It's time for some good Feature-centered discussion. What is your favorite track from the original Features EP?

I've never been a huge fan of Armani Suede. Button My Shirt was a favorite of mine for a long time, as well as Hey Lou, but I have recently come to greatly appreciate That's Me, and so that's where my vote went.

Armani Suede

even though i prefer the Mahaffey re-recording

i voted for "armani suede." however, it was closely followed by "button my shirt," which was closely followed by "attention."

"Armani Suede" all the way....classic.

Man, I've always loved "Roger's Theme." I've gotta go with that, cos it's just such a happy song. Plus, it's about Roger. "That's Me" and "Armani Suede" are close runners-up. I haven't listened to that EP in a long time. I think I'll listen to it now...

it was a tough call for me between "hey lou" and armani suede, but i had to go with the latter. all excellent songs though.

Jamie wins. Clearly the greatest song on the EP is Roger's Theme for so many reasons.

"Armani Suede", hands down.

I voted Roger's Theme. I like Armani, but not that recording of it.

Tie between Roger's Theme and Hey Lou for me. I voted for Hey Lou, b/c I thought it needed some support.

Armani Suede fo sho

but goddamn attention is such a good song . . . can i vote again . . . about 7 times?

I'm surprised no one has voted for "Waffle House Menu" yet. C'mon somebody, at least feel sorry for it!

These results really don't surprise me all that much.

I voted for "Hey, Lou." I've always felt that song was stood far above the others on the disc. I was, however, tempted to vote for "Waffle House Menu" because it's so unique.

The surprise for me from this is hearing that people prefer the Mahaffey recording of Armani Suede. I never really paid any attention to it, and I think I prefer the EP version. I do prefer the Dortch recording of "That's Me."

I didn't say I preferred the Mahaffey version. I just said I didn't like the Spongebath version.

Even though I love the EP version of "Armani Suede", I definitely prefer the Mahaffey recording. It gives me chills every time I listen to it.

I like the drumming and keyboard parts on the Mahaffey version a lot better. The original recording does sound more rocking, but the Mahaffey version is downright funky...in the good way.

The three that I really like are That's Me (which got the vote), Armani Suede, and Roger's Theme. And Hey Lou. Attention I've never been crazy about, and Button my Shirt I'm ambivilant towards.

Ironically, in all cases I prefer the rerecorded versions. But I still treasure the EP that brought me so much happiness so many years ago...

Will

I got the EP after I'd been into the Features. By that time, they were playing the occasional Armani Suede only. Since then, I've only heard them play Hey Lou a couple of times and Roger's Theme once. I was extremely happy to get it because it was the Features, but even then it didn't represent what the Features were or are to me. If I were guessing, I'd say that's the case for 90% of us on the board. These songs aren't See You Thru or Dark Room or even Thursday. It's more of a historical fact to own this EP.

I agree that these songs no longer are what The Features are about to me. But back in '97, when I got the EP just because it was Spongebath, it was all I had. Then I got the Soaking in the Center of the Universe samplers, giving me D-Con (Radio One), Paid to Think, Engine Debris, and Antigravity Class of '93. Then I got the Thursday/Rabbit March single, which I didn't get to hear til I got to college in the fall of 2000. Then I got on the Spongebath board and asked if there was anything else, and someone sent me a sampler from the Mahaffey session that had been given to radio stations, with Exorcising Demons, Kari-Anne, Darkroom, Serious, and Armani Suede. For the longest time, these songs were all I knew. There were many failed attempts to see the band, and I finally saw them at DitD last summer. So I hold the EP very dear to me, perhaps from the historical standpoint, but its a personal history. Obviously they've gone on to do better, but there was a time when these 7 recordings *were* the Features to me.

Will

Your quest to get the Features stuff when there was no internet following (the Spongebath board was soooo Self-centered) sounds similar to mine.

I just never really got into that album. It wasn't until I started making mix CDs that I gave it repetitive listens.

I was won over by a recording of their radio performance at the Fluid Ounces record release party. By that time, stuff from the EP was pretty ancient, I think.

And ironically, when it broke up, these fans went to a board called...

Self-Centered.

Will

hey lou.

tom, if that's the show at 3rd and lindsley, i'd love to get a copy. if it's the one i'm thinking of it should have "blitzkreig!" and some other weird stuff. if you have that please make me a copy.

There's no blitzkrieg! on it, unless that's the title of a one-timer song that they played at that show.

either way, i'd like a copy.

Yeah, and I don't like that board. There's nothing to discuss about Self until a new album comes out. They also have a forum section for every imaginable topic, and your thread will get moved if it meandours too much.

Agreed, that board is much less communal than this one.

Will