By Adam Bowman

If Beck is Dylan in his creativity, then the Eels are definitely Dylan musically. A mixture of Beck, Pink Floyd, R.E.M., and the aforemention elder Dylan, the Eels have already scored once with "Novacane for the Soul", from their previous effort, "Beautiful Freak".

Now, they have returned with "Daises of the Galaxy". Although an album that never gets above a raised voice (which may make you wonder how it landed on The Scene LA's pages), it's surprisingly well-planned out. Kicking off with a royal opening in "Grace Kelly Blues", your soon greeted by all the instruments used in this album. (Yes, I said instruments. As stated in the insert: "No samples were harmed in the making of this album.") These include acoustic guitar, drums, trumpets, woodwinds, keyboards, and even windchimes and dare I say....orchestra bells.

The pattern started in "Grace Kelly Blues" proceeds throughout the next four tracks, but surprisingly doesn't grow old, at least to these ears. Soon, you coast into "Flyswatter", which opens with a mysterious brew of rhthym, the hardest drums so far on the album, and the occasional female vocal.

The album's definitely not without that occasional edge which the Eels are known to add every once in a while. The chorus in "I Like Birds" will have you attempting time, after time, after time, after time to get it just right when he finally says the species' name. In English, "I like.....birds." The definite laugh can also be found in "It's a Mothertrucker", and if you guessed what that 'trucker' rhymes with, you have the actual title. I like to call it Local H Syndrome. The slow, soft ballad is best described as a song where you'll laugh, but feel bad for doing it. Add to this the sporadic swearing in nearly every song for all the South Park people in the house.

Ultimately, however, the album follows a variety of trends. From "Grace Kelly Blues" to "Daises of the Galaxy", it's definitely Dylan 2000 . From "Flyswatter" to "Tiger in my Tank", it's definitely Beck (occasionally even vocally). Then, from "Jeannie's Diary" to "Selective Memory", it's Floyd. Yet throughout all these changes, somehow, you never forget that it is the Eels. To pull that off takes talent. However, it doesn't hurt to have assistance from Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Grant Lee Phillips (namesake of the recently departed band, Grant Lee Buffalo), along with many others.

To the hard rock buff, stay long distances away from "Daises of the Galaxy". For all those that require variety in their lives, definitely pick it up. It's a great to counterpoint to the Static-X and Metallica lining your walls. But before I go...beware, there's a hidden 15th track, entitled "Mr. E's Beautiful Blues"...and for your clue, it's uptempo. Enjoy.