Eels

Mark Everett - the mastermind of Eels also known simply as E - has had a spectacularly sad life, but at least music comes easily for him, and appears to make the most of it. Both his parents died of cancer when he was still young and then after this, his sister committed suicide, a series of depressing events that would have a life changing effect on anyone, and maybe this reflects in the melancholic and mellow music he produces.

Some say that they jumps from "50's garage rock, roadhouse blues and swampy distortion", I just love the sad sound to all their music, and how the lyrics touch on depression, love, and sometimes glimpses of hope amongst despair.

One of my favourite songs by the Eels is 'I need some Sleep', this song sums up everything I like about the Eels, a soft tune that immediately soothes you before the lyrics kick in and then your heart turns heavy as his voice almost croaks. The lyrics suggest he has a problem so deeply inflicted on him that he can't sleep to the point where he tries 'counting sheep' but then he says 'there's one I always miss', and everyone is telling him to leave it and 'let it go' but it obviously means a lot to him if he simply can't.

Another great song is 'That look you give that Guy' another classic song by them, there's just something about these sorts of songs by them that always make me stop and suddenly become immersed in the simple, ponderful, forlorn lyrics that make me want to just cry... Anyway, if you just listen to the lyrics they really leave a mark on you. If that was too cringe worthy, then to be quite honest, this time I don't care because this band are really special.

Here are the two songs:

Radiohead

Radiohead have that kind of solemn and melancholic sound to their music that I love, because I find that it is usually the sad songs that have more substance and are just generally better. When Thom Yorke sings songs like No Surprises and Fake Plastic Trees his voice just sort of creeps out smoothly and beautifully, and believe it or not he had few friends and got regularly picked on by his peers during his rather unsatisfactory childhood which may have a large part to play in the result of their music. I sometimes wonder that if the way he sang were to be described as a picture, then it would be like a lonely, scared timid figure surrounded by darkness and when he opens his mouth to sing, a white light drifts and droops out and just expands into the darkness. Anyway enough weird imagery about Thom Yorke's voice.

Radiohead released their first album Pablo Honey (which wasn't great in my opinion except for Creep obviously) in 1993 and their earliest influences are said to have been Queen, Elvis Costello and post-punk acts of surrealism (much like the style of music Radiohead often produce) such as Joy Division, and now that I think about it they have a very similar atmosphere to some of their music. They incorporated computer-generated and hip-hop style production into their recording methods, a relatively new idea in that Brit-Pop era, and a style they have continued to use since. The members of Radiohead have said in the past that they are not influenced by one or two artists, but are constantly finding new inspiration from many different artist, but whatever it is that influences them, if anything influences them, is bound to be incredible, if they have been going for roughly twenty years, and recognized as one of the most prolific and successful British bands to date.

None other than Fake Plastic Trees and No Surprises, also just because of the sheer sadness and desperation - Creep.

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Ed Sheeran and Devlin

Devlin is probably one of the very few exceptions of where I like rap, though I really hate his first albums, I think his new one "Bud, Sweat, and Beers", is pretty good. My top song being "Let it Go", there's just something about it that seems really good, it could be the instruments, the chorus, the lyrics, or I don't know but something about it just seems really good, probably the chorus actually (I say this as I'm listening to it).

I heard about Devlin through Ed Sheeran (who is also incredible), and when they perform together its amazing. But their lyrics are pretty good as well, especially "Community Outcast" by Devlin and "A-Team" by Ed Sheeran. I started out talking about Devlin and now I'm onto Ed Sheeran, because he is that great, but still somehow hasn't got a proper album out yet. Anyway... please listen to them and follow me please.. also comment if you want me to change anything or if you have any suggestions on who I should talk about.

I wrote this a while ago, and since then Ed Sheeran has indeed got an album out, and my opinion of him has spiralled downwards. I don't know if its just me and as soon as someone who I like who is relatively unknown becomes known makes me lose respect for them, if that makes sense... I suppose when you know something great that no one else does, and then suddenly lots of people know him and start hyping about him and can't stop talking about him, it takes something away from the original quality and makes them seem no different to anyone else. Shame really. I still like Devlin though.