst fans do not have to display unconditional love and sycophantic praise, to rubbish a man who has made so many great records, and is clearly one of the most talented songwriters of our generation, just seems a bit meanspirited. 

If you prefer BLAOR, Beautiful Freak, Daisies, ESB, Souljacker or even Shootenanny, then just listen to them instead.  I'll be here, listening to my favourite band's first record in four years with a huge grin on my face and a spring in my step.

[Sir William]

There seem to be a few people here who are being a little too harsh on the album, and GreatMistake seems to be taking it as a personal slight upon him/herself by E.  To say that, "E is clearly lacking the ability of making a new step forward, and has absolutely no new and fresh story to tell" is cynical in the extreme.

I don't see how that's a cynical thing to say. Hombre Lobo doesn't sound fresh to my ears either.

To conclude, E does not owe us anything.  We are not forced to buy his records or attend his shows.  Whilst fans do not have to display unconditional love and sycophantic praise, to rubbish a man who has made so many great records, and is clearly one of the most talented songwriters of our generation, just seems a bit meanspirited. 

It's not meanspirited to not like Hombre Lobo at all (for precisely the reason that you mention: there's no reason to unconditionally lap up everything E does)...if Hombre Lobo was made by someone else, a new band or whatever, then I wouldn't have listened to it half as many times as I have done. I don't find Hombre Lobo interesting at all, but this doesn't detract from my enjoyment of any of E's other work that I've enjoyed. These days I don't think that E can be classed as one of the most talented songwriters around...around the time of Electro-Shock Blues and Daisies of the Galaxy, which were innovative and exploratory, then sure. But these days E sounds like he's found his niche and his songwriting formula and is comfortable within that. In my opinion E's passed the baton on to other people in terms of truly interesting songwriting.

[GreatMistake]

GreatMistake seems to be taking it as a personal slight upon him/herself by E. 

huh? that's quite strange how you read things that aren't there. you should check that.

To say that, "E is clearly lacking the ability of making a new step forward, and has absolutely no new and fresh story to tell" is cynical in the extreme.

I don't think that's extreme. The album is simply a collection of songs that dig up old formula's and old themes. This makes me think that E did not really have anything more creativity and inspiration this time around. Many people here agree with that point and there is nothing extreme about it.

Whilst fans do not have to display unconditional love and sycophantic praise, to rubbish a man who has made so many great records, and is clearly one of the most talented songwriters of our generation, just seems a bit meanspirited. 

If you prefer BLAOR, Beautiful Freak, Daisies, ESB, Souljacker or even Shootenanny, then just listen to them instead. 

*Big sigh*
Talking about things I heard before! We're not going in to that boring discussion are we. This is an eels fan community, we've been around here for ages and we allow everyone to express his opinions. This is the review thread, and all reviews of fans are welcome. And that's it, nothing more, nothing less.

[Bini]

I have to agree with those last points - there's nothing more boring than a board of blindly adoring fans. Being discerning makes your praise, when you do choose to award it, actually worth something.

I'm not in any way aiming that at anyone - ccsparks, you for example sound level-headed enough about weighing the quality up (in terms of talking about unrealistic expectations that BLAOR may have left in its legacy...and no doubt if you made a track by track review it wouldn't be 100% gushy praise) but I would just like to make the point in general that when people do voice their criticisms (which, in my opinion, are often the most interesting components of their reviews) they shouldn't be shot down in a personal capacity as GreatMistake was.
I know you and others may feel attached to an album you love and feel the need to defend it, and you should! But instead of people aiming condemnation at discerningly critical fans, they should bring forward their best defences, most convincing arguments as to why song x is of value rather than worthy of undue criticism as they may feel the critic has given it.

That way, we have a balanced board with freedom of debate where everyone can take something from the discussion and enjoy the great variety of appreciation us fans hold. Hell knows, we can't get away with such in-depth chats with non-eels fans, so where else are we to do it? 

[Cal50]

yeah i don't know, even though i COMPLETELY one hundred percent agree that having a board of nothing but adoring fans would be a bad thing, i cant help but feel like some people are getting carried away with their first impressions. of course if yuo don't like it, you don't like it, and that's fine; hopefully we can all discuss why without calling each other idiots is all.

it just seems to me like the kind of fans who are obsessive/devoted enough to one artist to post on a message board about them (irony) stand the highest chance of being overdramatic and overly negative if a new release doesn't hit their lofty standards. but then again those people probably also have the highest chance of being overly positive and praiseful of new material, so it swings both ways.

[MickyS]

It's probably a fun record for someone who hasn't been overexposed to Eels.

My first experience with the album is that it's a fun upbeat record. Also one where E rehashes his old melodies/arrangements for the umpteenth time. And I know it's in the spirit of the album, but the 'creepy guy longing for hot girl' theme has lost it's sincerity long since his older records. I don't think it's a bad album, I do think it's not something I would put on again.

[GreatMistake]

It's probably a fun record for someone who hasn't been overexposed to Eels.

My first experience with the album is that it's a fun upbeat record. Also one where E rehashes his old melodies/arrangements for the umpteenth time. And I know it's in the spirit of the album, but the 'creepy guy longing for hot girl' theme has lost it's sincerity long since his older records. I don't think it's a bad album, I do think it's not something I would put on again.

that's very well put!

[DCF_Kieran]

Just thought I'd stop off and say that I quite enjoy the new album. I don't think it's to be taken seriously (well not that seriously, I'm sure E had fun with this and will be proud of it) and although many/any of the songs don't rank in my top 20, this will be played from time to time. I sort of get the same feeling I got when I listened to SJ for the first time, I wasn't overly entertained by it but it grew on me after a few months. Hopefully Hombre Lobo will do the same although I dont think it quite has the scope of SJ.

I also agree with some of the comments made about certain songs sounding like they could be Beatles songs.... not a bad thing really if you think about it.

Overall, good album, not his best, 7/10-7.5/10




I'm still stalking the site, and I'm sure I'll post again if this tour gets going.....


Now, as you were....

[Jens]

Glad you said that last part DCFK. I could have been standing at attention for quite the time!

Think you got it about right.

[sir-jonny-p]

YAY 

Good to hear your views DC. I've been holding back on expressing an opinion yet, but i think it'll be similar to yours. 

[sw0mgt]

Am I the only old-school Eels fan who loves this release? 

Here's my album ranking guide:

A Man Called e - 4/5
Broken Toy Shop - 5/5
Beautiful Freak - 5/5
ESB - 5/5
ESB show - 4/5
Daisies - 4/5
OWABM - 5/5
Souljacker 3.5/5
Shootenanny - 4/5
BLAOR - 4/5
Live at town hall - 5/5
Hombre Lobo - 4.5/5

I'm sure everybody differs from this last, and that's why the Eels are so great.  Everybody has a piece that they themselves like.  I didn't like Souljacker much, but I didn't freak out about it and make extreme conjectures from it, like "Oh no looks like this is the end of E's career".