Time for a Witness

Last updated

Time for a Witness
Timeforawitness.jpg
Studio album by
The Feelies
Released1991
RecordedOctober 29 – December 19, 1990
Genre Rock, college rock
Length42:04
Label A&M/Coyote
Producer Bill Million, Gary Smith, Glenn Mercer
The Feelies chronology
Only Life
(1988)		Time for a Witness
(1991)		 Here Before
(2011)

Time for a Witness is the fourth studio album by the American rock band the Feelies, released in 1991 on A&M/Coyote. [1] [2] The band supported the album with a North American tour. [3]

Contents

Production

Most of the lyrics were written by Glenn Mercer. [4] The album was coproduced by Gary Smith. [5] The band would tape their rehearsals and look for interesting parts in the jams. [6] "What She Said" uses harmonica and slide guitar. [7] "Real Cool Time" is a cover of the Stooges song. [8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Calgary Herald A− [10]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Robert Christgau A [12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Entertainment Weekly B [14]
Orlando Sentinel Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [7]
Pitchfork 7.9/10 [15]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 7/10 [17]

The Chicago Tribune wrote that "guitar lines become modal-jazz arabesques, dissolve into dissonance, then finally return to some vigorous variation of the three-chord strum, while the rhythm section builds a mantra-like momentum." [11] The Calgary Herald deemed the album "melodic mood pieces from the musical children of Lou Reed wrapped in fragile swirls of electric sound and lit by the neon's red glare." [10] The Washington Post concluded: "Such tracks as 'Sooner or Later' and 'Doin' It Again' offer as many twangy thrills as a great Rolling Stones song, but the Feelies don't pretend that their guitars express passion or rage or fear. Their guitars express guitars." [18]

The Toronto Star determined that "Mercer and fellow guitarist Bill Million build dense, unrelenting guitar textures shot through with simple solo lines." [19] The New York Times called Time for a Witness "a musically austere record in which the guitars of Mr. Million and Glenn Mercer, the band's lead singer and lyricist, interlock eloquently." [20]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Bill Million and Glenn Mercer except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Waiting" 3:36
2."Time for a Witness" 3:34
3."Sooner or Later" 2:33
4."Find a Way" 7:01
5."Decide" 4:51
6."Doin' It Again" 2:41
7."Invitation" 3:00
8."For Now" 4:47
9."What She Said" 5:38
10."Real Cool Time" Dave Alexander, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton, Iggy Pop 4:23
Total length:42:04

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ Takiff, Jonathan (January 25, 1991). "Down Memory Lane". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 46.
  2. ↑ Robins, Wayne (February 20, 1991). "New Jersey's Great Guitar Hope". Part II. Newsday. p. 53.
  3. ↑ Reynolds, Bill (May 9, 1991). "Pop Review". The Globe and Mail. p. C2.
  4. ↑ Schoemer, Karen (March 17, 1991). "Record Briefs". The New York Times. p. A28.
  5. ↑ McLeese, Don (March 21, 1991). "Not just for college anymore". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. p. 17.
  6. ↑ Macnie, Jim (June 20, 1991). "Feelies Get the Pulse Racing". Los Angeles Times. p. F2.
  7. 1 2 Gettelman, Parry (April 26, 1991). "The Feelies". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 28.
  8. ↑ Sullivan, Jim (April 4, 1991). "The Feelies Time for a Witness". The Boston Globe.
  9. ↑ Ned Raggett. "Time for a Witness – The Feelies | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  10. 1 2 Muretich, James (March 17, 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. A13.
  11. 1 2 Kot, Greg (March 7, 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 9.
  12. ↑ "CG: feelies". Robert Christgau. March 26, 1991. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  13. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 415.
  14. ↑ Wyman, Bill (March 29, 1991). "Time for a Witness". EW.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  15. ↑ "The Feelies: Only Life/Time For A Witness". Pitchfork.
  16. ↑ Betts, Stephen. "Album Reviews, Ratings, and Best New Albums". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  17. ↑ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 146–147.
  18. ↑ Jenkins, Mark (May 12, 1991). "In the Tradition". The Washington Post. p. G9.
  19. ↑ "The Feelies Time for a Witness". Toronto Star. March 30, 1991. p. H8.
  20. ↑ Holden, Stephen (May 15, 1991). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. p. C13.
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