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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
waltersalas's avatar
waltersalas
952 posts
 

One of the greatest of all the 80s post-punk bands (including Replacements, Husker Du, Minutemen, Sonic Youth, etc.). Also one of the best live bands I ever saw. Love all their records, with a special fondness for the pastoral, Peter Buck-produced "Good Earth."

Can't wait for the new record. Thanks, Marty!
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,260 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.
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