What would you recommend to Features fans who maybe don't know a lot of their influences? On the back of what I've seen at their recent gigs (probably due to the Kings Of Leon tour), a lot of the fans are pretty young (at least compared to me)...this is obviously good as it's keeping good rock n roll alive (as opposed to all that Bloc Party/ Libertines/ Killers malarkey).

But The Features have their influences. And they're some of my favourite bands- bands that shouldn't be forgotten even though they're not mega huge.

So, if someone likes The Features, what else would you reckon they'd like? I'm interested to see who hears the same things as me in their music, and if I'm missing anything I might like.

So, as a start, I'm pretty sure that if you like the Features, you'll adore:

XTC (the first two albums White Music and Go2 have the same mix of guitar and organ, and Barry Andrews is a great organ player)

The Cars (the first album, and its' singles).

Obvious choices I know, but it gives you an idea of the thing I'm on about. Any more?

Those two are true, as are

The Talking Heads
The Kinks

The Talking Heads
The Kinks
The Attractions
Pere Ubu

I, too, always go with this combo.

I just tell people they're ripping off Hot Hot Heat and Franz Ferdinand.

They recently asked me to update their list of "influences" on the Myspace profile to read:

Talking Heads
The Kinks
Elvis Costello and the Attractions (added)
Randy Neuman (added)
Roxy Music

They asked me to remove The Beatles and The Cars

(Edited by carligula at 11:14 am on Jul. 12, 2005)

Randy Neuman?

A rhythm section to match, for sure.

who the hell is randy neuman?

Don't you know the dude who did the Toy Story soundtrack?

I do, and his name is Randy Newman.

As I pointed out in a link above, Randy Neuman is a middling boxer turned respected ring official.

and the impish "I Love L.A."

Point taken. Correction made.

dont talk shit about randy newman. he wrote some great songs: "living without you", "let's burn down the cornfield", "yellow man", "sail away", "lonely at the top", "old man", "political science", "rednecks"....

i could go on and on. randy newman is an amazing songwriter.

I totally hear Gary Neuman though....

not to mention Alfred E. Neuman.

Doesn't anyone here watch Family Guy?

"Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot...."

Show me potato salad!

or paul newman...

i love family guy! i'm embarrassed to say i don't get the "left foot, right foot" reference - fill me in on that one - but family guy is the deal.....i'm a big fan of "my God, this house is freakin' sweet"

yes, randy newman is incredible.....saw him only once, and it was overwhelming....if you only know him from the "toy story" soundtrack, you're missing out on a lot....i think matt pelham is a huge fan of randy newman, by the way

listen to the song "marie" by randy newman - i swear it will make you cry

On the episode where the "end of the world" occurs anyway. Peter takes the family to find the Twinkie factory for food, because he knows it is all that is left. On the way they come to a house with one problem, Randy Newman is there. Randy is sitting under an apple tree playing his piano and singing about everything he sees. Hence the song:

Fat man with his kids and dog.
Drove in through the morning fog.
Hey there Rover, come on over...

Red headed lady, Reaching for an apple.
Gonna take a bite, nope, nope.
She gonna breathe on it first,wipe it on her blouse.
She takes a bite.
Chews it once,twice,three times, four times, stops!
Saliva workin', takes a hard, long look at Randy...
Five times.
Fat old husband walking over.

Yeah, They're walking down the road
Left foot,Right foot
Left foot,Right foot
Left foot...

Then they leave, and Chris keeps singing, "Left foot, right foot..."

Probably my favorite episode. It's all I ever think of when I hear anything about Randy Newman.

watched the episode yesterday......i think i'd seen the first half of it but never finished it......the randy newman part was hilarious.....to me, the best part is where he's singing about her biting the apple......"chews it once, twice..." that's good stuff

thanks for letting me know about it

are you a simpsons fan at all?

have you watched american dad?

Huge Simpsons fan. American Dad has its moments, but its too similar to Family Guy and not nearly as good. I would have to say that Futurama was the best overall, however...
...but The Features don't sound like any of them.

not a big american dad fan either....too similar to family guy......but i do love the simpsons....ralph wiggam is my favorite character......my favorite line from him: "doctor says my nose wouldn't bleed so much if kept my finger out of there"

i love it

but you're right - they sound nothing like the features

although i can see homer dancing/singing to "blow it out"

that would work

just imagine the song and substitute homer's voice for matt pelham's

it works

Oh, that tickles me in a way, that if Loretta tickled me in that way, I'd say, Oh yea ... that's nice ... that's the spot.

I'd agree that Futurama is the best of those shows. I wish Fox would give it another go.