Plenty of wistful locals recall pride-and-joy Middle Tennesseans The Features' brief flirtation with major-label superstardom. But after the release of Exhibit A and their ensuing and ultimately disenchanting dismissal from Universal Records, the indie-pop four-piece found themselves back on their own. Undaunted, The Features self-released last year's Some Kind of Salvation, a sparkling collection of smart and triumphant rock numbers that caught the ear of old pals and international chart-toppers Kings of Leon. In an admirable display of hometown support, KoL re-released Some Kind of Salvation on their new imprint via publishers Bug Music and 429 Records, and now The Features are playing dates all over the place, including a couple abroad with the Kings. From as unlikely a source as it may be, looks like The Features may have found some kind of salvation after all. D. PATRICK RODGERS
