Earth To Dora
by Eels
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
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  1. Glide Magazine
    Dec 16, 2020
    80
    Earth To Dora is very much a turn up the volume, open the windows and let everyone enjoy it type of record.
  2. Classic Rock Magazine
    Nov 18, 2020
    80
    The melodies are sweet and the lyrics still bear his adult-child cartoon whimsy, but there's a dark optimism beneath it all. [Dec 2020, p.81]
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  3. American Songwriter
    Oct 30, 2020
    80
    With Earth to Dora, Everett adds another emotionally edgy chapter to his artistic and spiritual journey that existing fans will appreciate, even if he still does need Novocaine for the soul.
  5. Mojo
    Oct 29, 2020
    80
    Symbols of hope still gatecrash his bruised world. [Dec 2020, p.80]
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  6. New Musical Express (NME)
    Oct 29, 2020
    80
    Eels’ most complete and self-contained record, arguably the epitome of their ouvre and a record that places E – in his own gruff, xylophone-toting way –alongside the great downtrodden romantics: Cohen; Rufus Wainwright; Stephin Merritt of Magnetic Fields; Nick Cave.
  7. Record Collector
    Oct 29, 2020
    80
    Earth To Dora re-establishes Everett as one of the finest and most distinctive songwriters today – one who can make sorrow sound joyful, but who also knows that, without sadness, happiness wouldn’t be the same experience.
  8. musicOMH.com
    Nov 9, 2020
    70
    Earth To Dora finds him in a relatively peaceful place – and it will have a similarly calming effect on Eels fans too. More than 20 years on, this band are still very good at what they do.
  9. AllMusic
    Oct 30, 2020
    70
    Earth to Dora is well-written and imaginatively produced pop for grown-ups that reminds us Mark Oliver Everett is crazy enough to try anything once -- even feeling OK for a while.
  10. Clash Music
    Oct 30, 2020
    70
    For all of E’s melancholy brooding, ‘Earth to Dora’ still has a tender and vintage vibe. Although E seems to have adopted the role of a hapless romantic that is unlucky in love, this record is still strangely upbeat.
  11. Uncut
    Oct 29, 2020
    60
    There are moments of real beauty, like the tenderly plucked "Of Unsent Letters," but what might be comfort via familiarity for some may well be lacking in evolution for others. [Dec 2020, p.29]
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  12. The Independent (UK)
    Oct 29, 2020
    60
    Under normal circumstances, another solipsistic Eels album celebrating the joy of simple pleasures and allowing for some gruff introspection would grate – and Earth to Dora really isn’t much better than the last six Eels records – but right now it feels pretty much perfect. Have a listen before the moment passes.
  13. Under The Radar
    Nov 9, 2020
    40
    We’re not left with much to chew on but some pleasant melodies and Everett’s signature, raspy croon. Nothing on Earth to Dora comes close to the indie rock peaks of EELS’ past.
  14. DIY Magazine
    Oct 29, 2020
    40
    ‘Are You Fucking Your Ex’ has none of the melodrama its title suggests, the question holding about as much weight as ‘did I leave the bathroom light on?’, and ‘I Got Hurt’ sledgehammers the line “I got hurt… and it didn’t feel good”. For a songwriter who’s so loved for finding poetry in the quotidian, for saying so much with so little, it’s just a bit basic. Maybe if he’d allowed him - and us - to wallow a bit, he’d have had more of a point.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. Ricko
    Jan 6, 2021
    8
    "Earth to Dora" has that classic Eels sound, the sweet, dreamy almost sleepy pop but with the indie edge lurking just under the surface. It"Earth to Dora" has that classic Eels sound, the sweet, dreamy almost sleepy pop but with the indie edge lurking just under the surface. It has been over a decade since their last truly great record 2009's "Hombre Lobo" but as always there is more good than bad on every Eels album. This album doesn't add much to the Eels legacy but it has their comforting sound that I could listen to repeatedly in spades.… Full Review »
  2. acey_nl
    Nov 10, 2020
    10
    It's back to the roots for Mark Oliver Everett, known by the stage name E. This album has an authentic Eels vibe to it like Daisies of theIt's back to the roots for Mark Oliver Everett, known by the stage name E. This album has an authentic Eels vibe to it like Daisies of the Galaxy and Blinking lights and other revelations. In other words it sounds like Eels in it's heyday. This is the album I was waiting for for a few of years now absolutely amazing!… Full Review »
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