Extreme Witchcraft

To say Mark Oliver Everett is a moody guy is an act of understatement. As the unquestioned leader of Eels, he doesn't hesitate to tell his listeners all about his neuroses, and some of his most celebrated albums (in particular 1998's Electro-Shock Blues and 2005's Blinking Lights and Other Revelations) are rooted in the contemplation of his sorrows and his reaction to life's failings. He's learned to do this in a way that's entertaining and sometimes dazzling, but often it's hard to tell if Everett is having any fun at all. 2022's Extreme Witchcraft is a standout in the Eels catalog in that Everett actually sounds like he's enjoying himself much of the time; he's still working out his demons, but his musical therapy agrees with him and he reveals an energy and spark that verges on playful. The opening number, "Amateur Hour," is a blast of scrappy rock & roll full of buzzy guitars and rhythms that you can shake to, and while not every song matches its energy, the straight-ahead rock