25 July 2026 – Eels Consider Oblivion And Friendship

Indie rock mainstays <a href="/tags/eels">Eels</a> release two contrasting tracks from the forthcoming album ‘Cookie Happened’: ‘All Forgotten’ and ‘I’m On Standby’. The first contemplates the distant future when every trace of an individual life has disappeared, approaching mortality with the strangely comforting thought that the universe managed perfectly well before any of us arrived.

The second is a warm promise of permanent friendship, carried by strings, guitar and Mark Oliver Everett’s (E) unmistakable combination of tenderness and battered humour. Together, the songs capture the emotional range Eels have explored for decades: existence is temporary, disappointment is guaranteed and somebody may still answer the phone when things become unbearable. ‘Cookie Happened’ arrives on 16 October and examines life’s small victories alongside its inevitable losses. The cookie’s role in all this remains classified. Find more indie rock features in our <a href="/genres/indie-rock">Indie Rock</a> coverage.