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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
the 3rd LP by felt is a strange affair. Trying to reconcile the magesterial album tracks and poppy singles, they came up with this, a very schizophrenic album. Top tunes abound including dismantled king, and a rewrite of my face is on fire (felt cannibalized their own tunes a lot, probably showing a lack of material). The one gripe is of course that the original artwork not liked by Lawrence is not here, and even more dammning is the continual omission of "crucifix heaven", which is on the original LP and 1st Cd pressing on cherry red. Was he jealous of deebanks chops? who knows but it's damn shame as it is a fantastic track.
Format:Audio CD
Rating: 10/10 (knock a 0.5 mark off for the exclusion of "Crucifix Heaven" from this reissue, so 9.5)
Best tracks: "Spanish House", "Dismantled King is Off the Throne", "Sempiternal Darkness", "Roman Litter".
Felt remain THE underrated band of the 1980's; with ten albums and ten singles over ten years to boast, yet nary a shred of success to speak of (okay, `Primitive Painters' was a hit on the independent charts, but it's hardly a well-known song), their obscurity is at once saddening, yet strangely exciting. After all, when one discovers the wonders of an album like The Strange Idols Patterns and Other Short Stories, it's like discovering buried treasure....and it's yours, all yours! True, the spectacular compilation that is Absolute Classic Masterpieces is probably the single best introduction to Felt, but studio album-wise, it's got to be this. The likes of 'Spanish House', 'Roman Litter' and 'Dismantled King is Off the Throne' are hidden gems of astounding quality and beauty; the thing is, they could have been hits! These are examples of what I rate as "perfect songs", in that every single second of each is a total delight; they have killer melodies, great lyrics, and that indescribable magic when a band just play off each other and create a swirling rush of a tune. Of course, the rhythm section of Mick Lloyd (bass) and Gary Ainge (drums) is unbeatable, but the real stars are singer/guitarist Lawrence and the truly gifted lead guitarist Maurice Deebank, who both weave spellbinding textures, sounds and feelings from their chemistry together; Deebank gets to enjoy some truly beautiful solo pieces on `Sempiternal Darkness' and `Imprint', while Lawrence's wonderfully languid vocals and clever, witty lyrics are showcased better than ever before on `Sunlight Bathed the Golden Glow' and `Crystal Ball'. One of the most overlooked albums of all time, The Strange Idols... is a truly, maddeningly delightful experience.
On an added note, I've recently acquired the vinyl version of this album, which features a track not included on this CD reissue; it's a Maurice Deebank instrumental piece entitled "Crucifix Heaven" and it's originally placed between "Vasco de Gama" and "Dismantled King is off the Throne"; it's a brilliant, Spanish guitar-influenced piece which really does belong on this otherwise perfect reissue. Why wasn't it included? Apparently, Lawrence isn't keen on it; if that's true, that's a poor excuse for exclusion!
Best tracks: "Spanish House", "Dismantled King is Off the Throne", "Sempiternal Darkness", "Roman Litter".
Felt remain THE underrated band of the 1980's; with ten albums and ten singles over ten years to boast, yet nary a shred of success to speak of (okay, `Primitive Painters' was a hit on the independent charts, but it's hardly a well-known song), their obscurity is at once saddening, yet strangely exciting. After all, when one discovers the wonders of an album like The Strange Idols Patterns and Other Short Stories, it's like discovering buried treasure....and it's yours, all yours! True, the spectacular compilation that is Absolute Classic Masterpieces is probably the single best introduction to Felt, but studio album-wise, it's got to be this. The likes of 'Spanish House', 'Roman Litter' and 'Dismantled King is Off the Throne' are hidden gems of astounding quality and beauty; the thing is, they could have been hits! These are examples of what I rate as "perfect songs", in that every single second of each is a total delight; they have killer melodies, great lyrics, and that indescribable magic when a band just play off each other and create a swirling rush of a tune. Of course, the rhythm section of Mick Lloyd (bass) and Gary Ainge (drums) is unbeatable, but the real stars are singer/guitarist Lawrence and the truly gifted lead guitarist Maurice Deebank, who both weave spellbinding textures, sounds and feelings from their chemistry together; Deebank gets to enjoy some truly beautiful solo pieces on `Sempiternal Darkness' and `Imprint', while Lawrence's wonderfully languid vocals and clever, witty lyrics are showcased better than ever before on `Sunlight Bathed the Golden Glow' and `Crystal Ball'. One of the most overlooked albums of all time, The Strange Idols... is a truly, maddeningly delightful experience.
On an added note, I've recently acquired the vinyl version of this album, which features a track not included on this CD reissue; it's a Maurice Deebank instrumental piece entitled "Crucifix Heaven" and it's originally placed between "Vasco de Gama" and "Dismantled King is off the Throne"; it's a brilliant, Spanish guitar-influenced piece which really does belong on this otherwise perfect reissue. Why wasn't it included? Apparently, Lawrence isn't keen on it; if that's true, that's a poor excuse for exclusion!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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3 reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
A Pleasant Surprise
24 Sep 2004
Format:Audio CD
I was pleasantly surprised when my girlfriend put this album on tonight. Our tastes are often quite different, but this record is great. Comparisons to Tom Verlaine and Television immediately came to mind, and sometimes I was reminded of Johnny Marr's work with the Smiths. I can't vouch for any other of their records, but this one is brilliant.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
"I thought your poetry was sometimes good."
27 July 2005
Format:Audio CD
This is in my opinion, hands down, the best early Felt album. Maurice Deebank's guitar shines. The guitar interplay is bright, concise & sharp, & unlike the subsequent 1985 album Ignite The Seven Cannons, which also features the guitar interplay of Lawrence & Deebank, the tones are clean & unmuddied. If you're buying the Felt re-issues, this release is #3. Like the rest, it comes in a thin cardboard jacket with minimal artwork & no liner notes, & which usually include only a single B&W picture of Lawrence on the interior gatefold. As an overall effect, I like what they have done with the packaging, although I tend to prefer the uniformity of a standard Jewel case for releases which I collect. This is actually Felt's first full length album.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Felt goes pop!
29 Jan 2008
Format:Audio CD
"Strange Idols" marks a significant development in Felt's evolution. Firstly, this is the album where drummer Gary Ainge ditched his cymbal-less, Moe Tucker tom pounding style, and adopted a conventional set-up with a cracking snare drum and high-hat. This changed Felt's sound profoundly, making it more conventionally poppy in feel. Secondly, songs are sped up and shortened to the 3 ½ minute mark, eschewing the mesmerizing but lengthy, noodling passages of previous albums, while adhering more closely to verse-chorus-verse pop structure. Thirdly, producer John Leckie provides a bright, crisp, crystal clear sound, stripping away the dark, gauzy atmosphere that characterized prior releases. I'm not sure if Leckie deserves the credit or if Felt was already headed that way, but this was as bold of a leap forward as the Go-Betweens huge growth-spurt from "Send Me a Lullaby" to "Before Hollywood." The brooding, reverb-soaked atmosphere of earlier efforts suited Felt beautifully, but this newfound brightness opens them up to countless new possibilities in pop's pastures.
But do all these changes mean Felt sold out? Hardly.
Felt's basic MO remains: lead guitarist Maurice Deebank still spins gloriously melodic, shimmeringly ornate, and dexterously intricate melodies over singer Lawrence Heyward's lush, acoustic-strummed chords, all interspersed by the latter's cool Lou Reed meets Tom Verlaine vocals. But rather than sound like two guys jamming in a bedroom, they place this in the context of three minute pop, and the results are absolutely stunning. If anything, this new adherence to conventional pop structure brings out even more of the aching beauty in Deebank and Heyward's playing.
Bright, super melodic, and sometimes catchy as hell, "Strange Idols" might easily be Felt's best album. Heyward and Deebank's guitars interweave throughout, forming a shimmering, dizzying, jewel-like tapestry, enhanced by Leckie's clearer sound. Solid and upfront drums forcefully anchor the songs. Felt's propensity for brooding moodiness remains intact, particularly on the gorgeously melodic "Vasco de Gama" and "Crystal Ball," but even the upbeat songs possess that Felt-like air of melancholy. "Sunlight Bathed the Golden Glow" is easily one of the most gloriously majestic pop gems of their entire career. The upbeat "Roman Litter" and "Spanish House" are so catchy that one wonders why they weren't singles. Deebank's noodly, Durutti Column-esque instrumentals serve to balance the poppier moods. This is one of Felt's very best albums and a perfect intro for newcomers.
But do all these changes mean Felt sold out? Hardly.
Felt's basic MO remains: lead guitarist Maurice Deebank still spins gloriously melodic, shimmeringly ornate, and dexterously intricate melodies over singer Lawrence Heyward's lush, acoustic-strummed chords, all interspersed by the latter's cool Lou Reed meets Tom Verlaine vocals. But rather than sound like two guys jamming in a bedroom, they place this in the context of three minute pop, and the results are absolutely stunning. If anything, this new adherence to conventional pop structure brings out even more of the aching beauty in Deebank and Heyward's playing.
Bright, super melodic, and sometimes catchy as hell, "Strange Idols" might easily be Felt's best album. Heyward and Deebank's guitars interweave throughout, forming a shimmering, dizzying, jewel-like tapestry, enhanced by Leckie's clearer sound. Solid and upfront drums forcefully anchor the songs. Felt's propensity for brooding moodiness remains intact, particularly on the gorgeously melodic "Vasco de Gama" and "Crystal Ball," but even the upbeat songs possess that Felt-like air of melancholy. "Sunlight Bathed the Golden Glow" is easily one of the most gloriously majestic pop gems of their entire career. The upbeat "Roman Litter" and "Spanish House" are so catchy that one wonders why they weren't singles. Deebank's noodly, Durutti Column-esque instrumentals serve to balance the poppier moods. This is one of Felt's very best albums and a perfect intro for newcomers.
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