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With his first album of new material since 2005’s Blinking Lights and Other Revelations, Mark Oliver Everett, E, has grown out his beard and is ready to rock or not.  Like any Eels album, the songs are deeply personal, haunting and often can paint a vivid picture right before your ears.

This album is interesting in how each song trades off.  The odd number tracks seem to be the fast rock songs, while even numbers are slower tunes with sad histories, until you get closer to the end of the album where all the songs are upbeat.  E seems to portray himself as the guy that never seems to get the right girl but never gives up in his quest and tells you about his dreams of being happy.

Stand out tracks include: ‘Prizefighter’, ‘Tremendous Dynamite’, ‘Beginner’s Luck’, ‘In My Dreams’ and ‘What’s a Fella Gotta Do’.  Each song is great; it just depends on the mood you are in and what you want E to tell you about.

Having seen the Eels live, on two separate occasions, I am well aware that they can pull off raucous melodies and slow, meaningful jams.  After listening to any Eels’ album you seem to come away with a deeper appreciation for E and his life, as he tries to tell you about some of it on each record.  Not many artists would share so much as he did on Electro-Shock Blues, but E is a guy that would put it on the line.

If you are an old fan or new to the group, this would be a great starting point that could turn you on to albums like Souljacker, Beautiful Freak or Daisies of the Galaxy.  E knows how to keep things fresh and still has some tricks up his sleeve.