Playing Favorites: “Dead of Winter”

I woke up early this morning, around 4:15, and discovered that we had run out of heating oil. The temperature inside had dropped from 68F to 61. Right now it’s 45F. I’m waiting delivery of more oil, but in the meantime it’s in the low 20s outside, with fresh snow everywhere.

Somewhere between here and there, someone hundreds of miles away may or may not be dying. And not to put too fine a point on things, but all I could think of was listening to “Dead of Winter.” Really, could there be anything more apt at the moment?

That is why I like the Eels.

Beginner’s Guide to the Eels

The following is a brief overview of the Eels’ catalog, including a few albums that weren’t marketed as Eels but which obviously still are.

If you’re just finding out about E and his wonderful music, welcome. And enjoy.

Eels Songs MIA

One of the enduring agonies of being a dedicated Eels fan is knowing that Mark Oliver Everett has in his basement a great stash of unreleased songs–entire albums, even.

In Mike’s Diary (Not Jeannie’s)

I’ve been sifting through various journals/blogs I’ve been keeping since 2001, and I thought someone might be interested to see the bits and pieces I’ve written about the Eels along the way.

It’s something short of revelatory, but I’m just a fan. What do you expect?

Over/Under

I can’t remember where I saw this, but basically someone somewhere keeps posting lists of bands’ most over- and underrated songs. Well, I can do that with Eels songs.

Berlin, October 1998

My friend Berni is hosting some terrific videos on his Eels YouTube channel. They’re from an October 1998 performance at Passionskirche in Berlin, and they’re pretty awesome. I’ve never seen the band on a better stage!

Tony Mostrom

My first Eels album was Electro-Shock Blues, so it’s only natural that my entire aesthetic approach to E’s career (aside from the music, naturally) takes its cue from Tony Mostrom’s art.