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Rating:
a string quartet for Mr. E
2005 marks the return of the Eels with "Blinking Lights And Other Revelations," an ambitious project that does not betray expectations like the previous two studio efforts; however, in my opinion, the leader Mr. E's intentions have surpassed the band's actual possibilities, and the valuable tracks - there are even some masterpieces - could very well fit on a single CD, the rest was avoidable and makes the listening a bit tedious, even risking to overshadow the gems of the album.
In 2006 a live album recorded in New York during a date of the Eels With Strings tour is released. The lineup is stripped down: Mr. E is joined by Chet Atkins III and Big Al, two excellent multi-instrumentalists, but the true novelty is indicated by the title, the string quartet neatly arranged behind the singer that enhances the band's music. Since time immemorial, rock has relied on the support of orchestras, strings, and instruments typical of classical music, and in this live performance, it is interesting to note how two trends coexist and intertwine in an exquisitely refined way: on one hand, the singer-songwriter pushes the arrangements towards a cleanliness and succinctness typical of unplugged sessions, with his tinkling guitar, the old piano and the muffled percussion, and on the other, the skilled and always controlled work of the four girls on violins, viola, and cello.
The songs thus find themselves in a pleasant limbo that is neither poor nor manneristic, although unfortunately, we can notice a flaw in the leader's attitude himself: it seems to me that sometimes he indulges too much in the role of the misunderstood, somewhat cursed, somewhat anguished, for example in "If You See Natalie" and "I'm Going To Stop Pretending That I Didn't Break Your Heart". I don't want to blame him because his voice is more beautiful than ever: mature and balanced between dry and hoarse, it reaches particularly moving expressionistic peaks in "Bus Stop Boxer", "Dirty Girl", "The Only Thing I Care About".
Another remarkable element is the expressive capability of the classical instruments, which are explored in all their timbral possibilities to reveal their quality in the orchestral transition from "Flyswatter" to "Novocaine For The Soul" - reminiscent of Velvet Underground tuning their instruments, or even ghost songs suitable for the late October atmosphere; again, the splendid "Girl From The North Country", Dylan's cover masterfully interpreted in all its melancholy and sweetness. Among the more lively tracks appear successfully rendered "I Like Birds", "Pretty Ballerina", and "Losing Streak", with their bouncing piano, while with the new arrangements, "Hey Man (Now You're Really Living)" loses all its carefree anarchic charm. The concert ends with the cathartic "Things The Grandchildren Shouldn't Know"... the slides remind us of Neil Young, the broad breath of strings of the closing credits of a surreal and romantic film, until the very sweet simplicity of the reprise of the theme of "Blinking Lights": it is something that opens the heart!
I understand that the album may not appeal to those who love to hear dirtier sounds in live recordings, to those who particularly appreciate the group's early work, and to those who prefer rock to be solely rock and classical music solely classical music; it may perhaps relatively validate those who claim a loss of inspiration and innovative scope of Mr. E. To all these people, I remind that "alternative" music should not just be experimentation but also a study of its melodic capabilities and that after this tour, the band reversed the game in the "No String Attached Tour," stunning fans by revisiting the repertoire according to blues and noise logics.
from "Railroad Man"
"I feel like an old railroad man
That's really trying the best that he can
To make his life add up to something good
But this engine no longer burns on wood
And I guess I may never understand
The times that I live in are not made for railroad men
I feel like an old railroad man
Gettin' on board at the end of an age
The station's empty and the whistle blows
Things are faster now, this train is just too slow
And I know I can walk along the
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Blinking Lights (For Me) (02:02)
Blinking lights on the airplane wings
Up above the trees
Blinking down a morse code signal
Especially for me
Ain't no rainbow in the sky
In the middle of the night
But the signal's coming through
One day i will be alright again
Blinking lights on the highway cars
Stopping one by one
Get a look at the accident
Didn't see that one coming
And the doctor in the sky
Gonna bring his chopper down
Gonna bring me out alive
And set me on the ground
Once more again
Blinking lights on the airplane wings
Up above the trees
03 Bus Stop Boxer (03:23)
I don't miss where I came from
But each night, I dream about being back home
When I wake up in the morning
I'm too tired, too tired of being alone
So I get up and go downtown
And pick me out a little piece of ground where I
Can prove something to the world
I can prove something to the world
Don't look at me
I'm the bus stop boxer
Don't look at me
I'm the bus stop boxer
Daddy put us in the truck and dropped us off and said good luck
One lucky kid waiting for the bus
Made a winner out of one of us
Don't look at me
I'm the bus stop boxer
Don't look at me
I'm the bus stop boxer
Goin' down by the railroadtracks where
People know they'd better not relax
I'm the man, baby, I am the man
This is where I can make you understand
I'm the bus stop boxer
Don't look at me
I'm the bus stop boxer
Don't look at me
04 Dirty Girl (02:52)
I like a girl with a dirty mouth
Someone that I can believe
We had a window, not open too long
But that time is good and gone
And if I ever see her again
Just walking by with some new guy
I know that we will need to pretend
And hope our eyes keep telling lies
Sit on the back porch and wonder �bout her
What is she doing right now?
Making somebody a happier man
Dying her hair back to brown
Once in a while your life gets so good
Worth all the trouble of the past
That was the case but I think I always knew
Good things don't ever last
And if I ever see her again
Just walking by with some new guy
I know that we will need to pretend
And hope our eyes keep telling lies
I like a girl with a dirty mouth
Know that I can trust her
We had our time but it didn't last too long
And that time is good and gone
That time is good and gone
05 Trouble With Dreams (03:20)
There's nothing that i wanna do
More than get alone and be with you
Trouble with dreams is they don't come true
And when they do they can't catch up to you
You don't need a thing from me
But i need something big from you
'cause you know i've got
An awful lot of big dreams
I'm walking down a lonely road
Clear to me now but i was never told
Trouble with dreams is you never know
When to hold on and when to let go
If you let me down it's alright
At least that leaves something for me
'cause you know i've got
An awful lot of big dreams
This is the life that i must lead now
Crossing fingers and wiping brow
Trouble with dreams is you can't pretend
Something with no beginning has an end
You don't need a thing from me
But i need something big from you
'cause you know i've got an awful lot of big dreams
07 My Beloved Monster (01:52)
My beloved monster and me
We go everywhere together
Wearing a raincoat that has four sleeves
Gets us through all kinds of weather
She will always be the only thing
That comes between me and the awful sting
That comes from livin' in a a world that's so damn mean
My beloving monster she's tough
If she wants she will disrobe you
But if you lay her down for a kiss
Her little heart it could explode
She will always be the only thing
That comes between me and the awful sting
That comes from livin' in a world that's so damn mean
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la
09 It's a Motherfucker (02:14)
It's a motherfucker
Being here without you
Thinking 'bout the good times
Thinking 'bout the bad
And I won't ever be the same
It's a motherfucker
Getting through a Sunday
Talking to the walls
Just me again
But I won't ever be the same
I won't ever be the same
It's a motherfucker
How much I understand
The feeling that you need someone
To take you by the hand
And you won't ever be the same
You won't ever be the same
10 Flyswatter (05:02)
Little field mice
Living under the house
Never eating much
Tough life for a mouse
And if you think you're gonna be spared you're wrong
Field mice, head lice
Spiders in the kitchen
Don't think twice about
Whatever keeps you itchin
Ice water, flyswatter
Gonna get you through
The day
Heat is rolling in like
Hell's red rug
Stinking like the breath of beelzebub
And if you think you won't walk on coals you will
Field mice, head lice
Spiders in the kitchen
Don't think twice about
Whatever keeps you itchin
Ice water, flyswatter
Gonna get you through
The day
11 Novocaine for the Soul (03:05)
Life is hard, and so am I
You'd better give me something, so I don't die
Novocaine for the soul
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Life is white and I am black
Jesus and his lawyer are coming back
Oh my darling, will you be here
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Guess who's living here, with the great undead
This paint-by-numbers life is fucking with my head
Once again
Life is good and I feel great
'Cause mother says I was a great mistake
Novocaine for the soul
You'd better give me something to fill the hole
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
14 I Like Birds (02:29)
I can't look at the rocket launch
The trophy wives of the astronauts
And I won't listen to their words
'Cause I like
Birds
I don't care for walkin' down town
Crazy auto car gonna mow me down
Look at all the people like cows in a herd
Well I like
Birds
If you're small
And on a search
I've got a feeder for you to perch on
I can't stand in line at the store
The mean little people are such a bore
But it's all right if you act like a turd
'Cause I like
Birds
If you're small
And on a search
I've got a feeder for you to perch on
If you're small
And on a search
I've got a feeder for you to perch on
I've got a feeder for you to perch on
If you're small
And on a search
I've got a feeder for you to perch on
I've got a feeder for you to perch on
15 If You See Natalie (03:30)
If you see natalie
Send along this message
I know that you've been through
An awful lot of late
Girl,
Steady the trembling hand
That's what you do
Girl,
Steady your trembling hands
Then see what's in front of you
Friends and fortunetellers
They all say you're gonna die
If you don't brighten up
You know you gotta try
Girl,
Steady the trembling hand
That's what you do
Girl,
Steady your trembling hands
Then see what's in front of you
If you see natalie
Send along this message
You may not need this world
But this world needs you here
Girl,
Steady the trembling hand
That's what you do
Girl,
Steady your trembling hands
Then see what's in front of you
You might not feel it now
But you're gonna get there
And see it somehow
Youre gonna be alright, girl
17 Spunky (03:03)
Spunky don't like her uniform
It never fit so good
Goin' back to the orphanage
And the place where her garage once stood
Well it's a free for all
free for all
free for all
It's a free for all
You and me
And if you don't like what they're telling you
You can't teach a blind man to see
Well I can see
Spunky looks good in her bright red wig
Eating chocolate-chip mint ice cream
A cat named Lola with a violent past
Is balled up asleep 'cross her knees
And it's a free for all
Free for all
Free for all
It's a free for all
You and me
One day the world will be ready for you
And wonder how they didn't see
Spunky knows she can save the world
In her own little way
Turning in her old uniform
'Cause you know, it really didn't pay
'Cause it's a free for all
Free for all
Free for all
It's a free for all
You and me
I walk through the world with your name on my tongue
And your picture etched on my screen
20 Losing Streak (02:17)
Was i wrong about the world
It's a beautiful new place
Where else could a creep like me
Meet such a pretty face
Meeting every day with the rising sun
Looking up it's looking like
My losing streak is done
Used to always feel like
Wished that i was dressed better
Never had a lot of luck
Until i finally met her
Feeling like the weight that weighed a ton
Lifted off my shoulders now
My losing streak is done
Always felt like giving in
To the feeling i can't win
But i took it on the chin
Now i'm finally cashing in
Meeting every day with the rising sun
Looking up it's looking like
My losing streak is done
My losing streak is done
I said my losing streak is done
Did you hear me
I said my losing streak is done
22 Things the Grandchildren Should Know (04:53)
I go to bed real early
Everybody thinks it's strange
I get up early in the morning
No matter how disappointed i was
With the day before
It feels new
I don't leave the house much
I don't like being around people
Makes me nervous and weird
I don't like going to shows either
It's better for me to stay home
Some might think it means i hate people
But that's not quite right
I do some stupid things
But my heart's in the right place
And this i know
I got a dog
I take him for a walk
And all the people like to say hello
I'm used to staring down at the sidewalk cracks
I'm learning how to say hello
Without too much trouble
I'm turning out just like my father
Though i swore i never would
Now i can say that i have a love for him
I never really understood
What it must have been like for him
Living inside his head
I feel like he's here with me now
Even though he's dead
It's not all good and it's not all bad
Don't believe everything you read
I'm the only one who knows what it's like
So i though i'd better tell you
Before i leave
So in the end i'd like to say
That i'm a very thankful man
I tried to make the most of my situations
And enjoy what i had
I knew true love and i knew passion
And the difference between the two
And i had some regrets
But if i had to do it all again
Well, it's something i'd like to do
25 Mr. E's Beautiful Blues (03:05)
The smokestack is spitting black soot into the sooty sky
The load on the road brings a tear to the Indian's eye
The Elephant won't forget what it's like inside his cage
The Ringmaster's Telecaster sings on an empty stage
un huh God damn right it's a beautiful day
un huh God damn right it's a beautiful day un huh
The girl with the curls and the sweet pink ribbon in her hair
She's crawlin' out her window 'cause her daddy just don't care
(Come on!)
un huh God damn right it's a beautiful day un huh
God damn right it's a beautiful day uh huh
The clown with the frown driving down to the sidewalk fair
Finger on the trigger let me tell you he's quite a scare
uh huh God damn right it's a beautiful day uh huh
God damn right it's a beautiful day uh huh
The kids flip their lids when their heads hear that crazy sound
Their neighbour digs the flavour still he's moving to another town
(and I don't believe he's comin' back)
God damn right it's a beautiful day uh huh
God damn right it's a beautiful day uh huh
And I don't know how you're taking all the shit you see
Yeah, don't believe anyone but most of all dont believe in me
only you
God damn right it's a beautiful day uh huh(only you)
God damn right it's a beautiful day uh huh
God damn right it's a beautiful day uh huh
God damn right it's a beautiful day uh huh
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