‘Hombre lobo‘ ( which translates to “Werewolf” in English) is the long awaited follow up to EELS‘ 2005 release “Blinking Lights and Other Revelations“. Alas, we were waiting for it so long that it took us 6 months to review it. Oh well. On swiftly.
What we have here is a concept record loosely based around desire. Not just any kind of desire but “…. That dreadful, intense want that gets you into all sorts of situations that can change your life in big ways” explains the EELS‘ bearded front person E ( or Mark Oliver Everett to the uninitiated). Now if the intent of this record was to sonically represent the erratic peaks and troughs one finds themselves in when faced with such torturous desires, this record is a resounding success!
Within ‘Hombre Lobo‘ fuzzed up MC5 driven rockers, whisky drenched Beatles-esque ballads and some lo-fi grooves (especially on the first cut “Fresh Blood“) all bounce off each other with relative ease. Of course, none of these comparisons do justice to the inevitable EELS twist that E‘s vocal drawl adds to the whole piece in general.
Although the balls to the wall attack of tracks such as the “Prizefighter“, “Lilac Breeze” and “Whats A Fella Gotta Do“, provide a sort of instant gratification, it is the more introspective that intersperse the first half of the record, and the resounding hope filled pop that sees it out, that will demand repeated listens.
The understated “All The Beautiful Things” with all its wymsical horns & strings that hark back to the “Blinking lights…” days, is a revelation having followed the initial distorted yelps scattered along the way. Having turned the corner and leaving all the love lorn loss behind it, the record ends with a big arms open smile on its face with the unashamed fuzzy pop of “Beginners Luck” and the self realising “Ordinary Man”
It all leaves you with a slightly bewildered but ultimately happy “what the hell just happened“.
Give it a bit of time, you’ll love it!
—–
First post by new Cougar collaborator Beard (not real name). Welcome to the team!
—–
TRACKS:
EELS – All The Beautiful Things
