Eels, 'Hombre Lobo' (Vagrant)
Deadpan pop chronicler bares emotional claws,
By Lindsey Thomas 05.11.09 5:18 PM
Mark Oliver Everett takes his latest album title quite literally, unleashing predatory howls over distortion-ridden stompers like "Fresh Blood," only to awake as an innocent mensch. The gentler E distances himself from his lycanthropic alter ego, searching for Ms. Right backed by a familiar arsenal of winsome melodies and elegant string arrangements. The album doesn't declare an outright winner in the "hopeless romantic versus beast" showdown, but its catchiest track is a bouncy marriage proposal ("Beginner's Luck") complete with church bells.












Got something to say?