Mark Oliver Everett was the Brian Jones of the grunge era, a songwriter capable of impeccable pop music centred around trauma, sadness and redemption. “Novocaine for the Soul” is one of the greatest alternative rock songs of the 1990s.
But just what do Everett’s lyrics reference? And how did this offbeat single become one of the more unexpected hits of the 90s? Here’s what I am trying to answer today
Eels’s Road to making “Novocaine for the Soul”
I love Eels! But the band’s music always makes me feel funny. Listening to those great pop songs about unbelievable sadness feels a little like intruding on Mark Oliver Everett’s personal secrets. Still, it’s all tailored to work precisely in this way.
Everett was a troubled teen who eventually found balance by writing pop songs. He renamed himself E, worked diligently on improving his craft, and by the early 1990s, he was signed by Polydor. Initial releases didn’t do much in terms of sales.
However, by 1996, Everett had formed Eels and released the bittersweet, power-pop-influenced alt-rock album “Beautiful Freak.” It’s a release full of songs that show amazing potential. “Novacaine for the Soul” is the most sparkling of the bunch.
Meaning of the Lyrics of “Novocaine for the Soul”
The sad truth, as far as I can gather, is that, unlike some of the post-grunge artists of the time, E wasn’t faking it. He was troubled. In fact, Everett’s early life saw him dealing with family-related mental illness and death, as well as his own issues.
Novocaine, of course, is an anaesthetic, typically used by doctors. Bruised and battered from what life had thrown at him, E just wants something to take the pain away.
“Part of my problem is with intimacy. ‘Novocaine for the Soul’ sounds detached because it’s about detachment. That’s what I think is so great about that song, and on that level I think it’s almost genius. It’s detachment personified. I’m singing about numbness, and I’m numb. It’s about having too much feeling,” E later explained.
The song was notable for its clever use of samples (Fats Domino’s “Let the Four Winds Blow” was used), as well as the shift from the almost spoken-word parts to the dream pop choruses. And, if you think that’s smart, check out some of the other songs releaesd by the band around this time! Trust me!
Many first noticed Everett’s talent for songwriting, with lines like “Life’s good/And I feel great/‘Cause mother says/I was a great mistake.” Clearly, this was a man with a great sense of humour as well as tremendous hurt.
Music Video
There was a music video released, which was directed by Mark Romanek. It showed E and the other band members being carried up by wires and appearing to fly.
The promo was played heavily by MTV, and nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Special Effects at the show’s awards.
Thankfully, “Novacaine for the Soul,” helped by being released on DreamWorks, Steven Spielberg and David Geffen’s label, was an alt-rock hit.
The single reached number 1 in the U.S. on the Alternative Airplay chart, and was a number 10 single in the U.K.
Legacy of Eels and “Novocaine for the Soul”
And while “Beautiful Freak” has sold more than 400.000 copies to date, Everett’s greatest works were around the corner.
Those albums, often, were sadder even the debut, a kind of Silver Jews with impeccable pop instincts.
1998’s “Electro-Shock Blues” was written in the wake of even more terrible tragedy in the life of E. And, with every subsequent album, some of them bona fide eccentric pop-rock masterworks, Eels’s reputation grew, and the group’s fans became more devoted.
As a side note, the song has been brilliantly covered, recently, by Portugal. the Man.
Yes, Everett is still making music. I’m even more amazed by the humour and grace he reveals in interviews. And, no matter how many fantastic songs he will write (and let’s hope there are many), “Novocaine for the Soul” will remain Eels’s shining moment.
