...
* Souljacker part 1*
A restrained yet slightly funky intro moves the pace back up for Souljacker part 1. It’s not long though until E shouts “Ah yee” and blues guitars rip in. Throw in an almost atonal guitar solo and you have a strange blues song. Lyrically it’s ... Read review
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killer who claimed to steal the souls of his victims, and dedicated to Life's lost, this fourth visit to E's deadpan world is slyer, more awkward, beautiful and odd than anything he's done since "Novocain For The Soul" established him as the ultimate geek back in 1996. Depicting all manner of tragic misfits from teenage witches ("Teenage Witch") to the desperately lonely ("Friendly Ghost"), Souljacker should be a depressing listen. But after the fantastically ramshackle soundtrack of dirty guitars, cosy strings and ambling break beats, E's greatest gift is the ability to spike the saddest tale with a twisted turn of phrase. Be it "World Of Shit"'s backhanded compliment: "In this world of shit / baby you are it", the desperate "Mum won't shave me / Jesus can't save me" of "Dog Faced Boy" or his retort to his girlfriend's mocking of his manhood "You say a lot of funny things my little bunny / and I almost always laugh / but that's not really funny" the darkest tales are his most amusing. A lo-fi masterpiece, with plenty to laugh and cry about, Souljacker confirms E as the undisputed king of geek-dom and a bona fide musical genius. --Dan Gennoe
killer who claimed to steal the souls of his victims, and dedicated to Life's lost, this fourth visit to E's deadpan world is slyer, more awkward, beautiful and odd than anything he's done since "Novocain For The Soul" established him as the ultimate geek back in 1996. Depicting all manner of tragic misfits from teenage witches ("Teenage Witch") to the desperately lonely ("Friendly Ghost"),Souljackershould be a depressing listen. But after the fantastically ramshackle soundtrack of dirty guitars, cosy strings and ambling break beats, E's greatest gift is the ability to spike the saddest tale with a twisted turn of phrase. Be it "World Of Shit"'s backhanded compliment: "In this world of shit / baby you are it", the desperate "Mum won't shave me / Jesus can't save me" of "Dog Faced Boy" or his retort to his girlfriend's mocking of his manhood "You say a lot of funny things my little bunny / and I almost always laugh / but that's not really funny" the darkest tales are his most amusing. A lo-fi masterpiece, with plenty to laugh and cry about,Souljackerconfirms E as the undisputed king of geek-dom and a bona fide musical genius. --Dan Gennoe
A review by yhwman on Souljacker - The Eels October 23rd, 2001
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Average
Value for Money
Advantages:
Good songs mainly
Disadvantages:
New direction not immediately appealing, a few less great moments
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Obviously, the answer is no – it’s 12cm of flimsy plastic. What you need is a hydraulic jack, not a soul jack. No, despite my interest in all matters petrol this is only a CD. Albeit a pretty good one. I own all four eels (studio) albums so it’s a fairly safe bet to say I like them. However, I wasn’t overly keen on this plastic platter to start with. eels have changed their line-up for this album, back to being a three piece after having just been Mr E (Just what is wrong with the name Mark exactly E?) and Butch for two albums. Everyone say hello to John Parish, described as “A PROPER Englishman that knows how to rock”, eels bumped into John at a recording of Top of the Pops (Incidentally if you’re wondering where this review or indeed, any other review, gets all it’s fascinating facts from, it’s not insider information or anything interesting, just very comprehensive liner notes). This album may well be one of the only reasons I can tolerate the existence of TOTP.
But I said I didn’t like this album to start with, well no. eels have decided that they “just want to rock” and on first impressions they seemed to be attempting this by turning into a noisy eels/beck hybrid. However, over time it grew on me and I’m glad I gave it a chance. Or rather, I’m glad it was only one of three CD’s I had with me for the first week of Uni.
* Dog Faced Boy *
Well fuzzed up bass leads us into the song, shortly joined by simple drumming and vocals. The lyrics seem, and maybe it’s just me, but it seems to be about getting hassled at school for not shaving “Mom won’t shave me, Jesus can’t save me”. The song gains width as E steps up to his rasping vocal style and dirty, harsh guitars raise their headstocks in the mix. The lyrics move onto Mr E predicting his revenge (Sounds daft but he does) will be brought upon the heads of his tormentors. Good way to start the album.
* That’s Not Really Funny *
Maintaining the sunny disposition of the album (Note to stupid people SARCASM), Mr E seems to be chewing the ear of his lady, who he likes a lot because she’s a wonderful person and “bakes delicious pie” but seems to a bit miffed she’s questioned the size of his manhood. Ouch. The songs a mix of dirty guitars, dirty vocals, dirty bass (so much dirt you can grow potatoes) and random blasts of Latin noise. eels also through in a few more quiet moments with a percussion loop (I don’t know what Butch was hitting when they recorded it but it doesn’t sound like drums to me) an organ and undirty bass line. Mixing wiggle-your-arse Latin moments, moody quiet sections, rousing dirty sections and even a sample of a phone ringing that always fools me when I listen to it with headphones on (Despite my phone not using that particular ring tone), That’s Not Really Funny is one of the best songs on the album.
* Fresh Feeling *
Hung around a string sample (But they’re allowed to sample it as it’s off Selective Memory, from their previous album – all hail the liner notes once more) the song sweeps around majestically, completely free from rasping and dirt. Beating the song it’s based on quite nicely, you get so lost in the music you fail to notice the lyrics are there at all.
* Woman Driving, Man Sleeping *
Probably the best ballad eels have ever recorded, it’s a fairly simple song from a musical perspective. Just an electro acoustic guitar, subtle strings and a drumbeat for most of the song. This provides the backing for a lyrical story. Sometimes it’s telling the sad tale of a woman driving alone in “a little metal box under the stars” and other suitable metaphors for late night journeys. Other times it’s more upbeat as we get to peer into the mans dreams. Simple but very effective.
* Souljacker part 1*
A restrained yet slightly funky intro moves the pace back up for Souljacker part 1. It’s not long though until E shouts “Ah yee” and blues guitars rip in. Throw in an almost atonal guitar solo and you have a strange blues song. Lyrically it’s once again covering school fuelled revenge and yet also manages to cover incest and promises to not let you leave until you rock. Time to pogo then…
* A Friendly Ghost *
Odd subject matter this one. E’s lying in bed listening to nightly noises and then finding his door opening. Initially E’s scared but ends up accepting that it’s a ghost and it’s friendly. Uhuh, maybe it’s all a big metaphor for school fuelled revenge. “I’ve been carrying ‘round a grudge, think I better forgive” – maybe it is! Musically it’s a brace of gentle guitars led by a strange characterless beep riff. Good song, if a touch on the Disney side of twee.
* Teenage Witch *
Opening up with a sample so dirty I can’t tell what it’s of, that soon fades out to make way for groovy, dirty bass. Percussion once again sees Butch hitting things you wouldn’t normally find in a drum kit (Sounds like pots and pans to me). Other elements include flutes, dirty and occasionally falsetto vocals (So much dirt, play this CD to plants and they’ll grow). It’s both rousing and a bit menacing – all good elements of a song as far as I’m concerned.
* Bus Stop Boxer *
eels go mournful once again as E tells the story of a kid who had a hard start to life and ended up as one of the maniacs you can occasionally find wandering around the streets talking to oxygen. Subdued (but dirty, of course) guitars, organ and occasionally chopped up vocals provide the perfect backing to the sorry tale. Incidentally, the Bus Stop Boxer gets a credit in the ‘thanks’ section. But then so does Gorilla Girl.
* Jungle Telegraph *
Odd one this. Tells the story of a boy whose mom wanted a girl, who manages to kill someone in self defence, run away on a boat and ends up living in a tree. Uuuuuuuuh, not it’s not good. The music manages to be disjointed and dull at the same time. Random bursts of country slide guitar, repetitive muted strums the odd out of tune samples. No thanks.
* World of Sheet *
My spelling, not the bands. Opening backwards, there’s plenty of strange noises to keep you interested – although the whole song being backwards would just be too strange. Happily, correctly orientated clean guitar and piano join in, shortly followed by Mr E in a not overly raspy voice and in turn followed by strings. Not quite a ballad, but certainly has the mood of a mournful love ballad. And there’s a good reason for that, I’m sure I don’t have to point it out.
* Souljacker part 2 *
Sounding like it could have been found on the eels first album, simple vocals and a flute chorus make up the bulk of the song. Bit dull I’m afraid but only two minutes long.
* What Is This Note *
And here’s where eels prove that they are not a rock band. They really do try a bit to hard on this song to rock, with everything fuzzed up to ridiculous vocals and E trying, but succeeding, to be a rock singer. Even the addition of a Banjo can’t lift the song too far – although the solo in the middle of the song is a much needed burst of tune. Just when you think it’s all over though, the fuzzed up mess is replaced by an almost folky mesh of acoustic guitars for a short change that ends the song. It’s worth this song being on the album though, just because you get a picture of Mr E with his new big old grufty beard next to the lyrics.
So, a slight change in direction for the eels and I have to say it’s worked. I can’t say whether it’s better or not though for some reason.
Advantages: A mixture of good sounds | Excellent lyrics once more Disadvantages: Some weak tracks
...So what would we class Souljacker as? Well the calling it the marriage seems suitable as E himself got himself hitched whilst recording this album. This unconventional path of life has been rewarding to the fans so far and seems to carry on with the latest album.
Souljacker is a mix of heavy rock and gentle love songs. The rock is sometimes raw and often harsh in mood and tone, linking to the Electro-shock Blue phase. The gentle love songs are obviously ... ...when all the material for Souljacker was written. E has enough material to do another three albums so it’s hard to tell if this is the stuff or he added new ones along the way. It does certainly fit the bill of the ‘darker’ album he was working on when he was writing Daisies of the Galaxy. However I think it is safe to say that the marriage also added a few new songs into this album. Us people in the UK get the Souljacker album ...
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08.10.2001
World Of Shit Review ofSouljacker - The Eelsby
kfingleton
Advantages: Superior lo-fi Disadvantages: Superior lo-fi
Souljacker is Mark ‘E’ Everett’s fourth album proper under the guise of Eels and he has again produced a masterpiece. Strangely for an American bad Eels have been pretty productive over the years and this is their third album in a year and a half. But the quality does not suffer due to the productivity of the man called E. For those of you who don’t know Eels (which begs the question, "why are you reading a review of their ... ...of note is that the Souljacker was a serial killer (no he did not kill Coco Pops) who claimed to steal his victim’s souls. Anywho, onto the tracks... It begins with a fuzzy guitar riff, reminiscent of the more guitar-orientated Eels debut, Beautiful Freak (electric guitars are more prevalent throughout this album than in any of the last three). Dog Faced Boy is about a girl E once knew, who was very hairy. It’s a catchy opener with the ...
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17.10.2001
The Freak Show Review ofSouljacker - The Eelsby
Dick_Dangerous
Advantages: Rocking in biblical proportions Disadvantages: Hillbillies can be seriously bad for your health
...incessant, throbbing rock beast called, Souljacker Part 1 which sounds like a gang of psychotic hill-billies having a barbecue party with you as the starter. It's even got references to incest in it, its that f*cked up - "Sisters' brothers make better lovers/ Family affair down under the covers." Really this is the song that specifically talks about the mystical Souljacker - the serial killer who steals souls - and the sudden, cataclysmic change ... ...was a lot of fun trying to find out. For now, we realised, we would have to settle with listening to "Souljacker" and rocking our nights away. Until Ern flips out and anally probes us all that is...
Standout Tracks: Fresh Feeling, Souljacker Part 1, What Is This Note? ...
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19.04.2003
Soul smacker Review ofSouljacker - The Eelsby
george_wright20
Advantages: Great range of music Disadvantages: I cant see any but you either like it or you don't
...a range of music from souljacker part 1right through to What is this note? you get a full rollercoaster of music. Its just great listening. The guitar, thought not difficult, is very catchy in most all songs.
Some of my friends discredited eels saying that it sounded too much like a drum loop. While i can inform you that many effects, looping and synthesising is enlcluded in almost all of the Eels work, they do have a drummer. I have seen them live ... ...as he comes across.
My favourite choice of songs is the two soul jackers parts, world of sh*t and fresh feeling. I really don't think you can go wrong with this album. My advice is buy it, because if you don't like it then im sure there will be somebody in your family who will love you forever if you gave them this album for their birthday!
The Eels use totally original styles and mixing to create a whole new style of music and as if this album ...
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20.06.2004
Got me thinking Review ofSouljacker - The Eelsby
supermansig
Advantages: Thinking Music Disadvantages: Dont read too much into it
Souljacker - is a compliation of strong tracks which soon become 'growers' and will have you comming back for more.
On first listening nothing really caught my ear imagination - maybe with the exception of "Fresh Feeling" and "Souljacker Part 1", but given a second chance and you'll start to feel what the songs are saying and find yourself, recultantly, cherping along to the tongue in cheek catch lines.
Its a great album - which just gets better ... ...feel the same. A great introduction to the Eel's, but will apeal more to seasoned fans.
Ps.Just dont read too much into the lyrics and enjoy the song for what it is - Maybe "World of S**t" has a hidden double meaning, buti've still to find it!
Enjoy! ...
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Advantages: Great lyrics | Nice and quirky Disadvantages: Songs pretty short | More variety would be nice
...them but that has, thankfully, not happened.
It is worth pointing out that another album, with live recordings was also released when this was out called ‘Oh What A Beautiful Morning’ but I think its for the US only. However we don’t have long to wait for the Eels new work as ‘Souljacker’ is out very soon indeed.
DAISIES OF THE GALAXY IS
Quirky
Happy
A different Eels sound once more
DAISIES OF THE GALAXY IS NOT
That dark
Depressing
Perfect...
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Advantages: a couple of good songs to remind of past glories Disadvantages: very mediocre compared to previous output
...Eels are vocalist and multi instrumentalist E and drummer Butch.They have been the only constant members of the Eels lineup.The band's debut 'Beautiful Freak' is something of a classic and spawned hit singles 'Susan's House' and 'Novocaine for the soul'.The follow up 'Electro-shock blues' was a darker affair concerned with death,disease and suicide, but married such grim lyrical matter to pop melodies.Their thrid album 'Daisies of the galaxy' was a more uplifting journey and they scored further hits with 'Flyswatter' and 'Mr E' Beautiful Blues'.Despite having UK top 40 hits with a number of singles the band never gained as big a profile as you might have imagined until 'Daisies of the galaxy' which saw them appear on Top of the Pops, CD:UK and also play a mainstage set at the Reading Festival.Therefore 'Souljacker' was an important...
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Advantages: The originality of the music Disadvantages: A little more 'rocky' than their earlier work
...Souljacker- this is the fourth album by E (Mark Oliver Everett) and the gang. I didn’t think this album was as good as some of the previous Eels albums; I was quite disappointed with the apparent way that Eels seemed to be taking on a more ‘rocky’ feel with their music. However, I do think that this could be a new direction which could take off and make Eels an even more diverse band that can produce a wide range of music; all of which could cater for anyone’s tastes.
Daisies of the Galaxy was my first introduction to Eels and was followed by Beautiful Freak and Electroshock Blues, all of which I loved completely. After one of my friends had let me hear some of her music, I was hooked. I even bought E’s solo albums so that I could hear some of his own stuff.
By the titles of the songs, and some of the previous songs released...
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![Souljacker, Pt. 2 [CD 2] - Eels](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/83657686.jpg)
06.04.2006
05.06.2007
