Eels – Cover artwork is phenomenal. Very peaceful, for this hectic Friday morning. The chorus reminds me of something but I cant put my finger on it. I like it.
HJ – Wow, these are very similar in style. I like the old man sketch as well. Very, very, peaceful, the most peaceful. I’m at peace. this song makes me think of Landon Pigg – falling in love in a coffee shop.
“Jeannie’s Diary”/Eels. Don’t know this band, but I like this number and it’s a fine pick for the round. For some reason made me think of Simon & Garfunkel (though without the harmonies, which is maybe to say not S&G at all …). I admire the judicious use of falsetto, in particular the tenderly comic way he sings “even murderous.”
“Ether Garden”/Henry Jamison. Another act I don’t know, and it is broadly in the same subdued, contemplative style as Eels. More acoustically driven, felt like. Ethereal, even, on the verge of drifting away. Tenderly sung but dark ellipses in the lyrics. The gardener with blood on his hands? Before you know it, it’s over.
Combined Review!
As it occasionally happens in the universe ( as it does in MyFive), randomness has a way of creating beauty. These are too delicate and beautiful songs. Eels reminds me of some Up era REM and a sprinkling of early McCartney. Ether garden seems to channel Iron & Wine. Both of these songs reminded me of a recent Sting interview about song writing. He talked about the importance of songs surprising us in some way? Whether it is a change in key or melody or simply a divergence from what we expect. Both of these songs have those moments where things shift which truly does make them more engageable and interesting.
“Jeannie’s Diary” by Eels: What you do not want to be is a page in “Jeannie’s Diary” that says “that guy is a real dork”. This song fits the yearning requirement for sure. I picture a young adolescent teenager on this one pining over his first love. Enjoyed this and know the album this was off because I think a couple of songwriters I know may have lifted/been heavily influenced by another song on this album. {footnote: Pitchfork article on “Even Fail” and “fa la la la la” song bridge’s worldwide impact}
As an authority on such matters, I feel I must make one small correction to Sir David’s referenced song’s bridge lyric. As documented in the song’s “mood board” (link below), I believe the snippet is “ba da da da da da da.”
Eels – Cover artwork is phenomenal. Very peaceful, for this hectic Friday morning. The chorus reminds me of something but I cant put my finger on it. I like it.
HJ – Wow, these are very similar in style. I like the old man sketch as well. Very, very, peaceful, the most peaceful. I’m at peace. this song makes me think of Landon Pigg – falling in love in a coffee shop.
Ooh – I do like that LP song. Need to give that a re-listen.
Eels – Jeannie’s Diary
The yearning is palpable here – this song makes me feel it. “I just wanna be a page.” Chills.
Henry Jamison – Ether Garden
This is a nice one. In the Andrew Bird, Bon Iver realm. An air of mystery lifts it above genericness.
“Jeannie’s Diary”/Eels. Don’t know this band, but I like this number and it’s a fine pick for the round. For some reason made me think of Simon & Garfunkel (though without the harmonies, which is maybe to say not S&G at all …). I admire the judicious use of falsetto, in particular the tenderly comic way he sings “even murderous.”
“Ether Garden”/Henry Jamison. Another act I don’t know, and it is broadly in the same subdued, contemplative style as Eels. More acoustically driven, felt like. Ethereal, even, on the verge of drifting away. Tenderly sung but dark ellipses in the lyrics. The gardener with blood on his hands? Before you know it, it’s over.
Combined Review!
As it occasionally happens in the universe ( as it does in MyFive), randomness has a way of creating beauty. These are too delicate and beautiful songs. Eels reminds me of some Up era REM and a sprinkling of early McCartney. Ether garden seems to channel Iron & Wine. Both of these songs reminded me of a recent Sting interview about song writing. He talked about the importance of songs surprising us in some way? Whether it is a change in key or melody or simply a divergence from what we expect. Both of these songs have those moments where things shift which truly does make them more engageable and interesting.
“Jeannie’s Diary” by Eels: What you do not want to be is a page in “Jeannie’s Diary” that says “that guy is a real dork”. This song fits the yearning requirement for sure. I picture a young adolescent teenager on this one pining over his first love. Enjoyed this and know the album this was off because I think a couple of songwriters I know may have lifted/been heavily influenced by another song on this album. {footnote: Pitchfork article on “Even Fail” and “fa la la la la” song bridge’s worldwide impact}
As an authority on such matters, I feel I must make one small correction to Sir David’s referenced song’s bridge lyric. As documented in the song’s “mood board” (link below), I believe the snippet is “ba da da da da da da.”
Even Fail [Oh! Fissile Video]
https://youtu.be/_Pb8EIY3qwM?si=O_seqZujrtSAxj9Z