Jingle Jangle Pop!

Felt x 3…

Felt - “Ballad of the Band” (1986)

Felt were a 1980s British alternative rock band led by Lawrence, whose surname was never listed in any credits or press; the band’s name was inspired by Tom Verlaine’s emphasis of the word “felt” in the Television song “Venus”. Lawrence and drummer Gary Ainge were the only constant members (though Ainge is not featured on Felt’s first release, recorded solo by Lawrence before the band formed).  Felt are often cited as a major influence by Belle & Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch,[1] as well as by the Manic Street Preachers and American alternative rock group The Tyde. The band released ten albums and ten singles in ten years and then disbanded. [Wikipedia]

This is from the liner notes of Belle and Sebastian’s Dear Catastophe Waitress:

I just came back to the house to have a little lunch and there’s a package here from Bob, who’s making a little film that I?m helping with. He’s sent me a Felt dvd called ‘A Declaration’. This to me is very interesting. It’s almost too much to take. Lawrence looks so good, it’s too much, it’s like a dream. I can’t believe this band ever existed. They’re so perfect. Fuck the Smiths, fuck Orange Juice, Felt, FELT, FELT!! I have to stop watching. I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack today. They just take me to a different place. ‘I wasn’t fooling when I said. All the people I like are those that are dead’. The dvd’s shit quality by the way, so don’t go there unless you can join the dots for yourself.  Larkin, Cohen, Lawrence and Moz. The rest of you boys can leave your quills in your tunics.