Kings of Leon are a quattro of fellas that look like they came from the late 60s early 70s, but are actually rather young and quite unsuccesful back in their own country of the US of A.
If you like the White Stripes, well Kings of Leon pretty much blow them away. I was never too found of The White Stripes, bar that one track called Army or whatever – a rather decent rip off of Derek And The Dominos, Eric Clapton and so on. Hardly inspirational or interesting, more cliched than anything else.
Kings of Leon are anything but – harking back to the music of old yonder of the southern rock ilk, a la The Jayhawks, The Eagles or a modern example would be Counting Crows and so forth. Yet fusing it with a freshness and panache of a modern day rock band playng just kick ass rocking tunes. On the first listen alone, it puts a pleasing grin on your face to listen to something that can be enjoyed.
an album that reminds that not everything is fused with nonsense, commericalism or a pollution of genres simply to stand out from the crowd
They are neither pretentious, nor out to impress – they will not switch musical styles overnight, they do what they love and they do it well, regardless of what people may think of those rather large hairstyles, and the retro outfits.
The album is a fantastic journey of some amusing, entertaining and wonderfully eclectic tunes. It’s an album that reminds that not everything is fused with nonsense, commericalism or a pollution of genres simply to stand out from the crowd – it is the music that does that. There is no marketing, nor million dollar advertising sprees – it is the talent that sells itself.
The music lifts and the lyrics, some of which can be understand when the lead singer doesn’t mumble is amusing and energetic. California Waiting is probably one of the stand out tracks – yet all the tracks are equally worth listening to.
This is not an album of singles, it is meant to be heard as an album – at least for me. Singles would know doubt provide a useful taste, but the range of southern rock played is misleading by listening just to a single – it ranges from thrashy southern rock, to almost balletic rock back to brashy sounds – superbly flowing from beginning to end without you even noticing.
If you’re into southern rock or appreicate the bands that play such music, then I would suggest giving this a listen – it may not be to everyone’s taste, but it is indeed unique and refreshing among the flood of wannabe, all-the-same-bands, and the influx of talentless TV papstars.
Verdict: Hippies with attitude and talent – music for those tired of commerical pap.
Track Listing
1. Red Morning Light
2. Happy Alone
3. Wasted Time
4. Joe’s Head
5. Tranny
6. California Waiting
7. Spiral Staircase
8. Molly’s Chambers
9. Genuis
10. O Dusty
11. Holy Roller Novocaine
12. Talihina Sky (Hidden Track)