Before he had his bandmates, E released two albums titled ‘A Man Called E’ and ‘Broken Toy Shop’ under Polydor records. These releases enabled E to make a name for himself and to continue with his musical route. He finished his record deal with Polydor after the first two releases and shortly after, he would begin working on Eels. The band officially formed when Everett met former bandmate Tommy Walter in 1995. The pair chose the name Eels so that the albums would remain close to those of E in record stores. The band managed to secure a record contract with DreamWorks Records.
In 1996 the band released the album ‘Beautiful Freak.’ The album contains eleven songs, tracks such as ‘Novocaine for the Soul,’ ‘Your Lucky Day in Hell’ and ‘My Beloved Monster’ are all featured on the CD. The album did well amongst critics, earning four out of five stars from webzine AllMusic, and also received positive response from those who purchased the album. In 1998, at the BRIT Awards, Beautiful Freak enabled Eels to win the prize for Best International Breakthrough Act.
Various tracks from this album received media exposure; for example, the song ‘My Beloved Monster’ was featured in the DreamWorks film Shrek, and two other songs were featured in the fifth season of the TV show Homicide: Life on the Street.
For those who have not yet seen Eels performing live, it is advised that you do so. Eels play each song with such energy and devotion that it is almost impossible not to feel full of energy and to feel entranced by the band. At concerts it is likely that ban merchandise will be available for sale. T-shirts, posters, CDs, buttons, keychains, bags and various other goods can be purchased for a low price that will provide life long memories. For information on upcoming Eels concerts, be sure to check one of may online ticketing services or even the band’s own website. It is important to purchase tickets as far in advance as possible.
