It's time to pluck some chickens and melt some tar, folks: YaDaDaDa wants to stir some discussion. This may have come up before, but here's a question for discussion:

What are two Features songs currently played that should go the way of so many Features songs and never see the light of day again?

My votes go to Paid to Think and Temporary Blues.

The reasons? The Features were basically a different band when they wrote Paid to Think, and hooking people on it only reminds us how different their style is now. It's done well in crossing over from the old line-up to the new, but it's day is gone. Temporary Blues has never been that enjoyable for me.

Which would you choose? I chose not to do this one as a poll as there are so many options.

Armani Suede and well, I dont know. There are a few potential songs, but I cant decide.

Ive never been a huge fan of Armani Suede.

Ah sweet mother of monkeys I have no idea. I really love all their songs and to get rid of two is hard. Any song that I don't like before the show, I end up loving after hearing it live. I don't really enjoy listening to 33 1/3 in the car, but live I sing along and it is quite enjoyable. Today while listening to the 12th & Porter show, I thought how bland Look Out Below was, but after an hour it was stuck in my head and now I really really want to hear it again. No Features song is bland or bad...but...um...I wouldn't care if I didn't hear 2 X 2 again I guess...but...it's such a great song. The really really old material (minus Armani Suede) I wouldn't mind never hearing

I agree with Digsy-- sort of. 2X2 has pretty much always been my least favorite Features song. Unlike Digsy, I like 33 1/3 at home/in the car, but not live. So those are probably my 2 choices.

I like hearing Paid to Think and Armani every so often, but they are good as rarities. I like Temporary Blues, if only for the section from Discotheque (the high guitar/keyboard part).

Here goes...Buffalo Head & either 2 x 2 or Thursday. I know Thursday is a crowd pleaser, it just doesn't excite me any more. I'm all for GSRNR taking its place.

You guys are killing me! Buffalo Head?! Temporary Blues?!! Those are some of my favorites! Great idea for a topic...one of the best ever.

OK. "Retired" is a strong word. This means NEVER coming back, not just becoming a rarity. I guess if I had to choose two:

1) Armani Suede - The original recording of this is a classic, and is ultra-cool in its own way. But these days, when they play it live, it's usually a letdown for me. There just seems to be no energy or enthusiasm involved in the live version of this song any more. It's understandable. This is about the oldest song that the Features still play with any regularity. Whenever they play it, it seems to be because someone has requested it, and not because they really want to play it.

2) Paid to Think - I've never been a big fan of this song. Add to that the fact that it's old, and (like YDDD said) is not very representative of where the Features are these days. I can't say that I would miss this one very much, though they don't play it much these days anyway.

As I said in the favorite new song poll, I find Look Out Below stuck in my head more than any other.

2x2? Thats my favorite song on The Beginning!

Will

More 2x2 bashing! And 33 1/3?

At Blue Cats I was floored by 33 1/3. I think live it may be my favorite Features song.

Will

Buffalo Head? Thursday? MORE 2x2 hatred?

To me all of these would be unacceptable. Buffalo Head is my favorite song of late, and Thursday is the epic closer that GSRnR isn't. You can't end something as mammoth as a Features show with a 2 minute song whithout much in the way of verses. I love GSRnR, but Thursday's sprawling length and epic feel make it the perfect end of show song.

Will

Okay, I've criticized others enough, now I need to put my money where my mouth is. As such, I'd have to agree with both Armani and Paid to Think. I do hate the thought of banishing the only two songs that they play that were known to me in the many years when all I had was the Self titled EP and the two samplers (and the Thursday single, but without a way to listen to it). They still define the band for me in alot of ways, even if they really don't anymore.

But those would be it. To put my own neck on the line, and add some more fuel to the fire, I'll name two more. Serious, which is already relegated to encore specialty, and... gulp... Darkroom.

Will

AAHH! Not Dark Room! The claps are only now starting to catch on! I swear that everyone will find the song much more enjoyable if the claps are done. Thursday nite, everyone do the claps.

My first black ball goes to "Armani Suede." Great song? Yes. Great recording? Yes. Anchor of the self-titled EP? Yes. Time to put it away? Yes.

My second black ball goes to... drum roll, please... "Circus." I've never understood what so many see in this song. To me, it's just not a very Feature-esque song.

you guys are nutz!!!

why would you completely retire any of these songs??????
Armani Suede? are you stoned???????

kari-ann- it's cute, but it had it's moment
thursday-as i've stated, my typical piss or beer break

Ahh! Circus is great! I really think it is a great opener because of it's starting out soft and then kicking it the onslaught of rock. Plus Matt screams and that is always a plus.

I would like to second Lauren's vote for "Buffalo Head". I don't know, I just never really got it. Don't get me wrong-- I think all of their songs are great, but BF just doesn't really grab me.

I suppose I would say the same thing for "Action". I really appreciate the rockingness of it, but once again, it just never sunk in for me.

I guess I can understand the votes for "Paid To Think", because it's an older song (right?), but I still dig it. Plus, I have to say that anyone who doesn't absolutely LOVE "Darkroom" should possibly get his or her head examined. I've seen the Features about a dozen times in the last couple of years and I must say that I never get sick of hearing "Thursday" as a closer.

Oh, I absolutely LOVE Darkroom. Its just no, I dunno, no Buffalo Head and no Action, if you ask me.

Darkroom and Kari-Anne kinda do the same thing for me, but Kari-Anne does it better, so thats why the voted for Darkroom. I do love it and all. Hell, we all love all of these songs, right, and don't actually want them to go away?

Will

My thoughts exactly. Good call, ghostflower.

This is the most ridiculous topic ever. Completely and truly irrelevant.

I am shocked that some people want to see some of the classics retired.

i agree. it's a terrible idea to do away with any of the songs completely.

Being a new features fan (as of 8/30@bluecats), I'm not particularly tired of any features songs, and I can't really distinguish between their old and new material. Besides being a way to pass the time if you're bored, though, this is a silly topic. I mean, don't they already put away good songs against the will of their fans? What's the point of sending more good songs to the morgue? It's like imagining what it'll be like when your grandmother dies.

Truer words have never been spoken...

i would have to go with 33 1/3 and dark room. the only thing saving demons is the little break down in the middle.

i've seen them so many times over the past 2 years that i find myself just waiting for the new material.

if you want to retire buffolo head, maybe you should take a long look in the mirror and ask yourself, "am i a complete idiot?"

Even though I did respond, I do agree with Ray. They are all classic song and the one that I "black balled" (2 X 2) I thought about during Mass Comm today and I really do enjoy that song a lot. The Features should never retire any song and just play whatever. I'm yelling for Blow It Out, The Damage Is Done and Me & The Skirts. New, old, it is all good.

Unless I'm mistaken this topic isn't about songs you want retired, its about the two songs that you'd retire if you had to pick two. I certainly don't want Darkroom, Serious, Armani Suede, or Paid to Think retired, least of all Paid to Think, which I've yet to hear live.

We talk often of our favorite Features song, but there is another end of that spectrum that is interesting to explore as well... just because it isn't as positive as the other doesn't mean it isn't there or that it isn't interesting.

Will

Maybe you guys don't understand what this is about...or what it's NOT about. This is not a petition to seriously and literally have songs retired. This is not a hate-fest for Features songs. No one HATES these songs. We're just stating preferences. This is just for grins, just to pick at people's brains. This is just theoretical. I'd rather the Features didn't retire any songs, because I like variety.

(Edited by jamiecarroll at 9:09 pm on Sep. 23, 2002)

cnInn

(just kidding- i was trying to imitate lude hand gestures)

(Edited by damon at 3:16 pm on Sep. 23, 2002)

Man, Carligula. Throw in God Save and you'll have gotten rid of my 3 favorite Features songs (and before you guys start posting, yes, I know it's only his opinion).

And having seen the Features about 40-50 times over the last few years, I'm tired of Thursday, but I don't think it should be retired completely.

Yeah, that one sucks, too, Keith. Whatcha gonna do about it, sucka? By the way, I'm just kidding-- that song's the jam.

In all seriousness, I think this is an incredibly interesting topic. Thanks for starting it YDDD. I'll bet the band appreciates such information as well (if they do indeed read this).

I thought of this topic while at BLue Sky Court. I just think there are some songs that should be extremely rare. I think their set is still great and all the songs have special places in the old ticker, but some have seen their day and others never did.

I agree with LW that Kari Anne has seen its day.
I always have an immediate turn-off toward any rock song that actually says, "Rock'n'roll." This is the case for GSRnR for me too.

I just thought I'd throw in a few more.

Bowl of Fire, I've been around an embalming room just long enough to imagine just about anybody, my grandmother included, in the morgue. Maybe that's why I started the topic.

I just like good discussion on topics that actually relate to the Features.

Well, I found out a long time ago that the answer to that question is definitely YES. But I'm ok with that. I think I might die, though, if I never heard Action or Circus live again. The pure rock quotient of those songs is just amazing. And I agree that Darkroom is maybe a little silly, but it's a MASTURBATION song! That's enough for me to support its existence forever.

I completely agree. This topic upsets me, as well. Just about every song mentioned has been one of my favorites... Armani Suede, Buffalo Head, Circus, Darkroom, etc.?!

I've never really been a fan of "Paid To Think."

Even if the Features were to read this thread, I doubt they'd base any decision to play anything based on it. Obviously they haven't listened before, and so we're still not getting "Your Smile" (be2), "Harold" (jc), "Stick Together" (tf), "Jurley" (sw), and countless others that people have repeatedly mentioned as their favorites.

What's the big deal with "Your Smile"?

its a kick ass song........thats the deal......

Not only does it kick ass, but the sentiment of "I can't stand to see your smile" has such truth and resonance while expressing an emotion I've not seen expressed in popular music anywhere else.

Will

There's a lot of truth to that, Wiyum.

Amen, brother!

Honestly. I don't know why this is so many people's favorite Features song. Am I missing something? Of all of their songs, "God Save..." stands out as the one song that I don't ever need to hear again.

If I absolutely had to pick a second, it would not be "Armani Suede" or "Paid to Think" or any of the really old stuff that they hardly ever play. I know the band is sick of that material, so I don't shout out requests for it. But I haven't heard "Armani Suede" at a Features show in over two years. I have never heard "Paid to Think" live. Maybe I need to make the road trip to the Boro...

So, OK, for song #2: "Thursday," but only because it always signifies the end of their set. Therefore, if they don't play "Thursday," they will have to keep playing indefinitely! Show me where I'm wrong!

"Two by Two" is a great song. In fact, "The Beginning" EP is almost completely perfect. Its one shortcoming is its short length. As soon as it ends, you just have to hear it again. Anybody who disagrees is a tool. Come on up here; I'll fight you.