Daisies of the Galaxy is the third studio album by American rock band Eels. It was released on February 28, 2000, in the United Kingdom, and March 14 in the United States, by record label DreamWorks.It reached number eight in the UK Albums Chart.
Production
When the band's label requested that a clean version of "It's a Motherfucker" be recorded, the song was re-written as "It's a Monster Trucker", with modified lyrics and sound clips of lead singer Mark Oliver "E" Everett speaking "trucker lingo" on a CB radio.
Release
The single "Mr. E's Beautiful Blues" peaked at number 11 in the UK Singles Chart; the second single to be released from the album, "Flyswatter", charted at number 55 in the UK Singles Chart and was later covered by the indie pop trio Smoosh.
Reception
Daisies of the Galaxy received a generally favorable response from critics.
Fred Kovey of PopMatters called it "a fine pop record in an era that seems uninterested in pop unless it’s marketed with dance steps and a quicky bio. Though not the equal of the best work of Stephen Merritt or Elliot Smith , Daisies of the Galaxy is worthy of attention by alterna-pop fans and anyone else desperate for catchy music for grown-ups."
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote: "Unlike its predecessor, the album doesn't play like [E's] private diary; instead, it feels as if one is rummaging through his sketchbook. And, like many sketchbooks, some moments have blossomed, and others remain just intriguing, unformed ideas. For the dedicated, it's worth sifting through the album to find the keepers, since there are enough moments of quirky genius. But not all longtime fans will find this rewarding, since [E] has spent more time in creating mood than crafting songs. There are very few melodies that resonate like his best work, and the stripped-down, yet eccentric production – sounding much like a cross between Jon Brion and Beck – never feels realized."
Track listing
Personnel
Eels
- Butch – drums, backing vocals
- E – vocals, guitar, electric bass, Wurlitzer organ, production, sleeve art direction, mixing
Additional musicians
- David Alvarez – drums
- Peter Buck – guitar
- Wayne Bergeron – horn
- Chris Bleth – horn
- Andy Martin – horn
- Grant-Lee Phillips – guitar
Technical
- Wally Gagel – engineering, mixing
- Jim Lang – engineering, horn and string arrangements, mixing
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Mickey Petralia – programming, engineering
- Francesca Restrepo – sleeve design and art direction
- Jeffrey Shannon – engineering
- Michael Simpson – production, engineering, mixing
- James Stone – engineering
- Adrian Tomine – sleeve illustrations
Charts
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|+Sales chart performance for Daises of the Galaxy
! scope="col"| Chart (2000)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
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