Album Review: Eels - 'Extreme Witchcraft'

At the age of 58, Mark Oliver Everett is showing no sign of slowing down. In fact, the Californian’s 14th studio album under the Eels moniker is amongst his most immediate and, well, rockin’. Co-produced by Everett and PJ Harvey’s guitarist, John Parish, most of the dozen songs are propelled by fuzzy electric guitar motifs.

The approach is exemplified by lead single ‘Good Night On Earth’, which is built around a simple-but-seriously-catchy riff, infectious rhythm and snappy lyrics. Similarly endowed are ‘Amateur Hour’ and ‘Better Living Through Desperation’.

A more laidback effort, ‘Strawberries & Popcorn’, begins as a tongue-in-cheek celebration of being the boss of oneself in the wake of a relationship break-up, although none of the ‘freedoms’ Everett mentions appear too enticing, which he subsequently admits, as the song takes on a more orthodox ‘my baby done left me’ schtick.

Other highlights include the bluesy shuffle of ‘Steam Engine’; the alt-folk ‘Learning While I Lose’; and the dreamy, synth-driven ‘The Magic’. The funky ‘Grandfather Clock Strikes Twelve’, meanwhile, sounds like Beck jamming with Prince. Another impressive collection.

Listen: ‘Good Night On Earth’
7/10

Out now via pias/e works:

Revisit Hot Press' October 2020 interview with Mark Oliver Everett here.