After almost a decade of touring and a releasing a handful of albums, Nashville quartet The Features still don't feel like they fit in. “We’re not weird enough for a certain crowd and we’re a little bit too out there for the other crowd. We fall in the middle somewhere between mainstream and hipster, which puts us in this weird place, but we’re all pretty happy to be here.” says singer/guitarist Matt Pelham.
And on their latest album "Wilderness," fitting-in takes a back seat to flat out rocking. The album (released on Kings of Leon’s Serpents and Snakes label) is just as hard to categorize and jumps between crafty mathrockers like the opener "Content" to flat out floor stompers like "Kids" and "Golden Comb." It's a little bit of southern twang and dirty guitars mixed with some bouncing basslines and krautrock synth parts. It's kind of like listening to a jukebox, but it's all the same band.
In the slow roller "Fats Domino," Pelham plaintively relates that "you can have everything, except my rock and roll..." which could easily serve as a mantra for the album. The Features have clearly found a sonic niche all their own and are proud to own it, even if they're not sure where that is exactly.
"Wilderness" is a great summer record with a tune to fit everyone mood. Check out them out on tour this summer or grab a copy of the album on their website.