Eels: Daisies Of The Galaxy (Dreamworks)
Being for the benefit of Mr. E, the third album from the Eels opens with a snatch of marching band, setting the mock-sombre scene for this collection of downbeat, ironic post-grunge ballads. The weird Wurlitzer sound of E's organ dominates, making tracks such as Grace Kelly Blues, I Like Birds and Flyswatter sound like uneasy listening from Hell's own Holiday Inn. The wry, lovelorn It's A Motherfucker could have been penned by Randy Newman, while the current single, Mr. E's Beautiful Blues, is a sad summer ditty for beached boys'n'girls.
Kevin Courtney
The The: Naked Self (Nothing)
WE haven't heard much from Matt Johnson since 1993's Dusk - but rest assured he's been kept busy, dealing with personal traumas and fretting on about the deteriorating state of the world. He released a tribute album to Hank Williams in 1995, and had a dark, instrumental album, Gun Sluts, rejected by his record company in 1997. Naked Self sees Johnson doing what he does best, writing tightly-wound, melodic tunes which pinch at the underbelly of modern life. From the seething riffage of Boiling Point and the tribal scream of Shrunken Man, to the alienated soul of Global Eyes and the cattle-prod squeal of Swine Fever, Johnson remains true to his jaundiced vision, coming across as the Robbie Williams of musical misanthropy.
Kevin Courtney
Smashing Pumpkins: Machina/The Machines of God (Virgin)
Pre-millennial tension has now been replaced by post-millennium miserablism, and grunge has officially become Goth. Smashing Pumpkins have been going through some seismic changes recently: departed bassist D'Arcy Wretzky has been replaced by Hole's Melissa Auf Der Maur, prodigal drummer Jimmy Chamberlin has been welcomed back into the fold, and manager Sharon Osborne - wife of Ozzy - resigned, citing "health reasons: Billy Corgan made me sick". Suspicions that Corgan's Goth complex may be getting out of hand is confirmed by the pompous song titles (The Imploding Voice, Glass And The Ghost Children, The Crying Tree Of Mercury) and the album's artwork, which wouldn't look out of place on a Fields Of The Nephilim album. Machina boasts all the battering-ram force of classic Pumpkins, but it creaks under its own Gormenghast-ly weight.
Kevin Courtney
The Wannadies: (RCA/BMG)
THE Number 3 Swedish band (behind ABBA and The Cardigans) has reached into the public consciousness thanks to the shampoo ad which features You And Me Song. Yeah is the 'Dies fifth album, produced by former Cars guy, Rik Ocasek, and once again it blends the magic ingredients of pop to create a tasty melange of riffs, melodies, hooks and big fat dollops of cheese. I Love Myself, No Holiday and Kill You are driven by sheer punk-powered exuberance, threatening to precipitate the return of the pogo. String Song, on the other hand, attempts to bring a serious tone to the party, but the Wannadies are at their best when they keep things brash and bouncy, as on Ball and the affirmative, action-packed title track.
Kevin Courtney