Domino's excellent re-issue projects have brought W&H bouts of extensive aural bliss over the past few years. We've been treated to key items by the influential likes of Josef K and Sebadoh, not to mention signing up to re-visit the wondrous Triffids back catalogue in its' entirety. This latter option being something this writer would pass up a million new releases for.
New Jersey quartet THE FEELIES may be rather less celebrated this side of the Atlantic, but their enviable catalogue has proved an important touchstone in the development of the Alt.Rock scene in the USA, with the likes of REM and Husker Du frequently playing tribute to the infectious perpetual motion of Glenn Mercer and Bill Million's songs.
Domino's campaign has ensured the New Jersey band's classic début 'Crazy Rhythms' has finally seen CD release in the UK, but they're also releasing the rest of the group's under-rated catalogue, the second of which is 1981's 'The Good Earth'. And, while it's perhaps slightly less seismic than 'Crazy Rhythms', it's still pretty damn tremendous all things considered.
In places, this follow-up gently drifts towards more recognisable, linear guitar pop than anything on 'Crazy Rhythms'. Opener 'On The Roof' is less itchy and frenetic than the band's usual sound and even finds room for some graceful piano. 'Tomorrow Today', meanwhile, is even more of a departure with its' slow, opiated atmosphere, military drumming and an undertow of psychedelia courtesy of some backwards-masked guitars, while the rather slight 'When Company Comes' again sounds dreamier and more ethereal than is usual in Feelie land.
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Nonetheless, all of these remain satisfying, off-kilter pop manoeuvres, and they merely complement the quintessential bursts of nervy brilliance of Mercer and Million's songs at their best. Tunes like the self-contained, Velvets-ish 'The High Road' and 'Let's Go', with its' choppy guitars and tom-heavy drums are more than enough to slake the thirst of anyone seduced by the band's début while the off-the-wrist New York cool of 'Slipping (Into Something)' has already seduced you long before it changes up to a dangerous fifth and goes for the speeded-up burn like an indie version of The Fairports' 'A Sailor's Life'. Epic, breathtaking stuff indeed.
Though at times more of a consolidatory affair than the effortlessly brittle and fresh 'Crazy Rhythms', 'The Good Earth' remains a fascinating place to stand and admire The Feelies' fantastically off-centre view of the Rock'n'Roll universe. It's most definitely another one for your wish-list.
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