Back in good old 1996 when they released their first album, Beautiful Freak, the Eels were amidst a veritable ocean of sad alt-rockers.
Unfortunately, many of those bands have been replaced with the more user-friendly, packaged and in the opinion of some, disposable variety of goulash rock, i.e. Puddle of Mudd. The Eels however have persevered and six years after their debut they have released their best album since 1998's Electro-Shock Blues.
With the help of collaborators John Parish, Butch and Koool G Murder, Souljacker is a multitudinous collection of sound and verse: three parts distorted riff guitar (some remarkable riffs), two parts electric folk-blues, one part distrust, one part despair and finally a healthy twist of tough beats, string arrangements, trip-hop and, of course, the ever present deadpan of E.
Like Uatu the Watcher, lead singer and guitarist Mark Everett, a.k.a. E, writes lyrics that observe the ills of the modern world'that is, the media, pseudo-existentialism, kids with guns'in addition to the more-familiar wretchedness, sorrow, grief, loneliness, etc. The line \In this world of shit/Baby, you are it,"" from ""World of Shit"" sums up much of the tension felt.
The song ""Fresh Feeling"" has simplicity that remains as cool as the other side of the pillow, while ""Souljacker Part 1"" rolls then rocks then rolls the listener over again. The album as a whole moves well, but in an eclectic way, like a superior film soundtrack.
All things considered, the record shows that the Eels have grown quite a bit musically and have quite the knack for experimentation'plus Time magazine called it the best album of the year so far, but what do those suits know? The suitless Arts staff at the Daily Cardinal recently conducted an interview with the often curt yet extremely dry E via e-mail.
The Daily Cardinal: I read an interview where you said you're tired of all music except ""Voodoo Rock."" Would you care to explain that?
E: People have forgotten what rocks about ""rock."" Just turning your Marshall on 11 isn't enough. The best thing about rock is rock itself. It has to rock. That's a feeling. Banging tom toms and shaking maracas is the secret to good voodoo rock. The most potent of all rock.
DC: Despite disgust for society, you come off as reasonably happy on ""Souljacker."" Would you say that is an accurate representation of your current state?
E: I am as disgusted with myself as I am with society. But I'm happily disgusted.
DC: You seem to write more from different character's perspectives on ""Souljacker,"" as opposed to more autobiographical elements. Any particular reason for this?
E: Think I got tired of airing dirty laundry. Or maybe I didn't feel the need as much anymore. Never intended to make a career out of therapy.
DC: Do you ever feel uncomfortable or nervous releasing new albums, sometimes very personal, and performing the songs live?
E: Yes. If I thought what it would be like to play the songs in front of people, I'd never write them in the first place. Maybe that's another reason I write more in character these days.
DC: How has being married reflected your outlook on songwriting?
E: My wife wants more songs about her.
DC: Your song ""I Like Birds"" was illegally used in a commercial in Spain. Do you get asked to contribute your songs to commercials a lot, and do you find that strange?
E: Yes and yes.
DC: I've read some of your other interviews and you seem to not really enjoy talking about how you write songs. On that note, do you write the music or lyrics first?
E: I'd tell you but I really don't enjoy talking about it.
DC: The new album has an eclectic feel to it, what were some of your bigger influences while writing and recording Souljacker?
E: John Parish, Koool G Murder, Butch.
DC: I've read that you don't fly, and that you insisted the tour dates be in the same order as on James Brown's ""Night Train."" Is this true, a and if so, why? Also, do you have anything against brown M&M's?
E: Brown M&M's are not my favorite, I have to admit. But I do allow them in the backstage bowl. Yes, I had our last tour booked in the order the cities are called out in the James Brown song. It's a religious thing.
DC: Who is your least favorite group that is currently in the spotlight?
E: I love all of God's children.
DC: The song ""Souljacker Part 1"" seems to deal with the psyche of disgruntled youth. Did you write this from personal experience, or from that of an onlooker?
E: It's not about disgruntled youth. It's about not knowing there's something good inside you.
DC: Ever consider playing Madison? I think there would be a pretty good crowd waiting for you.
E: Would love to. We just go where we're told. It's up to the people of Madison to write to their congressman and ask for the EELS to come. Then he tells the President and he sees to it that we come.
DC: Would you care to inflate or dispel the rumors that you and Missy ""Miss E"" Elliot have been romantically linked?
E: Inflate.
