posted 09/13/2008 (Sat) @ 09:12 pm
>>> Music Reviews
Anberlin - “Feel Good Drag” [SINGLE]
One of Anberlin’s best tunes, put through the wash
- Song Length: 3:08
- Year of Release: 2008
- Lyrics
The original “Feel Good Drag” from Anberlin’s Never Take Friendship Personal busted out the speakers. An emo headbanger’s wet dream: for the verses, tickles of ping-ponging guitar played up the lyrical drama, then bang! A raucous ROCK riff pumped through a gritty fuzzbox ushers in the slamdance-inducing chorus. Add a solo borrowing, in spirit, from the school of Bleach-era Nirvana—pop energy melted into satisfyingly loud guitar—and you have an essentially flawless cut.
Even though it’s much “wetter,” evolved like Anberlin’s sound through their recent infatuation with synthesizers and digital processing, this re-recorded version of “Feel Good Drag” from New Surrender is essentially the same song put through the dryer. The production values are “better” in the sense that it would sound better on the radio, but the vocal take has diminished—you can hear Stephen Christian enunciate, singing the words rather than singing the song. Additionally, the aforementioned “ping-pong” verse riff is considerably more kludgy sounding. As for the far-too-perfect drum machine percussion, no thanks, I’ll take the meat puppet instead.
“Feel Good Drag” has always been among Anberlin’s best tunes; this radio-ready redux is no different. New listeners will dig the hell out of it. Longtime fans, however, will prefer the rawer, grittier original.
