• Kings trade raw immediacy for polished production.
Brothers Caleb, Nathan, Jared and cousin Matthew Followill have come a long way from their rural upbringing under the stringent supervision of their evangelist pastor father. Eschewing their nostalgic long hair, denim and moustache phase for a more polished, contemporary approach, Kings of Leon have matured and left behind their days as the incumbent princes of psychedelic rock.
Fashioned after some seedy motel along the interstate, Only by the Night reveals itself in carefully measured increments, keeping listeners in suspense as to what might come next. Swirling whirlpools of distortion announce opener “Closer,” a reverb-enriched cross-section of modern rock that is not without its hooks. Reminiscent of Monster Magnet front man Dave Wyndorf’s all-knowing admonitions, Caleb’s soulful voice breaks through with an off-the-cuff nonchalance that belies the underlying intensity of his emotions. Trading the raw immediacy of their previous release, Because of the Times, for quavering walls of synthetic sound, silken choruses and strut-worthy melodies, Kings of Leon openly embrace an expansive stadium-rock sound that still retains tinges of their former Southern boogie roots.
Post the first comment: (Login or Register)