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The Good Earth

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In Reply to: Peter Buck deserves some credit posted by Ex Lion Tamer on April 28, 2005 at 05:57:25:

was a good record, - stepping away though from the tension and immediacy, and angst that made Crazy Rhythms so wonderful.
Only Life, - was a watered down Lou Reed extrapalation of The Good Earth, - like REM, - endlessly repeating themselves: in this case for a major label, - A&M. Granted, this is only my opinion. But given the HUGE repetitive weaknesses in REM, - caused largely by Peter Buck's inability to play and be creative with this instrument, - the Feelies became another REM and SHOULD'VE died on the vine after the Good Earth.
I interviewed the Feelies (Mike)? rhythm guitarist for KUSF shortly after the release of "only life," - sadly the A&M rep refused to leave the room, - killing all pointed questions and the interview. I don't agree that "only life" was even a "good" record. Not only was it a washed down "the good earth," - but a poorly written record, with nothing new to offer superceding "the good earth."
Mike had said that Crazy Rhythms got made only due to the money and behest of a friend. The Good Earth got made and assisted due to the support of Peter Buck, - and that's good. But he also contributed to the REM-izing of the band, - which isn't, - IMO.
IMO, - Michael Stipe is a saint for standing loyal to that wank Peter Buck.....

is this the real me, or a mere facsimile?

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Interesting perspective... - Ex Lion Tamer 12:53:54 04/28/05 (1)
To blame Buck for what you see as the weaknesses of "It's Only Life" seems a bit of a stretch, since I don't think he had anything to do with that album. Obviously I disagree on your take on the album and that's fine, kind of nice actually to not read the usual Feelies company line. But I do think that you give Buck a little too much credit for influencing the band's sound. They certainly still had that superb 2-guitar interplay throughout their career, they did lose a bassist before "It's Only Life", which may have had an influence on the watering of their sound, as you perceive it. They also lost their original, (and very good), drummer, Anton Fier, after Crazy Rhythms, and I agree that they never recaptured the edge that they had on that album, evident in songs like Fa-Ce-La. Curious on your take on their final album "Time for a Witness", it's generally dismissed as their weakest, but I like it, as it rocks quite a bit harder than either "The Good Earth" and "It's Only Life", it might be the closest in spirit to Crazy Rhythms.
- Yeah. perhaps I'm being a bit harsh.............. - Sordidman 13:21:21 04/28/05 (0)
  Perhaps they had gone down the road of the major label, moreso than any Peter Buck influence. When I was speaking to the rhythm guitar player in private, - he was guarded. And, - perhaps they were all thinking that if they were going to bother to be a band, they needed to write some more commercial things.. or their lead guitar player/singer changed a bit. This was all around the time when Husker Du and the Meat Puppets were having some trouble too.
  Don't want to carry the PB thing too far... He is an acquaintance of a good friend who has spent some time with him and some of his opinions carry over to me....
  Cheers, ELT..
  
  is this the real me, or a mere facsimile?

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