Born Again Rebels
May 20th 2008 01:17
The King’s of Leon (KoL) have spat out an album of southern swagger with an edge. Their latest sound has matured with heavier, more angular tracks like Charmer, whose screeching and downright unsettling sound shows just how dramatically far the quartet have come from their preaching southern roots of Tennessee.
The boys initially broke from the influences of their Pentecostal preaching father Leon in 2003 with the release of their EP Holy Roller Novocaine. According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Inspiration came from enlightenment into rock n roll via their friend Mary Jane who showed up one day with a stash of pot and the Led Zeppelin box set. For a week the boys smoked as much weed as they could and had their virginal experience with the history making band, Nathan claiming it “blew our minds”.
KoL’s initial sound was undoubtedly original, and echoed the whisky tainted shattering of their religious upbringing, induced by their parents divorce and their father Leon leaving the church.
KoL’s first album Youth and Young Manhood’s hillbilly garage rock was a breath of fresh air into the indie alternate rock scene. Particularly successful in the UK, international classics such as The Strokes and U2 plucked the boys from their mum’s garage in Tennessee and thrust them onstage as their main supporting act.
However KoL truly came into their own with the release of their second album Aha Shake Heartbreak which was released in the UK in 2004. Classic songs such as The Bucket detail the group coming to terms with fame through Caleb’s upbeat folksy drawl – “I hate the way you talk your Japanese scream, it’s been too long since I’ve left the shed,” amidst chiming electric guitars. The album progresses with dabbling in traditional folk that Caleb’s voice seems innately attached to in Day Old Blues, whilst the band flaunts a punchy southern drawl in Four Kicks. The taunting chorus aimed at a “switchblade posse” is a smooth break between ground stomping, shoe kicking drum and base rhythm. As testimony the KoL’s growing popularity and well earnt respect within the industry, the 2004 Glastonbury Festival saw them boosted second to headliners Oasis, upon Noel Gahhagher’s personal request.
Proving that they are a band whose sound matures with age, KoL’s latest album Because of the Times sold 70,000 copies in it’s first week and debuted at #1 on the charts. The track On Call gave fans a taste of what was to come, being released a week before the album. The single enticed listeners with its eerie light metal ringing that gains momentum with an electric base, creating a perfect stage for the love song Caleb wraps his elastic voice around. Old KoL followers will be welcomed home with folksy tracks like Fans, whilst the boys continue to gain new attention with their evolving lyrics and edgier sound. An album that entertains whilst keeping you on your toes – 4/5 stars.
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