Eels – Beautiful Freak (1996)

Never buy a book by its cover they say, though obviously thousands do.  The same should apply to records – but I bought this really because the cover appealed to me.  I hadn’t even heard of The Eels, but I am so glad I did.  What a great album – and as a purveyor of miserable music this is a classic. Led by singer and songwriter Mr. E., I am never sure if these songs are autobiographical or not – not that it matters as they are great anyway.  Best on this debut are ‘Susan’s House’ and ‘Novocaine For The Soul’ – but they are all good really