Eels - Tomorrow Morning

Quick smartly after January’s brilliant but incredibly sad End Times, Mark Oliver Everett is back again with what is now his third album in the space of eighteen months. It can hardly be said that Tomorrow Morning is a return to form, since the quality of the songwriting on the preceding brace of albums has been as high as ever. But what is notable about this final part of the trilogy is a new-found sense of optimism; in keeping with its forward-looking title, much of Tomorrow Morning feels like the sunrise after a long dark night of the soul – there’s a pep in E’s step, and his knack for finding beauty in the mundane is as strong as it was on his career masterpiece, 2000's Daisies Of The Galaxy.

Listening to an Eels album is always akin to taking a peek at someone's private diary, such is the honesty and emotion on display, and in a way that's what made End Times feel at times like witnessing open-heart surgery. Everett is as good as anyone at making you feel close to what is going on inside his head, and knowing the personal tragedies the guy has gone through makes it hard for any listener to just like his songs; E’s voice, the warm production and his ability to see the light at the end of the darkest of tunnels all combine to make him an artist you can love. Hearing his hardships played out on record, you really want him to be happy, and it’s not every songwriter you can say that about these days.

Thematically speaking, most of Tomorrow Morning deals with his new relationship and the joys of falling in love; imagine Souljacker's standout ‘Fresh Feeling’ stretched out to 46 minutes and you're on the right track. The gently-strummed acoustic guitars of End Times have been dropped in favour of synths and drum machines, giving this album a warm overall sound, while still retaining an organic feel. On ‘I'm A Hummingbird’ you could be forgiven for thinking that Angelo Badalamenti had lent a hand in the studio, such is the understated beauty of the synths; elsewhere, album centrepiece ‘This Is Where It Gets Good’ stretches out its funky beats to nearly seven minutes, but they could go on forever as far as this listener is concerned.

‘The Man’ is another high-point that contains enough wry lyrical nuggets to put a smile on even Father Stone's face: “The old homeless guy that smells like pee / stops talking nonsense and says "Good morning, E" / Pass the birds singing, I am the man / It's all part of the plan.” You certainly are, Mr. Everett; and it sure feels good to have your old self back.