The Features: Some Kind Of Salvation
The Features: Some Kind Of Salvation
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Monday, 01, Mar 2010 10:06
Kings of Leon imprint/Serpents & Snakes, out now.
What's it all about?
The debut album from Tennesee fourpiece the Features, this is the first release by Kings of Leon's Serpents & Snakes label.
Who's it by?
Previously described by KOL's Jared Followill as "one of the best unsigned bands in the world", this release has been, unsurprisingly, eagerly anticipated. The band, consisting of Matt Pelham (guitar, lead vocals) Roger Dabbs (bass guitar), Mark Bond (keyboards) and Rollum Haas (drums) have been touring with the Kings of Leon throughout the UK and US, impressing them so much that they ultimately made them the first name on their new label Serpents & Snakes, a joint venture with LA based Bug Music.
What the others say
"Extraordinarily catchy anthems. The Features are the United States' answer to the Kaiser Chiefs. The World will soon be coming to them." - Evening Standard, 5 stars
"A dazzling romp through Buzzcocks-like spiky pop and agitated soul reminiscent of the Animals. Powerful and poignant, The Features are difficult to ignore." - Guardian
So is it any good?
Once you get past the inevitable instinct to compare them to the Kings of Leon, the Features do start to grow on you. They have a completely different sound to the Kings' anthemic/stadium rock, which grabs the listener instantly.
Despite receiving such wide acclaim elsewhere, I confess I was a bit disappointed by this album, but perhaps more because it wasn't what I was expecting. The Evening Standard described them as the US' answer to the Kaiser Cheifs - I, not being a massive fan of the Chiefs, found myself at a bit of a disadvantage. I didn't like the introductory 'mini track Whatever Get You By, nor The Drawing Board, immediately following it, which for some reason reminded me of the Zutons!
Foundation's Cracked, however, sparks the start of a good album, and really grows on you the more you hear it. From then pretty much every track is one that I can see myself really liking after a few more days of listening. GMF is a good track, and together with Lions is probably what sparked the link with the Kaiser Chiefs, airing a clear 'British sound' in certain parts of the album. I really liked The Temporary Blues and The Gates of Hell, and Now You Know is a good track to end on, particularly in name after all the hype.
I do also sense a note of the early Kings of Leon in this album, from their first two albums, (Youth and Young Manhood and Aha Shake Heartbreak) which many die-hards prefer, perhaps explaining why the Followills are so keen on them. Pelham's voice does even have a similar ring to it to that of Caleb Followill.
KOL comparisons aside, this is a good album in its own right, and one which I'll enjoy listening to over the coming weeks. That said, I can't quite get excited about it in the way that others have, and to be honest, I think it's one which I will tire of, and quickly bury in my CD collection.
I still grin when shuffle mode on my iPod picks classic Kings tracks such as The Bucket and King of the Rodeo, which I must have heard a thousand times over the last 6/7 years, but I can't see that being the case with any of the tracks from Some Kind Of Salvation, I'm sorry to say.
7/10
Rob Cleeve