in Smash Hits, wrote that the band "have the power to really draw you into their strange little suburban world." Melody Makers James Truman was less enthused, stating that the band's aim was to achieve a balance of being "intellectual, neurotic cissy" and ironic "Good American", but that at times "Crazy Rhythms pushes too hard to get the balance right and falls uneasily between a send-up and a put-on, a masterpiece and an attractive, disposable novelty". Truman said that the album had "a fussier, more detailed sound than it needed", and concluded, "Conceptualists will love the Feelies ... I just wish they'd come on a little less coy and clever." Crazy Rhythms was placed at number 17 in The Village Voices annual Pazz & Jop critics' poll, beating out such notable critics' favorites as David Bowie's Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps), Joy Division's Closer, The Rolling Stones's Emotional Rescue and The Specials' debut album. In their retrospective review, The Guardian called Crazy Rhythms "one of those albums during whose course you hear the most exciting sound in music: things changing." Rolling Stone branded it "a landmark of jangly, guitar-driven avant-pop, and its shimmering sound can still be heard in bands like R.E.M." PopMatters wrote that the album "stands as a wildly inventive and influential record that stands shoulder to shoulder with some of the best music of the American post-punk era. With their very first album, The Feelies managed to speak directly to the zeitgeist of the American independent underground without becoming overexposed or repetitive." Tiny Mix Tapes wrote, "Crazy Rhythms, released in April 1980 amongst a veritable shitstorm of like-minded groups, stands grinning madly at the top of the pile – a shining monument to new wave at its quirky best." Crazy Rhythms was ranked number 49 in Rolling Stone's list of the 100 best albums of the 1980s, and number 69 on Pitchforks list. In 2020, Rolling Stone included Crazy Rhythms in their "80 Greatest albums of 1980" list. In September 2009 the album was performed live in its entirety as part of the All Tomorrow's Parties-curated Don't Look Back series. Track listing Personnel Anton Fier – drums, tom-toms, pipe, cowbell (except on "Paint It Black") Stanley Demeski – drums on "Paint It Black" Glenn Mercer – lead, rhythm, 12-string and bowed guitars; vocals; keyboards; temple block; shaker; claves; maracas; bell; castanets; reverbed sticks; shoes; drums; coat rack