10:52am Friday 5th March 2010
By Harris Dee
THE FEATURES: Some kind of Salvation (Serpents and Snakes): The Features have been around for some time – about 16 years – so it’s a bit of a surprise that they haven’t had much exposure until now. They are from Tennessee and Southern indie-rock could be on the menu from now on after Kings of Leon – from the same state - put them on their new Serpents and Snakes label, They had toured together, with Features providing support, so fell in love with their sound, energy and explosive live show.
The album went out on digital and vinyl a year ago so the big decision was made to go for the CD release and you won’t be disappointed.
There are plenty of influences on here, the biggest being the Killers – there are some definite feels on at least four of the tracks, but that’s no bad thing I guess. Along the way through the 14 track album there is also 60s feel on a number of tracks including the Idle Race’s 1968 offering ‘The Skeleton and the Roundabout’, and on GMF (Genetically Modified Fable). There are other influences – a brassy soul feel on ‘Wooden Heart’ and a very anthemic Lions will have the festival audiences singing along.
There is plenty of good time music here with the Drawing Board, my favourite The Temporary Blues, ad Still Lost. There are also a couple of slower ballads in the second half which aren’t quite as strong, before springing back to life for the final three or four songs.
There is also a hint of Arcade’s Fire Win Butler in the voice of lead singer Matthew Pelham and someone else who I just can’t put my finger on at present – and it might be that he needs to just vary his vocals on future disks so that the songs don’t start to mix into each other. But overall it’s a great effort that you should at least try.
If you didn’t catch them as support on the Kings of Leon tour, they are back in April for a few UK gigs: Mon, April 19, London Barfly; Tuesday, April 20, Birmingham Hare & Hounds; April 21, Glasgow King Tuts; April 22, Manchester Roadhouse.
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