Rewind: Eels - Cancer For The Cure

Released as a single 20 years ago in November 1998, reaching number 60 in the UK charts. A belter from the second Eels album, Electro Shock Blues. Mark Everett (aka E) wrote the bleak and brilliant LP following his sister's suicide and his mother's battle with terminal lung cancer. Many of the record's songs deal with his response to their passing and coming to terms with suddenly becoming the only living member of the Everett family (until the birth of his son Archie a few years ago).
The record's many highlights include the laugh out loud black humor of 'Cancer For The Cure' ("grandpa's happy watching video porn, with the closed caption on and father knows best... about suicide and smack"), which matches ominous bass and dusty breakbeats to filthy guitar and scratchy samples to produce one of Everett's dirtiest, catchiest moments.