The Features
– Exhibit A
By Zane Ewton
The Features are a quirky pop rock band
that has been drawing comparisons between Iggy and The Stooges to Elvis
Costello. The band’s name may even be a nod to Costello’s band, The
Attractions. Exhibit A is the first full-length release from
The Features following the U.S release of The Beginning EP earlier
this year.
It is not too easy to describe The Features
sound; they are a garage band with new wave and pop influences. The
Features are a much better band than that description would warrant.
They have a knack for finely crafted songs that are just weird enough to
be interesting and new.
Every track is upbeat, full of catchy riffs
and goofy lyrics. For example the song “Blow it Out” and its chorus
of “If you’re happy and you know it, turn the volume up and blow it.”
Ridiculous, expect it to be stuck in your head for days.
Mathew Pelham is the principle lyricist,
vocalist and guitars. Pelham’s guitar lays down the ground work for
the songs that feature melodies from the vintage and new keyboards of Parrish
Yaw. Rollum Haas is the drummer and does some great work on this
album. Whatever happened to having a stage name? What crowd
is going to chant “Parrish, Parrish!?”
The title track leads off the album with
thumping drums and the prototypical garage rock guitar. The keyboards
blend in to this track but are very noticeable throughout the rest of the
album. The following 11 songs are full of riffs, keyboard lines,
and drum beats that on their own are interesting but come together in a
sound that is very good, like a musical salsa.
The garage-rock revival, depending on who
you talk to, has been deemed a blessing or a curse. IF it means that
bands like The Features get a chance to show what they’ve got, then putting
up with the bad is worth it. Exhibit A is chock full of fun,
catchy rock and roll that is just different enough to be exciting.
Exhibit A is the perfect debut album.
Good enough to give the band a chance to make another record but it doesn’t
set the expectations in the stratosphere. Expect them to get better
with each album.
CD Info
The Features
– Exhibit A
Label: Universal
Records
Rating: 
Tracks:
Exhibit A
Way It's Meant To Be, The
Me & The Skirts
Blow It Out
There's A Million Ways To Sing The Blues
Leave It All Behind
Exorcising Demons
Idea Of Growing Old, The
Some Way Some How
Situation Gone Bad
Harder To Ignore
Circus |
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