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THE REVIEW
A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR MR. E
Or the non-blinking lights of a galactic bunch of flowers
In my hands, I hold "Daisies Of The Galaxy", an album by the Eels released a few days after my 19th birthday (May 2000). Back then, I didn’t know this band yet, but I think the album would have brightened that day a bit more. My mother had organized a surprise party that evening, and of course, the last thing I needed was to be surrounded by the loud chatter of family, too noisy for me and for the Milanese May. If I had had this album with me, I think I would have quietly retreated to my swamp (as I confidentially call my room), opened the case and played this masterpiece on the stereo, just to use a reductive and banal word.
At the time, I didn’t know the Eels,
but now I do, so now I open the case, gently extract the CD and let myself
be enveloped by the non-blinking lights of Mr. E's music, aided by friends
Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Lisa Germano, and
Grant Lee Phillips (a little
less friendly Bush, who was
infuriated by the discordance between the cover and the contents).
Simplicity and redundancy shake hands in
"Grace Kelly Blues",
where acoustic moments alternate with orchestral winds: thanks to
this exceptional opening, the noise in the rest of the house starts to
fade away, and I’m almost fully isolated and entering the world
of the Eels. The road to this world is paved by the rhythmic pebbles of the organ in "Packing Blankets" and the acidity in
"Electro-Shock Blues" style
of "Sound Of Fear".
The carefree appearance of "I Like
Birds" leads to the melancholy of the title-track, in which the orchestra sounds like a
warm and luminous mist descending slowly from the sky, while the
beat of "Flyswatter" reminds me of a joyful dance of
cartoon ghosts.
This is fundamentally the world we walk in with
Mr. E: it is the
simplicity of a child's pastel drawings, it is a
bunch of daisies fallen from some galaxy on the night of
shooting stars. In the same touched (but not faded)
sweetness of "Daisies Of The
Galaxy" live the piano whispers of "It's A Motherfucker", the falsetto voices
of "Jeanny's Diary" (in
my opinion, one of the most beautiful songs ever written by the
band), and the digressions in
Neil Young style in "Selective Memory", while an exquisite
country-pop beat colors songs
like "Tiger In My Tank" and
"Mr E's Beautiful Blues".
With this ballad, Mr. E
bids farewell to the beautiful sadness of his past works and announces to everyone that "damn, it’s
a beautiful day!"
… and it would have been for
me too on that 19th birthday if my swamp had been
illuminated by Mr. E’s flowers…
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Summary by Bot
The review praises Eels' album 'Daisies Of The Galaxy' for its blend of simplicity, orchestral elements, and emotional depth. Key tracks like 'Grace Kelly Blues' and 'Jeanny's Diary' are highlighted. The reviewer reflects on a personal connection with the music, describing it as a beautiful and uplifting experience. Collaborations with artists like Peter Buck and Lisa Germano enrich the album’s sound. Ultimately, the album is celebrated as a timeless indie rock masterpiece.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Eels
Eels is an American rock project led by singer-songwriter Mark Oliver Everett (often credited as E or Mr. E). Reviews emphasize confessional, autobiographical writing, shifting between bleak subject matter and flashes of humor and hope, across indie/alternative rock that often leans into folk, blues, and pop forms.22 Reviews
Other reviews
By Rohan
They make simple music that goes straight to the heart, pure poetry.
Daisies Of The Galaxy stands out from the others for its carefree and cheerful nature.
By Ginger Drummer
This Eels album is truly wonderful, characterized by soft colors and dreamlike atmospheres capable of moving and making the listener dream.
An absolute must-have.
By theJOKES
"With a wide range of songs... you'd find yourself perfectly immersed in it."
"EELS... what are you smoking?"
