Mark Oliver Everett, also known as E, is a fairly prolific musician.
It seems like Eels releases — full-lengths, best-of compilations,
live CDs — appear with such regularity that you can estimate when
the next one will arrive. You can always get your fix for more Eels,
whether anticipating a new record like this one or discovering
treasures from the band’s back catalog. Hombre Lobo (which
follows 2006’s Eels with Strings: Live at Town Hall, last year’s
best-of Meet the Eels: Essential Eels Vol. I and the
b-sides collection Useless Trinkets) is the first Eels studio
release since 2005’s Blinking Lights and Other Revelations. It’s
both a logical continuation of that record and an evolution. Tracks
like the static-filled “Tremendous Dynamite” and the low-key “That Look
You Give That Guy” contain everything you’ve come to expect from the
Eels: Everett’s grumbling but charming vocals, subtly hooky
instrumental melodies and a sense of intimacy. “What’s a Fella Gotta
Do” has a distinct Beatles vibe, embracing a nuanced ’60s pop
aesthetic, while closing track “Ordinary Man” has the introspective
feel of old Tom Waits ballads. Nothing is mind-blowing, but that’s not
the point. Eels are like comfort food: reliable, easy to consume and
better-tasting every time. — Emily Zemler
This article appears in Jun 17-23, 2009.
