The sunshine of optimism and a slug of added resolve warms Eels’ beautiful, emotionally wrought songcraft.
In the spirit of adventure, Mark Oliver Everett, aka E, let his bandmates feed into the writing of his latest opus, which adds to a broad-ranging, unique and moving body of work.
Bombs Away is one of the more enjoyable outings, and finds E cutting loose and howling at the moon: “I’ve had enough of being complacent/I’ve had enough of being a mouse,” he growls over prowling guitar, scratches and percussion redolent of Tom Waits at his most accessible.
Kinda Fuzzy kicks out the jams, as much as Eels do anyway, while On The Ropes marries understated defiance to jangly acoustic guitar and a welcome sunny disposition.
A current of determined (albeit sometimes guarded) optimism flows through Wonderful, Glorious – from the title track signing off with air-punching proclamations to the seminal crystallisation of resolve, matched by slide guitar-infused build-up, of The Turnaround.
Even if it’s not his best work, E and friends seem incapable of producing duffers.
3 stars
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