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Feeder: Pushing The Senses
by Colin Weston
I was a Feeder fan.
Yes, I am speaking in past tense but it is hardly surprising really. In the early days of the band, albums such as 'Swim' and 'Polythene' won me over with their pop sensibilities while still containing that something a bit special to keep it a step ahead of the rest.
Since then, the band have diluted themselves to little more than a mere shadow of their past glories. Now, in my hands, lays the band’s latest long player and I long for it to show at least glimpses of their past, and for just a moment it looks as though they have done just that.
'Feeling A Moment' is the closest Feeder have come to a track like 'High', in an age. Grant Nicholas remains a great singer. Taka’s edge seems to have returned and with Mark now fully installed as drummer, it feels as though the old magic is back. Sadly, this moment is all too brief. 'Bitter Glass' seems devoid of emotion, depth and ideas and 'Tumble & Fall' is, in places, little more than a reworking of 'We Have All The Time In The World'.
Spirits are lifed a little by the title track but even this sounds more like an Oasis b-side than a past Nicholas rock moment. However, those same spirits plumet once more as 'Pilgrim Souls' kills off that brief moment of expectancy.
I have to accept that the band I once loved is now nothing more than a distant memory. Songs such as 'Tangerine' and 'Crash' have long been replaced by the new sound which owes much more to Keane and Coldplay in their melancholic approach. You can say that I hark back to the past and you would be right, because I am, but I do so for a reason. Feeder used to mean something to me! Now they are just another band muddling through, and that makes me sadder than you can imagine.
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Feeder - Pushing The Senses
I agree with this. Thing is, that first album is pure awful grunge rock. They were all nobs back then. But their album "yesterday went too soon" pleased me, as did "echo park". Then they do an ok indie album in memory of their drummer and you're thinkin, 'OK, well done, poor Jon, lets get back to the old stuff.' But no... they carry on with these boring Keaney tunes about heartache and grief. Cheer up lads. -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
polythene was a really good poppy piece of grungey rock and still my favourite feeder record by a long way...the new stuff is a bit too bland for me, which is a shame cos grants music still has a certain charm to it, even if the songs are so great anymore. -
Re: Feeder - Pushing The Senses
I quite like the title track, the rest really is boring though...
oh, and winning days cover ripoff anyone?? -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
Personally I really like 'Yesterday went to soon'. Polythene really wanted to be the smashing pumpkins.
They DID used to be great, but sadly they are now watered down middle-of-the-road-ness. -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
Yep - saw them in london the day after the album came out, and was stunned at how dull the new stuff is - the sight of the little keyboard set up for some new track (Frequency, i think) made my heart drop down to my trainers. It saddens me to think that Girls Aloud have a bigger edge than Feeder, because Grant's a great songwriter, it just seems as if John's death has really fucked up the optimistic take on life he gave in his earlier stuff, and ironically, the last track John appeared on, that damned irritating,yet somehow genius 'Just A Day' (i think that's the name of it, it was the one-off single with that quality cover of the Police's 'Can't Stand Losing You') -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
She is so sad, the last review paragraph, so sad. -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
Check out our review
http://www.smashmusic.co.uk/feeder.htm
I really liked the album and i have been a fan for years too -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
i completely agree too, i was a feeder fan; in fact Polythene was the first album i bought.
but comfort in sound was just way too bland for my liking. Fair enough though - it was a great tribute to a friend. I expected them to get back to their normal bouncy selves by the next album but alas, they just seem to be getting blander and blander. -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
I have a feeling Feeder may go back to knocking out the rock tunes soon. Look at the Stereophonics. After two highly average albums where I personally thought the singles were the best things on them, they come back with Dakota and boom, they are back in my happy books AND they rock again. Hopefully, Feeder will follow suit...But personally, quite like the Manics with Richey Edwards and his disappearance, after the death of Jon Lee, it does seem to have taken the "rock" out of Grant and Feeder. -
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Yeah! What a copy of winning days... I really don't like their recent album covers. It pisses me off how they try to depict "emotion" through a wierd drawing. It looks like Feeder died with Jon Lee. -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
I heard that the reason Feeder don't write albums that sounded like 'Polythene' and 'Swim' now is because they have already gone that path and if they were to start writing tracks like that now it would be false, as this is what the band have matured into. Some people might be angry at this, and it is a shame, as they are a good rock band. I can't say i am overjoyed with the path their music has taken, but i wish them well. Also, "Just A Day" is possibly one of my favourtie tracks ever. -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
It's a better album than comfort in sound - by a long way.. but I know exactly what you mean.. as a HUGE fan I just feel heartbroken knowing the band I loved aren't there anymore.. -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
The sentiments in these posts completely sum up my feelings towards the band right now. Just a Day is one of my favourite tracks of all time, a perfect slice of pop/rock genius, and what Feeder did best. I can't really criticise the band for the route they've now taken; losing Jon was obviously (understandably) hugely influential on Grant's train of thought approaching the past two albums, but it's just so frustrating to see how a band who i perceived as being in their prime just as they lost Jon, now treading a path which indicates a willingness on their part to settle for the middle-of-the-road sound they now claim as their musical direction. It's not where Feeder's strength lies, and as a huge fan of the band it pains me to think that all the output from them hereonin is going to be in the same vain as Tumble and Fall. I hope that i'm going to be proven wrong, but i somehow doubt it now. -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
Really have to agree wholeheartedly with this review (except I think the title track smacks of old Feeder, and makes me all the sadder realising Grant can still write great tracks but chooses to go for a bland tracklist for the album).
I was hit pretty hard by Jon's death as at the time they were one of my favourite bands, but I had never gotten to see them live with Jon playing. I was amazed when I first heard Come Back Around that Grant was able to come back so strongly after something that must have been so devastating.
CiS was a far stronger record than PTS - simply because it still had old Feeder touches - Just The Way I'm Feeling, Come Back Around, Helium etc. But PTS just sounds like Grant has found a songwriting style that apes Coldplay and yields an album full of similar sounding material with little effort.
The live dynamic that made them such a great band seems to have disappeared. Grant looks bored and Taka looks like he's holding back - and Mark is a shocking drummer. I think that may be the root of the problem. He simply can't play half of what Jon could (he was a huge hitter but still very controlled - Mark is just a hitter ala Joey Castillo - see the fall of QOTSA for more...). So we get songs with bland Embrace drum beats, no purpose and no lyrical direction... I could almost be describing the new Idlewild record.
It seems that the great old British rock bands of the 90s have gone soft, and it's time for some new bands to start playing rock music again. -
Re: Feeder - Pushing The Senses
What worries me even more is when people say "oh, at last, they've finally matured!"
Into what?
Cardboard chomping kleptomaniacs of the Trishacentric variety? -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
This is a harsh review of an album which I love. Sure it is not the "traditional" Feeder you all seem to aspire to, but that was at least five years ago! Saying Feeder doesn’t sound like Feeder is nothing short of ludicrous!
You want them to be new and fresh and revolutionary like when you first heard them right? No offence but you can't get that. When you first hear a new band there is a wow factor that comes only once. You want to feel that listen to someone else, go find your kicks with likes of the illustrious bloc party and this years batch that grace the pages of NME.
This is a solid band, Feeder always has been. They cannot write about happy optimistic songs all the time anymore than you can smile in the face of adversity day after day. You constantly attack and criticise Grant about Jon's death, but do you even stop to imagine what that means any further than "oh the lyrics got a bit depressing".
Jon was his best mate, I mean if your best mate killed himself what would you think? “Oh never mind lets carry on and write about happy bunnies?” Somehow I don’t think so. You cannot live in static, events effect people, and you say Feeder aren't what they used to be, so tell me who stays exactly the same without sounding like repetitive tripe?
This is a great album, feeling a moment is a beautiful and soulful song drenched in optimism! Bitter glass holds a note of resentment against Jon's actions and tries to explain the thoughts of a lost friend while still managing to enthral. If you stopped making comparisons to past glories and take a moment to listen you will see that, and you want a bit more upbeat well then what about the title track?
I have seen Feeder live this month and they are still great, and will carry on being so, they may not be controversial as or as eclectic as some of the newer bands, but the talent is still there, and their music should always have a place in any collection.
As for cardboard cut outs, lazy lyrics, old drummers, new drummers broken hearts and middle of the road comments Feeder are better than all that, and if you took a chance to look past your preconceptions of the band you would see that.
It’s not all rock and roll. It’s much better than that, a band that can have blissed out tunes as well as take you breath away when they turn it up. Feeder are a rare breed in having the ability to do both. They will always have a massive back catalog, but this is new territory that they walk in, and in Pushing the Senses I think they have out done themselves.
I still love the older songs, I love the newer songs, and Feeder continues to be my favourite band. This album is nothing short of natural progression, and I will defend it and Feeder against all of your criticism until you see sense! Besides talent lasts a lifetime, and when all your comments are forgotten the music will still be there. -
Re: Feeder - Pushing The Senses
Talent is all well and good but it doesn't always mean intresting music. In some ways its better to be talentless and intresting then talented and boring. I wanted to say this album was good but i've listened to it and it had no effect on me what so ever. It seemed to be pretty by the numbers rock ballad stuff. I may change my mind if i hear it again (people i know have it, i can steal their copies!) but it doesn't seem worth buying on the strengh of what i've heard. -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
Talent and longevity are an intrinsic part of music. You may be enthralled for a moment by a band who are talent less people, but very rarely will you go back to listen to them later - they are in a fact the McDonalds of the music scene, good for a quick fix but I’m damned if you can live off them.
I'm still undeterred, and think that this is an interesting album, so you may not be instantly struck, I guess that’s a point of view thing, and maybe if everyone stopped expecting them to make echo park II it would be better received. Thing is sometimes it takes time for songs to become ingrained on your consciousness, the type that you find yourself singing almost by accident, with the melody stuck in your head, I guess to some people this is one of those albums. Not me though, and besides I don't know what you heard of PTS but I say it’s worth another listen at least.
If you want to see Feeder as they are now go to http://magicalgoat.com/Download.html its not my site but I do happen to be the person behind the guy who is filming (woo-ing loudly) and you can see that they still have the enthusiasm for playing and that the songs are well received by all who were there.
maybe that'll convince you. -
Re: Feeder - Pushing The Senses
Pixies, Nirvana, Bob Dylan, Velvet underground....none of these are particularly talented musicians but are still remebered because they produced memorable interesting music which has had a large influence since. The most talented musically speaking aren't always rembered as its those who are more creative and imaginitive that have effect. Feeder just seem to be moving across ground thats already well traveled and over-populated already. They are making music that doesn't distinguise its self from the crowd by being that differnt in style or content or by being the best of the crowd. I am going to re-listen to it but i wasn't really convinced the first time through that it was sufficently differnt from albums i already owned by feeder and other bands(it seems too similar to CIS just with less individual character) to justify spending money on it. -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
Cant wait for feeling a moment its an amazing song and the single is gonna be fantastic!!! The competition to be on the next single is also rocking (www.feederweb.com) bring on april 4th!!! -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
I am one of those early feeder fans Swim/Polythene era, but I still like CIS and PTS. I'm sure i would have got tired of them if they were still churning out power-pop all the time...bands like Ash haven't really strayed too far from that formula and people have lost interest.
Personally I prefer the heavier side of Feeder, but if you actually buy the singles you find gems like Shatter or Feel It Again or Slowburn, so to slate them just on an album is a big wrong..these are just the songs that fit together to make a cohesive piece of work.
I could go on about loving the power pop of cement/tangerine and all, but Descend is probably my favourite song by them. PTS doesn't smack you in the face, but I'm sure many of the older feeder fans have grown out of their orange jump suits by now. I hope their next release is more harder edged, but if you want to listen to Polythene or Echo Park era feeder..just put THAT album in your stereo!
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Feeder - Pushing The Senses
A few months on I still like the album although feel it needs a couple more rocky tracks on there- ideally Shatter, Victoria and Murmur, the B Sides. CiS is still IMO there strongest record- has a lot more variety and individual character to it. The band themselve still like the heavier stuff so I expect their next record to be rockier..hopefully Descend stylee. -
Feeder - Pushing The Senses
Pushing the senses is on of the great albums produced by feeder. The next one should be even better :] And the live DVD should be out soon... Cant wait -
Maybe
That's the conclusion I've been trying to avoid. Comfort in Sound was good, but with this album I think you might be right. They're just not what they were.
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