[rating=9.00]
Some 30 years ago, The Feelies gave new meaning and incentive to the alt-rock underground. Based out of the otherwise unassuming town of Hoboken New Jersey, they fused a psychedelic sensibility to the acoustic strum purveyed by REM, fashioning an allusive yet enticing sound that was undoubtedly hypnotic in its dryly distinct take on modern rock sensibilities.
Forty years on, The Feelies are back with In Between, their first album in six years. It is, in a sense, a return to their original MO, a sound that is clearly reminiscent of the template they established early on with all its druggy distinction. The references to past Feelies efforts like The Good Earth and Only Life ensure a clear trajectory from past to present, a continuum that remains unbroken despite the decades that have passed since their distinctive debut, 1980’s Crazy Rhythms. Consequently, In Between marks a welcome return, especially in light of the fact that their recent releases have been centered around re-releases of their earlier endeavors, The title track, “Turn Back Time,” “Been Replaced” and “When To Go” offer the atmospheric ambiance that was always so vital to their shifting sound, while “Flag Days” and “Pass the Time” seem to draw inspiration from the Velvet Underground’s seminal sound, a clear precedent for the Feelies’ finesse. In Between indeed; a bridge between past and present, the new album pays homage to the experimental nature of American indie rock of the ‘80s, bowing to the past and showing the way towards the future.
One can only help that this classic band will continue to imprint their mark on modern rock and keep its balance on the cutting edge, an additive rock needs more than ever these days. A great band once, they’re as impressive as ever now. In Between is all the proof needed.
