Guys, new b-sides/rarities/outtakes release from the Features is out today! It’s called

Still Lost: Volume One

That “volume one” business is mighty hint-y, and I can’t wait for volumes two to infinity. Please, let this go on longer than “Now! That’s What I Call Music!”

Click through! Get it!

The Features
“Tenderly”
Live @ The Knitting Factory
November 5th, 2011

The Damage Is Done lurches out of its slumber to bring to you a new Features song, currently doing its first lap with the band on their Fall 2011 mini-tour. Whoah! “Tenderly” was played last Saturday night when the band played Brooklyn, New York’s Knitting Factory. I’m always pleased to see the band on my home turf (New York City, not Brooklyn; I live in Queens, also known as the borough no one will ever play ever). I was even more pleased to hear a new song that proves that the band still has a voice that is ever-solidifying and ever-confident. “Tenderly” showcases just how tight this band has become. That’s always been one of their strongest suits (you know, up there with being awesome and melting faces with rock), and it’s on display here. I especially love how tight the riff is, just underneath those lush keyboards. Rollum’s drums are as frantic as ever, but they sound constrained, as if they’re about to bust out (all in a good way).

The next Features album is shaping up nicely. Start your anticipation…now.

This band changed my life. 10 years ago I was a senior in high school with a musical taste much less evolved than mine is now, as well as a smaller group of friends. The music of the Features changed both of those for me. I met every single friend I made for the first few years of college through the Features and the Features scene. I also discovered bands that I now love thanks to the band (Roxy Music, The Kinks, Talking Heads, Wire, etc). They changed me, and this blog has been thanks to them for that.

That first show, I remember it well. We showed up late, but I still saw at least 3/4ths of the show. I remember being absolutely floored by every song, they were all instant favorites and I could not wait to hear more. I began scouring the internet for MP3s, and my best friend Nicole and I (who I saw the Features with ten years ago) made the trip to Grimey’s together to buy “The Begging EP.” It was a big deal.

And this blog is not over yet. I just worked so hard on it from May to September that taking a break seemed…time. Also, everything is crazy busy for me (as Octobers always are). ALSO if Tumblr would let users queue up audio posts, this would be infinitely easier. But anyway, the blog will come back, but for now enjoy the sweet sounds that made me a Features fan for life.

The Features
“Thursday”
Live @ Cannery Ballroom
January 13th, 2007

A VERSION APPEARS ON:
Thursday/Rabbit March, 10” single release (1999)

OTHER VERSIONS  

The Features
“Bring On The Night”
Live @ The Boro
January 11th, 2003

Man, listening to this brings back a lot of memories from the Boro. The bar and grill, conveniently located literally across the street from MTSU’s campus, was home to many epic Features shows. It would get crowded and hot really easily, but that overpacked cramped atmosphere was where the Features of this era thrived. Pure raw energy, captured here in this muffled and raucous recording of one of the band’s lost gems.

I haven’t been inside the Boro in six years probably, but my oh my are those memories still clear in my head.

OTHER VERSIONS

The Features
“God Save Rock & Roll”
Live @ Blue Cat’s
March 8th, 2003

OTHER VERSIONS

The Features
“Oh My Love”
Live @ The Boro
January 11th, 2003

This is just great, right? It’s great. I love this song. Also the mix on this seems to be heavy on keys, so get a load of that!

A VERSION APPEARS ON:
Buffalo Head, 7” single release (2002)
Blow It Out, single release (2005)

OTHER VERSIONS 

The Features
“The Beginning (Week One)”
Live @ Blue Cat’s
March 8th, 2003

Apologies for the break in posting. Hurricane Irene threatened to get all up in my business, so I ran away for the weekend. But now I am back and everything I own didn’t even get wet. So, good!

A VERSION APPEARS ON:
The Beginning, EP release (2001)
The Beginning, Fierce Panda EP release (2003)
The Beginning, Universal EP release (2004)

OTHER VERSIONS

The Features
“Leave It All Behind”
Live @ Cannery Ballroom
January 13th, 2007

A VERSION APPEARS ON:
Exhibit A, album release (2004)
Leave It All Behind, single release (2005)

LINEAGE:
Was “Stick Together” (same first verse)

OTHER VERSIONS   

The Features
“Kari-Ann”
Live @ Tucker Theater
January 20th, 2006

A VERSION APPEARS ON:
Exhibit A, UK album release (2005)

OTHER VERSIONS