365 Days of Song Recommendations: April 7

Crazy Rhythms — The Feelies

1980. Punk was king in New York City, and the bands that formed the core of the genre were thriving. Bands we know all too well.

But there was one band deep in the New Jersey suburbs recording an album in the guitarist’s garage. This band was The Feelies, whose debut Crazy Rhythms is one of the finest examples of suburban post-punk avant-garde underground indie college rock you’ll ever hear.

Long, sprawling punk-influenced drum-heavy songs that inspired far more well-known mainstream bands like R.E.M. Lots of repetition, reprises, and excessive cowbells, rimshots, and cymbals with an occasional screech. Even as I write this I realize it all sounds ridiculous, as if this were the b-side to the Blue Oyster Cult Saturday Night Live sketch with Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken. But it does work. It works really damn well. The driving beat works for any occasion, too: a long run, a short drive, a backyard BBQ.

Suburban post-punk avant-garde underground indie college rock, y’all. It’s the past, and the future. Enjoy.

Said it’s time to go, well alright
I don’t wanna go, I say alright
You never listen to me anyway
You’re always talking, never much to say
You remind me of a TV show
That’s alright, I watch it anyway
I don’t talk much cause it gets in the way
Don’t let it get in the way
We’ll do our job, we’ll get things done
Work real hard and get things done
It’s time to sail but not now
Can’t relax when there’s things to do
Big plans stay while the little ones fade
It’s nice to know when it’s part of your life
I don’t want much and I need even less
It’s time to sacrifice
Crazy Feelies
Said it’s time to go, well alright
I don’t wanna go, I say alright
You never listen to me anyway
You’re always talking, never much to say
You remind me of a TV show
That’s alright, I watch it anyway
I don’t talk much cause it gets in the way
Don’t let it get in the way

Get all The Feelies on our exclusive #365Songs Playlist today!