God bless the Feelings. Little known outside of Portland, Oregon, they were the quintessential local band that won the hearts of the community and nothing more. Aside from two accomplished full-lengths-- Especially for You and Dearling Darling-- the principal legacy of the Feelings may remain the affecting demonstration of just how stultifying the indie-pop subculture became during the mid-to-late '90s. That the post-breakup wrap-up Jammers is being released on a label called Coming in Second is quite telling.

Driven by the productive dynamic of two personalities-- self-fashioned microphonist Tim Seiwerratch and guitarist/vocalist/bassist Ralf Youtz-- the Feelings evinced a seemingly inexhaustible reserve of energy and unmitigated enthusiasm, a remarkable "pop" potential that was never wholly cultivated into the beast it promised to become.

Ironically, what might have derailed the project was the excessive indie pedigree of the group's line-up. Youtz played an important role in Built to Spill on their Ultimate Alternative Wavers album (he's the young fella in the cover photo) and also played in the Halo Benders, while keyboardist/bassist Loren Barr and drummer Pat Calahan had previously done time with Sone. The original idea was to fashion a revivalist new-wave group called the Jammers, but at some point before the group's first show, the name was changed to the Feelings, and the enigmatic Seiwerratch began calling himself Sincere Rainbows.

Ideally, the sound of the Feelings is that of doped-up mental patients letting loose on their imaginatively eccentric pop impulses. Youtz's high harmonies and pop songcraft provided an anchor for Siewerratch's microphonic excursions of emotion while Barr adorned the performances with Casio noodlings and Calahan deftly negotiated the rhythm. When it all clicked, as it often did, the results were transcendent-- so much more than mere indie-pop.

The appropriately titled Jammers lays bare the skeletal remains of the group's final stage. Produced by Calvin Johnson, these tracks sound like remarkable demos, hints of a more-focused product that never came to fruition. "Our Love" was a staple of the band's live performances as they began their quick decline, and it appears here as a revelatory pop workout that might have benefited from a better mix. "Misty Says" features the characteristic charm of their previous recordings, while "Saucy Sailor" and "Friends Rock and Roll" showcase the distorto-pop that the Feelings often delivered as skillfully as their less aggressive nuggets. When the organ line from "Our Love" is quoted in the bridge of "Friends Rock and Roll," a taste of what might have been is rendered poignant.

The remixes by Zac Love, who did some engineering duties for Sone, are far less consistent than the original material. "Fandango Wood Chop Dub" is as unlistenable as its title suggests; thankfully, the two remixes of Dearling Darling's title track, "Daring Starling" and "Dearling Darling (Sunshine Forest Park)," are somewhat more acceptable. As fate would have it, the best remix is the most fleeting, "T.K. Oliver." A new take on their debut's "T.K.O.," the track is almost baroque in its profoundly melodic synth layering.

While it would have been best if the Feelings had bowed out with a final album, this low-priced release nevertheless provides a fitting closure. The disc comes with some interesting multimedia features, including two live video performances of the group's signature song, "Blowin' My Mind like a Summer Breeze," along with pictures and lyrics. Fans of the group should feel obliged to pick it up, and those intrigued by this obscure indie artifact are encouraged to look more closely.

-S. Murray