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Kings of Leon have just dropped one hell of an album. In doing say they have achieved that which is most difficult – they have managed to evolve their sound while staying true to their own unique roots.
Now we could sit here for hours and reel off bands that deliver album after album with no discernable difference (other than their cover art). But with Because of the Times we get an album that is as fresh a sounding rock record as you are likely to find, complete with a dollop of southern tinged, preacher raised, goodness.
Now this isn’t an album punctuated by singles, lead single ‘On Call’ is probably the most commercial thing here. However, the strength of this record lies in the consistency of its’ 13 tracks.
Starting with opener ‘Knocked Up’, the rulebook is immediately thrown out the window. This is a 7-minute, slow burning, epic. It sees a couple hitting the road in their ‘coupe de ville’, running away from their small town families to ‘have a baby’ – it’s victory lies in the way it transports you onto a deserted American highway. It’s definitely not the start you expect – but boy it grabs your attention.
Keeping with the theme of surprise, the next song ‘Charmer’ demonstrates how to go from an epic track to one with screeching vocals and wailing guitars in one easy step. This is a sub 3-minute delight, distinctly paying homage to the Pixies, while leaving you to question how Caleb Followill could ever sing the song live (you’ll see).
Just two songs in and we have already heard the album’s two musical extremes. What follows is the meat - from the southern rock of ‘Black Thumbnail’, to the raw emotion of ‘True Love Way’, to the acoustic guitar backed ‘Fans’ – there is no low point. As Followill sings on ‘Fans’;
“Those raining days, they ain’t so bad when you’re the king, the king they want to see.”
This third offering from Tennessee’s finest is their best yet and it deserves all the credit it will undoubtedly get.
Essential Tracks
Knocked Up
True Love Way
Fans
Full Track Listing
1. Knocked Up (7:13)
2. Charmer (2:57)
3. On Call (3:23)
4. McFearless (3:10)
5. Black Thumbnail (4:00)
6. My Party (4:11)
7. True Love Way (4:03)
8. Ragoo (3:02)
9. Fans (3:37)
10. The Runner (4:17)
11. Trunk (3:58)
12. Camaro (3:07)
13. Arizona (4:50)
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