*Get "A Man Called (E)" by E (Mark Everett) on Amazon here*
*Get Things the Grandchildren Should Know by Mark Oliver Everett on Amazon here*
This decades old album is one of those unknown, underrated collections of songs that everyone can relate to, and will leave you wondering why E (real name: Mark Everett) never had bigger success with it. The songs, except for two co-writes, were written by Everett and deal with distant love in a screwed up world back in the early 1990's when our biggest problem was the Gulf War. The songs here are not depressing, however. They are upbeat, uptempo, and so true anyone out there will feel Everett is penning your emotions and getting it right on target. One by one, the songs are:
1. Hello Cruel World
This catchy intro song just talks about the weird world we are in, without getting melancholy. We should just learn to accept our surroundings and get on with it.
"What the hell, Hello Cruel World"
2. Fitting In With the Misfits
My favorite song on the album, as Everett sings about marching to the beat of your own drummer, made easier if you have friends who can march with you.
"Living in lost and found...
Lost souls don't know where they're bound"
3. Are You and Me Gonna Happen
Great piano hook and fresh drums make a seemingly unhappy song about a one-sided love affair almost giddy.
4. Looking Out the Window With a Blue Hat On
Another love from a distance song as Everett crosses into surreal territory, wanting to die and be born again so he can love his ideal even more. Not as uptempo as the earlier songs, but good.
5. Nowheresville
A song we can all relate to, as Everett and maybe his cowriter want to take off and travel to exotic lands, falling in love with the perfect girl/companion on these imaginary travels that many of us will never make.
"Insane on the Seine"
6. Symphony for Toy Piano in G Minor
A thirty-second break in the songs has a toy piano leading an orchestra to crescendo; very clever.
7. Mockingbird Franklin
Great use of strings make this song about the singer's soulmate even more moving. Mockingbird is just going through life not caring what everyone else thinks.
"I'm a lot like you"
8. I've Been Kicked Around
This song is very similar to the Traveling Wilburys sound of the 1980's. The singer has been kicked around by life, losing his heart and soul, but he is alright.
9. Pray
Another peppy song about love from afar has a spiritual side to it as Everett looks for his perfect mate.
10. E's Tune
Another almost spiritual song, as Everett breaks from his perfect vocal/music mix to show the listener his confusion about the world around him.
"Life's just an ugly mess...and it feels like someone's smiling down on me"
11. You'll Be the Scarecrow
The weakest song here, while still good, borrows too many elements from the first ten songs on this album.
My biggest disappointment with "A Man Called (E)" is that the songs are too short and there are not enough of them. Excluding the thirty second toy piano symphony, three of the songs are under three minutes, and none of the songs go over four minutes. Everett's blend of friendly pop standard instruments and intelligent lyrics will make you wonder what radio programmers were listening to in the day. Mark Everett, and his later band Eels, is an artist to seek out and enjoy, and is one of the many reasons I do not listen to mainstream radio.
