2.5/5 Barrels of ice-cream needed to listen to End Times.
By Captain Pownzor
Staff Blogger
I have been a long time listener of the eels and sort of fell off the wagon on Hombre Lobo. I decided to give End times a chance though and I am glad I did.
Its hit and miss, But the songs that hit are wonderful. For anyone who has listened to an eels album before its sort of an eclectic racket, with a brash honesty and a bit of zany lyric styling.
When you first put it on do not be fooled by the opener, this is not a bright eyes want to be folks. Eels seem to vary between a crushing sadness and a happy go lucky “fuck you world” , on End times but the album is generally a saddie overall.
The story of end times seems like someone who is just going through a breakup, eventually reaching back to a stage of contentment. The transition is like a story book if you listen to it in sequence, you see the story of the split, and the hopelessness, followed by some acceptance.
Songs like Gone man and unhinged bring me back to the happier rock days of the eels with tracks like Saturday morning and Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues.
A line in the dirt tells a story like only E can. It’s a touching piano ballad about the story of the couple’s squabble, but its told with such a lonely and honest quality.
End times seems like just a spewing of observational thought, I laughed a bit hearing it for the first time, as it just seemed like he was spewing random thoughts, but upon listening a bit more you discover the song is just about pure rock bottom.
Towards the end of the album, we have three tracks that are very much like the track Daisy through concrete from the album, Daisies of the galaxy.
End times is a decent album and I think it would be some good jams for your next break up, but I just cant see recommending it as a whole to non Eels fans. If you like the style go for it, if you don’t find yourself liking any of the earlier stuff by the Eels don’t even bother. You can hear some of the tracks from End times on Myspace.
By Captain Pownzor
Staff Blogger
Since the first time I heard hang me up to dry, I’ve been intrigued by the sounds of Cold War Kids. The behave yourself Ep does not disappoint either.
Starting off with the clap happy jams of audience, the band proclaims to “drop the needle were playing for an audience of one.” That’s right cold war kids dropped the needle for me dammit. Or you…if you happen to be listening too.
Coffee spoon is an eclectic almost traditional Spanish style guitar, mixed with a sort of dueling harmony between Willet and Russell. This is definitely something new and a slower side to the band.
The third song Santa Ana Winds is basically just another song off of Loyalty to Loyalty. Its got a great buildup but after it just begins to take off its over. If you like the sound of the last album you will love this bittersweet track.
Finally the 4th and last track that floored me.
Back in 2006 Cold war kids put out an EP whilst on tour, called With our wallets full. It had some really great tracks on it like, Rubidoux and Red Wine Success. The end of the EP had a song called Sermons vs. The Gospel in a really rough cut demo version.
Well, here I am listening to behave yourself, and I hear something familiar, Yes they have retooled the song and shortened the title to Sermons.
I have to say the professionally done version of this song is just brilliant. With a soul like quality and some really thought provoking lyrics you’ll feel like your sitting in a southern Baptist church yelling TESTIFY! If you want to check out Behave Yourself Its out on Itunes Jan 19. Here's the Teaser on youtube.
ONE: Daisey by Brand New
2) Strict Joy by The Swell Season
3) Them Crooked Vultures by Them Crooked Vultures
4) Monsters of Folk by Monsters of Folk
5) Swoon by Silversun Pickups
6) Fantasies by Metric
7) Everyone is Someone by Dala
8) Horehound by The Dead Weather
9) Blakroc by Blakroc
10) Three by Joel Plaskett
11) The Ecstatic by Mos Def
12) Old Crows/Young Cardinals by Alexisonfire
13) The New Moon Soundtrack
*Like Tho Foz, I didn't like 20 albums in 2009. Unlike The Foz, I'm not going to pretend. 13 albums is all you get Internet. Enjoy.
