[rating=5.00]
The Features have long woven an interesting musical tapestry. Over the course of a decade-plus career spanning six releases, the Tennessee outfit continually churns a sharply refined blend of anthem power, chirpy beats, and hummable grooves into a reliably satisfying product. Far from headlining stars, the band has kept the game going long enough to survive some lineup turmoil and label distress, bouncing through and finding some success with a few well-placed commercial and film track placements, and a steady following that has expanded from a regional base across the U.S. and, lately, even into Europe. Signed since 2011 to the Kings of Leon helmed imprint, Serpents & Snakes, The Features have returned with their latest LP, an eleven track self-titled walk through their kaleidoscopic soundscape, offering both steady favorites and some new, interesting wrinkles.
Like their label bosses, The Features can sprawl things out and deliver a rousing rock and roll hook worthy of a repeated sing-a-long. Album opener, “Rotten”, “Tenderly”, and “Won’t Be Long” all fit this category as their swirling chugs of musical muscle couple with lead vocalist Matthew Pelham’s soaring pleas in a charged-up amphitheater worthy roar. In this regard, The Features make a loud and recognizable noise, motoring along at a breakneck roar while sending fists and beer cups high into the air with nodding approval. On much of the album though, The band tends to turn things down a bit and instead explore a more nuanced, beat influenced sound that stands in stark contrast to the more rock oriented tracks.
“Ain’t No Wonder” is an obvious shift, as keys and synth beats slink the song’s structure along in a fragmented, LCD Soundsystem style propulsion until it reaches Pelham’s rising chorus. Elsewhere, this vibe persists, as tracks like “This Disorder”, “With Every Beat”, and “The New Romantic” reflect the band’s newfound appreciation for funk and groove, as well as acknowledge their probable ownership of some vintage New Wave albums. It’s an interesting approach, one that maybe isn’t quite part of the band’s standard canon, but nevertheless offers a fresh perspective and perhaps even a new vision to explore down the road.
Lyrically, Pelham and Co. seem to be tackling the themes of growing older-not necessarily end-of-the-line type ruminations-but the dad-type reflections that often accompany the impending arrival of middle age. Small nuggets of wisdom, everyday personal observations, and weathered reflections are subtly dropped into the tracks’ lyrical passages as the songs’ protagonists mark the passage of time and look ahead to the uncertain future. Growing up can at times be kind of a drag, but by exploring fresh new musical ventures, the gentlemen of The Features will surely at least be keeping things interesting and lively along the way.
