9 The Feelies Crazy Rhythms

STIFF, 1980

You say: “Wired, wonderful, influential. Proves Stiff could see beyond the pub rock scene.” Ian Blake, via Facebook

Though not a representative Stiff release – in fact quite the opposite, The Feelies being Americans with a smart collegiate image that implied real ale, roll-ups and a swift smack in the mush weren’t their thing – Crazy Rhythms nevertheless bore a Stiff catalogue number from an era when the label were attempting to make an impact Stateside. Robinson’s A&R ears were, as usual, highly attuned, and Crazy Rhythms, with its boxy, proto-Violent Femmes vibe and jingly, almost African-sound guitars, would become highly influential, not least on R.E.M., whose Peter Buck would produce its belated follow-up. Opening track The Boy With The Perpetual Nervousness hasn’t dated a day in 41 years.