I have my order a note on The Feelies. The mission could be effective with only stick to the usual: one of his records review, tell your biography, slip some personal considerations about how much I love this band. I could do, except for one problem: I have no desire. It's Saturday afternoon.
But something I have to write, but I'll have to see how I say goodbye to this magazine, how my sense of ethics makes me a parasite. So here I go.
The Feelies went through the history of music without actually leave a mark visible. Nobody made a shirt with their faces were not millionaires, they compared Bentley's, and if they did an MTV Cribs at home, probably that day lifted the program. His story has nothing of myth: no suicides, no belated recognition. Only a few incredible albums went unnoticed by most.
I find it easier to talk about the bad things good. Perhaps that's why critics never be out of work. The Feelies discs speak for themselves. But what puzzles me is why his story has nothing interesting: who or what has remained hidden from The Feelies all this time.
In order to know there was only one option: he had to speak with Glenn Mercer, singer and songwriter for the band. I got your phone, I called home, and that served me with that voice dry and boring, without much interest in elaborating. Sure, it's Saturday afternoon for him too.
This is what I said.
The Feelies is a great band for many people, but very few know. They are contemporary to the scene of New York from 77 to Blondie, to Ramones, Talking Heads. In fact, they played at CBGB's with them. Why you are not as popular as the others?
Probably because we never wanted to cast it as a career. We did it just for fun and to express ourselves. We did so many tours as the other bands. Basically we are happy to handle it that way, is more satisfying.
Ever dreamed of being a rock star-style MTV?
No, that is repulsive to us.
You grew up in Haledon, New Jersey. How is the city?
I grew up in a town, in a very small town. There is no music scene.
What your neighbors thought when ensayabas Crazy rythyms or your first covers of The Beatles?
Probably not even know they had a band. I'm sure there are still many who do not know.
What you hear new music?
Only that I'm exposed. I'm not looking.
Is that you hear at festivals and shows?
I'm not going to festivals or shows, just what I hear on the radio. I never really heard a lot of music. I'd rather write a song to listen to the song of another.
So what influences do not believe in?
I do believe in them, but I reached a point in my life where I have a definite style and I think that will change for the music they listen.
What do you think you hear a band that have influenced The Feelies?
People sometimes point it out, but I can not get to hear it. I can hear the differences but the similarities.
I spoke with David Thomas of Pere Ubu and told me the same.
What is your favorite album of The Feelies?
I can not say I have a favorite. I am satisfied with everything we've recorded, I feel very proud.
How about with Wheels In Motion? (Weels in Motion is her first solo album, released in 2006)
I like it.
Me too. The band's sound does not change the records, always sound like, right?
Everyone starts the same way: playing an acoustic guitar. Then the vocal line becomes the main thing and started adding things from that. Then as the basic work is always the same, everything tends to sound similar.
¿Forces At Work is a song kraut?
I'm not familiar with that term. I know the band Kraftwerk, they were an influence in some way, but not particularly in that song. I hear the Velvet Underground. And I think the idea was to keep it as minimalist as possible, try to do a song with few chord changes.
Did you hear Neu! ever?
I do not know how they sound, but Dave, our drummer is a big fan of them. The name I heard from him.
I can send me a couple of songs by mail.
Dale, great.
What are your plans? To go on making records, writing a book?
I'm trying to keep making music, you may still record I do not know if a disk because the disk is becoming obsolete at this point. Hard to say, but surely we will continue playing and writing.
How about a book?
No, not a book.
You know, some songs like It's Only Life and Higher Ground are hit potential. The first time I heard The Feelies I wondered why my mother had never heard. I know you reject success, but never occur to you that you could be rich doing what you do?
No, never had that idea. We played for an audience that seems big enough for us. It seems the bigger the personal is public unless you say. And fewer people is your relationship with the audience.
We talked some more things on Neu!, On his new projects and on what he likes to write, but I did not need more. I really wanted to know what kept anonymous The Feelies at this time. The answer was obvious: The Feelies.
Now we just have to enjoy all your disks. Crazy recommend rythyms, perhaps the funniest and most complex of all.
By DS.
