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The Features : 'Some Kind of Salvation'

 

The Features : 'Some Kind of Salvation'

 

 

Released: 22nd February 2010

Label: Serpents and Snakes

 

You would have probably heard of The Features mainly because of some friends of theirs. Some band Kings Of Leon. The Tennessee four-piece - of which I mean The Features, not the Followills - are the first band signed to Serpents and Snakes, Kings Of Leon’s new ‘label.’ I’m a little confused by the whole thing myself, apparently it’s an imprint of publishers Bug Music. The basic idea is they’ll have the words Kings Of Leon on their record somewhere which is going to add a fair chunk of publicity now, isn’t it?

Some Kind Of Salvation turns out to be a re-release, the band released it themselves after parting ways with Universal in ‘08 and unpredictable is one word that springs to mind. The long of the short of it is they’re not quite The Whigs or Manchester Orchestra, a band they’re touring with soon, but they’re definitely better than OK GO.

Kings Of Leon don’t immediately jump out at you, or at all actually and why should they. Driving guitars, Springsteen-esque horns, and a distinctive voice with weight firmly thrown behind it is more the state of play. 'The Temporary Blues' is the first of the record to really jump out, chunky guitars pound alongside punchy drums beneath anthemia “Hey’s.” It has single written all over it. 

'The Gate’s Of Hell' starts a purple patch and general lift, offering a different side to them, taking it down a notch to a punchy slow-dance. It’s a classy sort of song with a jarring end that hooks it back onto the feel of before. 'Still Lost' and the strangely mysterious 'Baby’s Hammer' follow with equal quality. The almost vaudevillian 'Concrete' and drawling 'Lions' continue the impressive vein of form, all being less expansive and much simpler than what went before and so they’re much better for it.

'Off Track' is the best of the lot though, “Turn on your heart, put on your heart” he wails in a way not dissimilar to My Morning Jacket’s Jim James. 'All I Ask' brings back those horns but this time isn’t too much, the emotive vocals carry them off. It helps that the ending is absolutely huge too.

After an indifferent start, Some Kind Of Salvation seems to get better and better, almost unexpectedly. It took the whole length of the album to work out who it was they have a slight tinge of, Wild Beasts. That had been annoying me for the length of it. Luckily the best way to work it out was to keep on listening to it.

 

 

 

Words: Jack Phillips

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