Search - Eels :: Meet the Eels: Essential Eels 1996-2006 1 (W/Dvd)

A Superb 10 Year Compilation ...

Kort Kramer | South Florida, USA | 01/29/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"...from a man called E!



Companioned with Useless Trinkets: B Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2007 (2CD+DVD), this just might be all you would ever need from the Eels first 10 years. All 36 songs are terrific and while I may miss a few favorites, most of them are here and the Eels albums are well represented.

Anyone new to the Eels, this is a good primer.



True fans of the Eels probably have more or all these tracks from the albums, making this not so neccessary. Just get the Rarities album in that case. But for completists, this is a must as it has 12 good quality videos on the companion DVD. So yeah, you might as well just pick this up no matter who you are. ;']



While I have your ear, let me recommend Eels with Strings - Live at Town Hall. It is the best concert video I have seen in a long time and a great companion piece to this Best Of CD.



So what are you waiting for, go pick this up! It truly is Novocaine For The Soul..."

A classic compilation

Thomas Thomsen | Denmark | 03/26/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Very rarely would I call a compilation cd a classic, but "Meet The eels: Essential Eels 1996-2006, Vol. 1" is as classic an album as any other "proper" album release that has been deemed a classic. As usual with compilations fans will quibble about songs that were excluded (For me, Mental off the debut album Beautiful Freak is one such song), but since ALL of the 24 songs included are excellent examples of E's superior songwriting genius, for once any criticism really is redundant. Song choices, sequencing, artwork, packaging - it's all extremely well-executed.



E's lyrics are often bittersweet. In 3 Speed he sings: "Life is funny, but not ha-ha funny". Even so, the lyrics are humorous and engaging. Lyric sample from That's Not Really Funny: "Did you think I would laugh, when you said I was small? Did you think that that would pass, as if nothing at all?"



Some of my personal favorites: Your Lucky Day In Hell, My Beloved Monster, Flyswatter, Souljacker Part 1, That's Not Really Funny, Fresh Feeling, (Hey Man) Now you're really Living, The Trouble with Dreams.



This compilation is a very good place to start your Eels collection.



"Useless Trinkets: B-sides, soundtracks, rarities and unreleased 1996-2006" is a nice companion piece, but not as essential as "Meet The Eels: Essential Eels 1996-2006, Vol. 1".





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Just what I needed

H. Rogers | Phoenix,AZ USA | 02/22/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Being 50+ Ive had streachs where I didnt really listen to music like I did in my 20s- I kinda try to get stuff from groups I have heard of but never really listened to at the time- Alice in chains-Stone temple pilots- Concrete Blonde I guess there all kind of in the same time period. But I never really herd of these guys. I think I was watching a movie and liked a song- the C.C. caught the name of the band and song so I bought this. Great stuff I loved the videos- and the music is Great- as far as I can tell this might be the most overlooked rock band of all time. If your looking for some great Rock this should fill your bill."