Souljacker Review (from in-your-ear.net)
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LA based self-confessed geeks the Eels are setting up a strange 
reputation for themselves. Their first album, Beautiful Freak, was 
grunge influenced bullying. Second came Electro-Shock Blues, a 
haunting collection about cancer, suicide and terminal illness. Nice. 
Third to shoot was surprisingly the opposite of the "Death Record" 
called Daises of the Galaxy, which talks about beautiful days, a 
shining sun and going to the movies with friends. What relates them 
apart from the band? They were all more than acceptable.

So, when I heard that Mark "E" Everett had grown a beard and started 
quoting "the Unabomber," I thought I knew which path he was heading. 
I was wrong. Pressing play on my rusty old CD player, the first track 
off Souljacker, "Dog Faced Boy" started with the chunkiest and 
dirtiest riff I have ever heard. The story he's telling is of the 
ugliest boy in class and how none of his friends would walk down the 
street with him. Memories of the past? 

Song two, which really isn't all that funny, has Butch Norton pulling 
out all his talent on drums and symbols that gives the start of the 
song a creepy, he's-behind-you feeling. 'E's' voice is gravelling 
along and the song takes a while to swallow. However, the next two 
tracks are the delights that make the record sweet tasting. "Fresh 
Feeling" has big hit written all over it. This song has a catchy 
beat; easy, yet meaningful lyrics; and a sense of an inkling of a 
smile. "Woman Driving, Man Sleeping" is hauntingly beautiful, tear 
jerking realization that 'E' is not all about death and destruction 
and that he can be heartwarming, even though fans from past albums 
know only too well. Life is good. Then comes another killer riff. 

"Souljacker Part One" starts and ends with an infectious head banging 
rhythm. It's a song to rid you of all your blues. A dark, dark 
subject that makes you think of others and realize your problems 
aren't as bad as you think. "Friendly Ghost" and "Teenage Witch" are 
both good sing-along songs, with the latter a harsher subject and the 
former perfect in a Casper movie. "Bus Stop Boxer" is a lonely, 
touchy song that takes bites of the melancholy and plays the funeral 
march with your heartstrings. 

"Jungle Telegraph" is more like a rap song, with bongos playing and 
giraffes singing backing vocals while taking you to your 
destination. "In this world of shit, baby you are it," 'E' reads this 
song. He camouflages his love behind the title and expressing real, 
true love that he has found and kept. (Good for him!!) "Part Two of 
Souljacker" is a two-verse treat played on a kiddie's keyboard and 
the exterior of the song melts words of hanging and carcasses. 

Finally, what is this note? When reading the inlay for the album, 
this is a song I dreaded. Bubblegum pop with extra helpings of 
cheesiness in the words, what I imagined Justin Timberlake of Nsync 
writing for Britney Spears when they have a few minutes to spare. The 
music? Think Slipknot, Green Day and tambourines. And it works. 
Strange. The whole album is a joy. 'E' has found love and he is 
expressing it in his work. Just one note to his girl: don't ever 
leave.