A few weeks before the release of the Feelies' new album, the group reconvened on a March weekend to practice in the basement of singer-guitarist Glenn Mercer's house in Haledon, N.J. "Here Before" is the group's fifth studio album, but it's their first release in more than 17 years.

Waiting is to be expected when it comes to the Feelies. Hailed by the Village Voice as "Best Underground Band in New York" back in 1978, it still took two years for their tightly wound debut, "Crazy Rhythms," to emerge. Live performances even...