Friday, January 23, 2015

Log Lady Transmissions



Here's a taste of the newest in Eel Mansion reviews from the land of the worldly web-

"Eel Mansions also works in another framework and that’s the melodramatic soap opera world that’s heavily reminiscent of Mark Frost and David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. It actually has the confidence that’s seen in the pilot of Twin Peaks. What I mean by that is, when you first see Twin Peaks, it’s characters and the world feels lived in and we, the viewer, got dropped in one day and it’s up to us to navigate and understand this lived in world and it’s history: Eel Mansions pulls aspect of Twin Peaks perfectly….”

Read more of Larry Vossler’s review over at the 9th Blog .

"Probably the most Lynchian (as in filmmaker David Lynch) comic to be made since Dan Clowes’ 1993 graphic novel Like A Velvet Glove Cast in Iron, Derek Van Gieson’s Eel Mansions has plenty of Eraserhead’s confusing imagery but with Twin Peaks’ wry sense of humor as well….”

Rich Barrett discusses more Eels/Lynch vibes over at Mental Floss.

Copies are available at most bookstores or directly from the massive, sprawling Uncivilized Books compound.



Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Eel Mansions Tasting Notes: Volume One



ON PAIRING, VOLUME ONE

There’s plenty of discussion these days about what 20 year old port wine best accompanies chicken fried steak, but when it comes to books, there’s little to no dialogue on the matter. With that problem in mind, I bring a few tasting notes in regards to my damn damn damn new graphic novel, Eel Mansions. The moods and scenes shift rapidly in Eels, which calls for some sonic diversity.

1. Jerry J. Nixon- Gentleman of Rock n’ Roll : All of Englishman Nixon’s New Mexican recorded rockabilly sides are offered here on one collection. Fiesty, dusty, occasionally off key in a charming way, and engagingly flavorful. Perfect for bumpy reading. Check out the song “Moonlight”.

THE DELMONAS 5 : Before Billy Childish put together the Headcoatees, there were the Delmonas, another of his garage rock girl groups. Plenty of groups aim for stark naked honesty but seldom do they deliver the danger and joyful spark captured here. Check out “Keep Your Big Mouth Shut”.

The Motels "Suddenly Last Summer" : Absurd? Never. Kinda. A great moody pop song that suits the heavy inky Eels vibe like a warm black sock.

UNWOUND- "Totality": This is for when the sanity is nowhere to be found and there’s no telling the bleeding seas from the crispy flesh of the Earth. Harsh chaos made by artists.

JOHNNY CASH & The TENNESSEE TWO- There are five million directions you can take with this stark country crooner, but I’d direct you to the old Sun Records stuff. “Train of Love”, “Next In Line”, and “Guess Things Happen That Way”- The pluck and cluck of the chicken train powers this lean and mean ride.

PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED- “Death Disco" : A high watermark from 1979, this richly constructed cyclone of punk rasta dancefloor engineering tears through the crowd leaving a gasping, deconstructed maw of gene spliced gasps. Another agent and siren song for the more abstract moments.

HANK WILLIAMS-“BLUE LOVE" After the carnage comes the calm, and Hank delivers one of his more obscure cuts "Blue Love" for a big ass bear hug that let’s you cry it all out. It’s gonna be ok. You’ve got Hank now. Wonderous Hanky.