Track Listing

1. Novocaine For The Soul - E, Eels, Mark Goldenberg, Michael Simpson, Amir Derakh, Jim Jacobsen, Jon Brion, Matt Thorne, Rob Seifert, Bill Kinsley, Tommy Walter
2. Susan's House - E, Eels, Amir Derakh, Jim Jacobsen, Jon Brion, Mark Goldenberg, Matt Thorne, Michael Simpson, Rob Seifert, Bill Kinsley, Tommy Walter
3. Rags To Rags
4. Beautiful Freak
5. Not Ready Yet
6. My Beloved Monster - Eels, Jon Brion, Amir Derakh, Jim Jacobsen, Mark Goldenberg, Matt Thorne, Michael Simpson, Rob Seifert, Bill Kinsley, Tommy Walter
7. Flower
8. Guest List
9. Mental
10. Spunky
11. Your Lucky Day In Hell - E, Eels, Mark Goldenberg, Amir Derakh, Jim Jacobsen, Jon Brion, Matt Thorne, Michael Simpson, Rob Seifert, Bill Kinsley, Tommy Walter
12. Manchild

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2077 in Music
• Released on: 1999-06-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .2 pounds
• Running time: 44 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
E, the guitarist, vocalist and songwriter with LA band Eels, had already recorded two solo albums before teaming up with drummer Butch and bassist Tommy to produce Beautiful Freak. Opener and single "Novocaine for the Soul" set the tone: melodic, articulate pop that, like fellow LA musician Beck, makes startling and inventive use of samples, beats and odd arrangements. The Eels' music takes in post-Nirvana grunge, soul, country, hip-hop, and even jazz, all without sounding derivative; E's intensely personal lyrics are similarly multi-faceted, blending wit, angst, disaffection, and surreal urban detail--as in the mournfully soundtracked cross-city trek of "Susan's House". Throughout the eclectic swirl of musical influence and misanthropic irony the band never lose the ability to craft affecting laid-back pop songs and subtle, naggingly catchy hooks. An inspired album, and that rare thing, an art-house rock record full of memorable tunes. --Burhan Tufail

CD Description
With his band Eels, the one-lettered pop wiz known as E expands on both his name and his dark, baroque vision. Eels arelike your precocious teenaged brother, brimming with talent, discontent and alienation. Their musical aptitude is ingratiating enough to mitigate their gen-X sad-sack persona. Thetrio employs a variety of sonic strategies, including hip-hop beats, spoken narratives, orchestral touches and choral voices, to round out a tart, twisted version of guitar-based alternative rock.
Not a band likely to be found on the sunny side of the street, Eels spin tale after tale of disaffection and existential ennui. Even a love song like the titletrack revolves around the concept that the object of the narrator's affection is desirable mostly because she's just asmuch a misfit as he is. "Guest List" presupposes God's disregard for the singer with an almost anticipatory glee. Eels'ace in the hole is their pop smarts, which are up to the task of contrasting their bleak outlook with immediately arresting melodies and arrangements. The gestalt of these two elements makes BEAUTIFUL FREAK an original and spellbinding recording.

Customer Reviews

Wonderfully refreshing
I came across eels while browsing ('beloved monster' from the film 'shrek' led me to them), and bought the album on impulse. Listening to it for the first time was a wonderful experience. It is brilliant to find something completely new, completely honest and instantly recognisable. Nothing is held back: this music comes from the heart. The lyrics are intelligent, unpatronising and complex, while the music is wonderful, gentle, soothing, melodic. The songs vary from the uplifting ('beautiful freak' and 'spunky' are two of my favourites) to the more gloomy ('flower' and 'susan.') There are songs for good days, and songs for bad days. Every song rang a bell to me, and to find music which is so emotional and beautiful will be refreshing to anyone who just wants to be their own beautiful freak.

'One day the world will be ready for you, and wonder how they didn't see.' (Spunky, track 10)

A great suprise
This is the first album I've bought through amazon links and recommendations. Its great. As someone who is now in his 40's, I'd started to lose the will to listen to the new, but its really difficult not to like this album. The lyrics are sensitive, witty and strangly uplifting, the music is eclectic with loads of influences which, as someone who grew up in the 70's, I could feel comfortable with. Absolutely recommend it.

One of my top 10 albums of all time
Why why why are the Eels not more popular? This album is an absolute classic. Go on give it a few listens and see if you dont agree.
Sad, Honest , funny. the lyrics are amazing.

Every song a masterpiece.
Novacaine for the soul is by no means the best.
I cant understand why it was the best known single.