eels - Beautiful Freak - C/D?

I think it's the perfect example of a good, solid album being made to look weak by the band's later work. I believe E himself says that the album is far too adolescent as well in interviews, and the "it's hard being different" message of the album looks quite ridiculous when weighed up against the themes of the later albums.

At least it isn't fucking Shootenany, though.

Classic, but Dom's comments are pretty much 100% OTM. "Beautiful Freak" is really good, but pales in comparison to "Electroshock" or "Daisies of the Galaxy."

"Souljacker" and "Shootenanny," though? Pass me the yawn-stifler.

i liked it a lot when it came
i listened to completely different music then than i do now though,so i dunno
haven't felt compelled to listen to it lately,anyhow...

This was the last CD I needed to complete my Eels collection. I originally had it, but traded it for something... i forget what it was. I guess I lost that trade.

I recently bought the CD. I haven't listened to it since. It is definately overshadowed by "Daisies..." and "Electro-shock..."

There still are some good songs that still stand out. "Susan's house" and "you're lucky day in hell" still get plenty of play time.

Just to prove how adolescent it is, lookk at the picture of E on the back. He looks 16!

I'm also seeing some hatred towards "Shootenanny!" It isn't terribly exciting, but it is still solid (and better than souljacker) I think "Fashion Awards" is one of my favourite Eels songs now. Maybe top 3.

dom is on the money here very simplistic "i'm an outsider! wah! wah!" type stuff. still quite like it, mind - good pop songs, and i'm guessing the adolescent vibe is quite charming at times.

Yeah, it's probably the best "pop" album of the Eels selection, but it's the only Eels album that actually seemed to come from anywhere (the lazy music journo equation of the time was Beck + Weezer = Eels).

Shootenany!.... I was so dissapointed. My review on Stylus explains why, but it's just... no band has ever had as much impact on me as the Eels, and to be frank, it's a dreadful letdown. I think the only track that'd feature on an Eels best of is "Wrong About Bobby". Too much of the other stuff seems like Eels by numbers, which is really odd, as "I Am The Messiah" by MC Honky is a really good album. Perhaps the Eels as a two-man unit have just come to the end of their run.

can't stand those lyrics, especially when sung in that pretentious forced rasp.

Lovely music though.

Bump.

"Flower" and "Guest List" are amongst the best five Eels tracks ever recorded. Discuss.

I Think Souljacker Is Their Best.
But I Don't Have Dasies Yet.
I Don't Really Like Shootenany Too Much.
And Electro-Shock Blues Is OK
This One Is Nice Though

This is the only one I have. Dom should draw up a CDR-80. Like now.

The only Eels song that knocks me off my ass is "Last Stop: This Town." And despite owning none, I've heard every damn Eels album AND the two E ones.

That one is great. Back in 1996, Susan's House did the same thing, but today it does not. Plus, creepy carrot video.

OK, here goes nothing....

Ignoring "Shootenany" (because its shit) B-sides (check out "I Write The B-Sides" for a particular favourite) and live covers (they do "Damn! Wish I Was Your Lover", and it may be my favourite song of theirs full stop. Ditto their version of "Get YR Freak On"). This is what I come up with

1. Beautiful Freak 3:34
2. Flower 3:38
3. Susan's House 3:43
4. Guest List 3:13
5. Going To Your Funeral [Part 1] 2:37
6. Flyswatter 3:20
7. Last Stop: This Town 3:27
8. Not Ready Yet 4:46
9. Woman Driving, Man Sleeping 3:31
11. Novocaine For The Soul 3:08
12. Jeannie's Diary 3:37
13. Fresh Feeling 3:37
14. Hospital Food 3:23
15. Tiger In My Tank 3:07
16. Grace Kelly Blues 3:38
17. Jungle Telegraph 3:40
18. Spunky 3:11
19. Cancer For The Cure 4:46
20. Souljacker, Part I 3:15
21. Elizabeth On The Bathroom Floor 2:08
22. Mr. E's Beautiful Blues 3:58
23. Bus Stop Boxer 3:45
24. P.S. You Rock My World 3:08

My best of eels:

1. Elizabeth on the Bathroom Floor
2. Going to Your Funeral, Pt. 1
3. Cancer for the Cure
4. My Descent into Madness
5. 3 Speed
6. Hospital Food
7. Electro-Shock Blues
8. Efils' God
9. Going to Your Funeral, Pt. 2
10. Last Stop: This Town
11. Baby Genius
12. Climbing to the Moon
13. Ant Farm
14. Dead of Winter
15. Medication Is Wearing Off
16. P.S. You Rock My World

Heh.

I certainly like it more now than I did back then. Back then, in the middle of the Britpop age with some truly great happy and slightly twee pop stuff out there, I didn't see the point in this depressive mood in a pop record. The same way I have grown to appreciate Beck I have also grown to appreciate this one though.

that's a pretty awesome mix, actually, dom. kudos. i think i'll burn it.

i played this album through one night 4 years ago when i was drunk on ouzo and baileys - and i loved it. i was just casting my mind back to that night when i turned on the computer - and lo and behold: a thread about beautiful freak. coincedence? not really, i suppose, so i'll stop yapping.

i think "rags to rags" is still my favourite. if i played this album, i'd love it - but possibly due to nostalgia. i'm not sure if it's actually "good". oh go on, i'll give it the benefit of the doubt: beautiful freak is CLASSIC!