Eel’s tenth studio album is a defiantly optimistic effort that proves Mark Oliver Everett (a.k.a ‘E’) can still be as innovative and consistantly interesting as anyone else in the business.
From the opening brooding guitar and growled vocals on ‘Bombs Away’ the heavier sound is obvious, and the angry, feisty lyrics of “I’ve had enough of being complacent / I’ve had enough of being a mouse / I’ll no longer keep my mouth shut” perfectly signal what’s to come: a loud but ultimately uplifting collection of songs.
These themes continue with ‘On The Ropes’, one of the slower and best moments, with lyrics that acknowledge Everett’s well documented and tragic best, but also provide hope and fight for the future.
Lines like “I’m gonna prove them wrong / I’m not knocked out but I’m on the ropes” provide extra depth to the jangly guitar and driving drums, and E’s voice has never sounded better.
Wonderful ,Glorious was recorded in a purpose-built home studio in LA, and in a drastic change to their previous method, most songs were created with all members jamming together, with Everett later providing the lyrics.
This fuller, more band-orientated sound is prevalent across the record, and complements the husky, deep vocals wonderfully.
Although not without its lackluster moments (‘The Turnaround’ and ‘The Original’ are both rather forgettable), singles ‘Peach Blossom’ and ‘New Alphabet’ are both upbeat, thoroughly enjoyable tracks filled with fuzzy guitars and infectious melodies.
Title track ‘Wonderful, Glorious’ finishes the album in a rollicking fashion with a joyful shouted chorus.
In the end, the title of Eel’s tenth album sums up exactly what it’s trying to be, and for the most part, it triumphantly succeeds.
