Eels announces 16th album Cookie Happened, drops Cap In Hand

The American rock band Eels announced their sixteenth studio album, "Cookie Happened," on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, and released a new single, "Cap In Hand." The album is scheduled for release on October 16 via E Works/Play It Again Sam and is available for pre-order.

The album's title was inspired by a saying from the Sesame Street character Cookie Monster. Bandleader Mark Oliver Everett, known as E, explained the philosophical sentiment behind it, stating that while all joys and hardships will one day be forgotten, the fact they happened remains a beautiful thing. He described the album as turning his gaze toward life's small victories, inevitable disappointments, and the strange miracle of existence.

The lead single, "Cap In Hand," introduces a recurring character on the record: someone confronting past mistakes and attempting to make amends. E characterized the song as bittersweet, beautifully bruised, and quietly triumphant. He said he aimed for a worn-out vocal delivery to match the narrator's perspective of someone trying to set things right with their tail between their legs, humorously adding that record companies often want artists to sound defeated on the first couple...