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
Released1991
RecordedOctober 29 – December 19, 1990
GenreRock, college rock
Length42:04
LabelA&M/Coyote
ProducerBill Million, Gary Smith, Glenn Mercer
The Feelies chronology
Only Life
(1988)
Time for a Witness
(1991)
Here Before
(2011)

Production

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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

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [9]
Calgary HeraldA−[11]
Chicago Tribune    [12]
Robert ChristgauA[13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [14]
Entertainment WeeklyB[10]
Orlando Sentinel     [7]
Pitchfork7.9/10[16]
Rolling Stone     [15]
Spin Alternative Record Guide7/10[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."[12] 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."[11] 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

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

No.TitleLength
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

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  • Glenn Mercer – guitar, vocals
  • Bill Million – guitar, vocals
  • Dave Weckerman – percussion
  • Brenda Sauter – bass, vocals
  • Stan Demeski – drums

References

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  1. ^ Takiff, Jonathan (25 Jan 1991). "Down Memory Lane". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 46.
  2. ^ Robins, Wayne (20 Feb 1991). "New Jersey's Great Guitar Hope". Part II. Newsday. p. 53.
  3. ^ Reynolds, Bill (9 May 1991). "Pop Review". The Globe and Mail. p. C2.
  4. ^ Schoemer, Karen (17 Mar 1991). "Record Briefs". The New York Times. p. A28.
  5. ^ McLeese, Don (21 Mar 1991). "Not just for college anymore". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. p. 17.
  6. ^ Macnie, Jim (20 June 1991). "Feelies Get the Pulse Racing". Los Angeles Times. p. F2.
  7. ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (26 Apr 1991). "The Feelies". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 28.
  8. ^ Sullivan, Jim (4 Apr 1991). "The Feelies Time for a Witness". The Boston Globe.
  9. ^ Ned Raggett. "Time for a Witness – The Feelies | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  10. ^ Wyman, Bill (1991-03-29). "Time for a Witness". EW.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  11. ^ a b Muretich, James (17 Mar 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. A13.
  12. ^ a b Kot, Greg (7 Mar 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 9.
  13. ^ "CG: feelies". Robert Christgau. 1991-03-26. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  14. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 415.
  15. ^ Betts, Stephen. "Album Reviews, Ratings, and Best New Albums". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2015-11-10.[dead link]
  16. ^ "The Feelies: Only Life/Time For A Witness". Pitchfork.
  17. ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 146–147.
  18. ^ Jenkins, Mark (12 May 1991). "In the Tradition". The Washington Post. p. G9.
  19. ^ "The Feelies Time for a Witness". Toronto Star. 30 Mar 1991. p. H8.
  20. ^ Holden, Stephen (15 May 1991). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. p. C13.