10 Most Unappreciated Indie Rock Albums Of The 2000s

6. Eels - Souljacker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNEVbhqkKhY Mark Oliver Everett plays the perfect outcast on the fabulously eclectic Souljacker released in the Autumn of 2001. Eels always changed their sound to fit their differing narratives but on Souljacker they completed that evolution by delivering a smorgasbord of sonic variations. Shame then that despite being such a varied release the album was delayed in the United States apparently because of a lack of radio friendly singles that the record label sought-after, a quite ridiculous premise that isn't at all grounded in any real evidence because Souljacker features any number of catchy, radio friendly, pop-influenced numbers. It also demonstrates E's knack for dipping into different sound pools whilst not sacrificing the art of solid, conventional songwriting. The downright beauty of songs like the emotionally stirring 'Fresh Feeling' or the childlike inquisitiveness of 'Friendly Ghost' even out the more hard-hitting garage rock tracks like the intense showdown at sundown 'Souljacker Part 1' or the fiendishly catchy, fuzz driven opener 'Dog Faced Boy', helping to give the album a finely poised balance. No small feat given the vast number of experimental ideas on show like the erratic, bossa nova flavored 'That's Not Really Funny' or the irresistible, electronic dance frenzy 'Teenage Witch', providing that air of unpredictability that the LP thrives on. From the moment it starts to the moment it stops, Souljacker's varying musical and lyrical contents run the gamut to extreme lengths making it one of the most finely tuned and enjoyable blasts of sound produced by Mr Everett. Shame the record execs didn't concur.....