I must thank my friend and fellow music expert Sam Deutsch on a great comparison between this song and another song that shares the description provided by this entry's title "Here Come the Warm Jets" by Brian Eno. There are some very noticeable differences, but the overall structure - the constant build to a larger, more fluid climax most significantly adding vocals, are quite similar.
The four part song starts off dramatically, rather than building from nothing, the beginning of each part maintains the same energy, tension and volume as it will maintain throughout. The effects on each instrument really give the song its majesty, as on the first few listens it is hard to notice just how stiff the lead guitar is due to its reverb. Coupled with the very clean and loose rhythm guitar the lead provides the tension that makes this almost sugary near-instrumntal so memorable. The drums do live up to the albums title of Crazy Rhythms right from the beginning providing a hypnotic distraction more than keeping time in the first three parts.
The second section of the song, where the lead guitar plays more chords, though just as stiffly begins to tie each instrument together after the first release of rhythm guitar and sticked percussion. After another such break dominated more by an amplifier noise the bass builds the piece even further as all four instruments, with lead guitar playing longer notes with either another track or a well-used delay pedal, begin to really sound as if they are playing together.
After part three, comes one of the most intense releases in rock history a mere echoed double stick-click which commences one of the most fun and energetic rock-outs you're bound to hear, though definitely not the hardest. The tight rhythms section and lead guitar that comes directly from the heart of pop genius makes the first three sections of buildup unquestionably worthwhile, then the vocals come, as abstract, unintelligible, and moving as brilliant music can be, they transmit a feeling of pure joy that knows no language, and therefore no bounds.
In a sense, "Raised Eyebrows" is the best example of how much of the best music from this era was like sugar-coated Velvet Underground, but who could expect any less from one of the few (if only) American Artists on the legendary British label Stiff, home to the likes of Elvis Costello and, more importantly, Nick Lowe?
Simply, this song is perfect.
Up with the Beatles Butcher photo as favorite rock band pics ever.
but, either way, here is the entire album (which is going to be reissued some time soon) itself. Other choice cuts include "The Boy With the Perpetual Nervousness" and "Loveless Love"
The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms (1980)
No comments:
Post a Comment