To be a fan of The Feelies, patience is a manifest prerequisite. Since their first album in 1980, the band has managed to release five full lengths in just over three decades. The act of listening to their meticulous music also takes a deliberate ear. The Feelies are much more than awkward elder statesmen of what was originally called Modern Rock. They share a direct lineage with The Velvet Underground whose monumental influence was propagated from simple mantras. Keep it simple. Take your time. Work within set boundaries. Deliver it effortlessly. 20 years after their last recording, The Feelies decide that the time is now for a new album. Even more surprising is how time has been suspended on Here Before, accurately representing the band through their more fertile years. It is the quality shines through despite the fact that The Feelies buttoned-up, yet earnest brand of music seems so unfashionable in the 21st century.
Kicking off Here Before is "Nobody Knows" where they lyrically express disbelief that they are even in the studio in 2011. The opening lines "Is it too late/To do it again/Or should we wait/another ten?" are self-aware but pinpoint accurate as they have a chuckle with their long waiting followers. The wistful lyrics throughout Here Before couple well with the branded Feelies guitar jangle, rubbery bass and crisp, purposeful percussion. "Should Be Gone" follows that lead adding some backing vocal harmony and a muted solo that could have been lifted from any of the previous works in their catalog. Continuing down memory lane are uptempo numbers "Time Is Right" and "When You Know" that remind of the high point rockers from 1988's Only Life without overextending themselves.
That jangle is what is instantly recognizable about the Feelies, but true beauty is found in their exercises in repetition and minutiae. The elemental nature of tracks such as "Later On" and "On and On" initially seem forgettable, but stick around as the infectious nature as the cyclic riff finds its place. The Feelies almost get emotional on "Morning Comes" stepping out from lyrical ambiguity and actually gritting their teeth with each annoyed pluck. "Change Your Mind" continues this trend, slowly building from restraint to a rockout coda that finishes with vitality and spark.
The concept throughout Here Before is whether or not one should move on from the past. Even the pastoral album cover looks like a idyllic place for the retirement that The Feelies left behind. Unlike the countless aged bands who are on nostalgia tours or half-assing new music just to cash-in, The Feelies did themselves a service by making a respectable and thought-out album that still works within the band's mission. They made a lot of committed and patient fans very happy as well.
Right-click to download "Should Be Gone" for free.
Purchase Here Before at Insound.
Three tracks from Here Before.
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