The title of
The Last Record Album isn't exactly accurate, but it cuts a lot closer than the band intended, for this really is the last album of the group's classic era. Starting here, leader
Lowell George fades into the woodwork, and while the remainder of the group tries valiantly to keep the band afloat, the timing and the tension were too great. Musically, the group attempts to make
Feats Don't Fail Me Now, Pt. 2, but the production from
George is curiously flat, and, truth be told, the group just isn't inspired enough to make a satisfying album. For a very short album -- only eight songs -- too many of the cuts fall flat. Those that succeed, however, are quite good, particularly
Paul Barrere and
Bill Payne's gently propulsive "All That You Dream,"
Lowell George's beautiful "Long Distance Love," and the sublime "Mercenary Territory." Even these songs don't have the spark or character they would have had on the more organic
Feats, due to
George's exceedingly mellow SoCal production, which is pleasant but doesn't provide
Little Feat with enough room to breathe. There are enough signs of
Little Feat's true character on
The Last Record Album -- the three previously mentioned songs are essential for any
Feat fan -- to make it fairly enjoyable, but it's clear that the band is beginning to run out of steam. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine