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The Feelies are back

While trying to find info on another Hoboken band (see my thread re: The Marys), I tripped across an announcement that the Feelies (including Bill Million as well as Glenn Mercer) are releasing a new CD on Bar/None. Release date is April 12.

For those unfamiliar with this band, they were one of the great cult bands of the '80s. Nerdy look, oddball lyrics, jerky "ostinato" style rythms, highly crafted pop rock songs played at hyper (near thrash) tempos and 2 guitarists who can tear it up. Great taste in cover material including Beatles, Stones, Eno, and the Velvet Underground, among others.

As a side note, they were long the darlings of The New York Times who spilled an inordinate amount of ink on an otherwise obscure band.

Marty
martykl
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,147 posts
 
A great band, but their studio recordings are a pale shadow of the energy they could generate at live shows. It's a day/night difference.

Trivia - they are the band playing at the high school reunion in "Something Wild". The do Bowie/Lennon's "Fame".
martykl OP
3,578 posts
 
Onhwy,

Can't really argue, but....

In the studio vs live, it's almost like they were almost 2 different bands. The CDs sound like quirky, minimalist alt. rock. A clever, interesting variation of rock music that was almost abstracted from the original rockin' idea.

In concert, they were a fierce rock band. Back in the day, I was an MD at an investment bank in NYC and took a young analyst who was working for me to see the band perform. His reaction was "Cool, the boss likes thrash."

The shows were amazing, but the records have endured, too.

Either way, it's good to have 'em back.
jebe1
75 posts
 
Listen to a sample on their new album here (Hit the orange play button at the top of the page.)
martykl OP
3,578 posts
 
Jebe,

Thanks for the link. I loved the track and I'd bet it will be a monster live. Check out that little solo by (I believe) Million at the 1:40ish mark. You know that will stretch to about 4 minutes in concert. I do hope they get out to LA so I don't have to schelp to Maxwell's in Hoboken.

Marty

PS If anyone decides to check out the band for the first time, "Crazy Rythms" and the later stuff (The Good Earth, Time For A Witness) are quite different. I say splurge and go for a little of each to get a handle on 'em.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,147 posts
 
Martykl, I'm not knocking the albums, I'm just making a distinction. I saw them live in 1979/80 about a half dozen times and was overwhelmed by their sound. They were so good! The albums are very good, but they are different. I'm just glad I had chances to see them live.

Anybody remember the Lincoln Center area club Hurrahs. It's all kind of hazy, but I think The Feelies once opened for the Gang Of 4 there.
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