Spring Break
Southern rockers mellow out style, sound
By Melissa Crowe and Kip Mooney Senior and Junior Staff Writer
Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE
This isn't the Kings of Leon's first rodeo. Up until now, the band's critics and fans praised the group for their raw, southern rock sound.
Compared to their debut EP and three previous albums, "Only by the Night," released Tuesday, is neither a step forward or back, but rather a very mellow shift to the side and serves as an extension of last year's "Because of the Times."
The first half of the album delivers the rebellious attitude the group is best known for. The album is good, no doubt, but whether it's a good fit for the group is debatable.
These seemingly upbeat songs are laden with undertones of misfortune, apathy and betrayal.
"I Want You" is a perfect example. While listeners sway their hips to the bouncy bass lines and cowbell, they can't ignore the heartbreaking lyrics "I want you exactly like I used to," in which lead singer Caleb Followill begs to a lover, even after she's been unfaithful.
But it seems the band wants more than just empathy. They want world domination. While they've topped charts in the U.K., they have yet to find similar success stateside. So if that's their plan, they have no problem emulating some of their sounds from U2 and Led Zeppelin to achieve it.
Their new influences are especially evident on songs like "Sex on Fire" and "Crawl." While reminiscent of their rambunctious, horn-dog anthems, the album undoubtedly has a glossier sound than their previous records.
This thematic shift from beer, brawls and babes to more pressing issues is a far cry from what most Kings of Leon enthusiasts are used to.
The final track, "Cold Desert," couldn't fit any better as the album's closer. This galvanizing song might be the last thing anyone ever expected the band to put out. The lyrics are pensive, the guitars sound murky and you are left more depressed than when you heard the first track's paranormal distortion effects.
Ultimately, this is not their best album, but it's still a success. They haven't completely moved away from their areas of expertise. The new cleaned-up version of Kings of Leon might not be for everybody, but it's nearly impossible to name a bad Kings of Leon song.
Compared to their debut EP and three previous albums, "Only by the Night," released Tuesday, is neither a step forward or back, but rather a very mellow shift to the side and serves as an extension of last year's "Because of the Times."
The first half of the album delivers the rebellious attitude the group is best known for. The album is good, no doubt, but whether it's a good fit for the group is debatable.
These seemingly upbeat songs are laden with undertones of misfortune, apathy and betrayal.
"I Want You" is a perfect example. While listeners sway their hips to the bouncy bass lines and cowbell, they can't ignore the heartbreaking lyrics "I want you exactly like I used to," in which lead singer Caleb Followill begs to a lover, even after she's been unfaithful.
But it seems the band wants more than just empathy. They want world domination. While they've topped charts in the U.K., they have yet to find similar success stateside. So if that's their plan, they have no problem emulating some of their sounds from U2 and Led Zeppelin to achieve it.
Their new influences are especially evident on songs like "Sex on Fire" and "Crawl." While reminiscent of their rambunctious, horn-dog anthems, the album undoubtedly has a glossier sound than their previous records.
This thematic shift from beer, brawls and babes to more pressing issues is a far cry from what most Kings of Leon enthusiasts are used to.
The final track, "Cold Desert," couldn't fit any better as the album's closer. This galvanizing song might be the last thing anyone ever expected the band to put out. The lyrics are pensive, the guitars sound murky and you are left more depressed than when you heard the first track's paranormal distortion effects.
Ultimately, this is not their best album, but it's still a success. They haven't completely moved away from their areas of expertise. The new cleaned-up version of Kings of Leon might not be for everybody, but it's nearly impossible to name a bad Kings of Leon song.
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