The Feeling

THE FEELING
"JOIN WITH US"
(Universal Island/UK, 2008)


"Won't Go Away"


The Feeling's debut album, "Twelve Stops And Home", was fantastic -- and therein lies the problem when awaiting the sophomore effort from a band this good. While being really eager to get their hands on it, one would be wise to at the same time be fully prepared to be disappointed by it. But as it turns out, I needn't have worried that Dan Gillespie-Sells and company would reward their loyal fans with another set of delicious, '70s-pop-rock-inspired ear candy.

The lead-off single, "I Thought It Was Over", gives the listener the perfect idea of what to expect from this new disc. Picking up right where their previous album left off, it doesn't really break any new ground, but the band does exhibit subtle signs of natural growth, with lyrics and arrangements that are a bit more sophisticated in places ("Spare Me", "Loneliness", "Connor") ... and in other places, they seem to have a more relaxed sense of fun ("Turn It Up", "Won't Go Away").

Sure, this album could be thought of as "more of the same", since its sound isn't a radical departure from "Twelve Stops", but in a way that's a good thing. They didn't try veering off in a new direction -- and if they felt that doing so would seem unnatural or that it would alienate or confuse their fans, or if they simply didn't feel the need or desire to, then why should they? They stuck with the formula that made their first album a hit ... more power to them. At least they've made this fan already start hungering for album number three...!