Time for a Witness
1991 studio album by the Feelies
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| Time for a Witness | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Recorded | October 29 – December 19, 1990 | |||
| Genre | Rock, college rock | |||
| Length | 42:04 | |||
| Label | A&M/Coyote | |||
| Producer | Bill Million, Gary Smith, Glenn Mercer | |||
| The Feelies chronology | ||||
| ||||
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
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [9] |
| Calgary Herald | A−[10] |
| Chicago Tribune | [11] |
| Robert Christgau | A[12] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [13] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B[14] |
| Orlando Sentinel | [7] |
| Pitchfork | 7.9/10[15] |
| Rolling Stone | [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. | Title | Writer(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
- Glenn Mercer – guitar, vocals
- Bill Million – guitar, vocals
- Dave Weckerman – percussion
- Brenda Sauter – bass, vocals
- Stan Demeski – drums