Track This: E's "Fitting in with the Misfits"

Before Mark Oliver Everett started the Eels, he released two albums under his moniker E on Polydor records: 1992's A Man Called E and 1993's Broken Toy Shop. Both are long out of print, and this is a shame because they both reach the level of excellence of his later work in the Eels. 

Both albums are chock full of E's wry sense of humor and penchant for self-deprecation. They also look ahead to his love of peculiar instrumentation and experimentation with programming. One quick takeaway is that E loves glockenspiel, melodica, and accordion. He plays many of the instruments on these records himself, building an atmosphere of longing and regret amidst a foundation of catchy melodies. However, the records do feel more traditional and warmer than most of the Eels catalog. 

A Man Called E quickly prepares the listener for E's worldview with a pair of songs that privilege his outsider status ("Hello Cruel World," "Fitting in with the Misfits") while acknowledging his need to belong. Other standouts that stick to a similar theme include "Are You & Me Gonna Happen," "Mockingbird Franklin," and I've Been Kicked Around."

Broken Toy Shop follows a similar pattern, and he co-wrote many of the songs with others besides Parthenon Huxley, his primary collaborator on the first album, which gives it a slightly different feel. E experiments more with different characters ("Tomorrow I'll Be Nine," "Manchester Girl") but also returns to his theme of self-deprecation with a broader thematic palette ("The Only Thing I Care About," "Permanent Broken Heart.") 

A Man Called E's "Fitting in with the Misfits" captures E's favorite themes with flourish and originality. E's rocking vocals mesh well with the swelling orchestral instrumentation. He sings, "Dear Ma, you might find it hard to believe / But I think I've finally found a home." Lush vocal harmonies come in when he sings, "Now I've Got Friends That Do Want Me / And Take Me As I Am." These mirror the shift from his loneliness to acceptance. Then, when the rhythm section and lead guitar join, it creates an apotheosis that reinforces the notion that he has found a place to belong. His acceptance by the misfits in the chorus strengthens the idea that others might also find a place there. A telling line, "I've always found it so hard to adjust / I'd rather stay in bed," is apropos of many of E's lyrics and still resonates. The song starts as a slow dirge and ends as a real optimistic rocker. E covers all of his lyrical and musical bases, and it is a great thing indeed.


Track This is a recurring feature of Snobbin' that turns the music appreciation dial up and rips it off of your stereo. It introduces a new track, allows readers to rediscover an underappreciated one, and serves as a forum to discuss a song that falls into the ear candy category and should be listened to unabashedly for years to come.

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