Kings of Leon review: "only by the night"
Michael Mayday
Issue date: 10/23/08 Section: Arts
The U.S. alternative rock band Kings of Leon has released their latest album "Only by the Night" in the United States following their United Kingdom release. "Only by the Night" is the Kings' fourth album release, but it has shown the quick maturity of the Followill brothers -Caleb, Nathan and Jared - and their cousin Matthew Followill in the music industry.
With a heavy southern voice and modern rock influence the band has jumped to the top of the charts in the United Kingdom, but has had a lackluster success here. Perhaps it's because we can get alternative southern rock in our backyard. But when you listen to "Only by the Night," it's not hard to understand why the Kings aren't doing so well in the U.S.
The album opens with a swank guitar and drum rhythm in "Closer" and continues its originality for about four songs. After "Sex on Fire," however, the sound begins to meld together. Maybe it's to make the four good songs stand out. But listening to the whole album, one can't shake the feeling that the band tried filling a quota rather than making music for the joy of it.
The Kings' vocals rely on lead singer Caleb Followill and use little in the way of backup or alternating vocals. He has a fine-tuned, folksy voice, but his repetitive style throughout the album grows old. But the Kings shine when lead guitarist Matthew Followill and drummer Nathan Followill take charge with melody and beat and show the band's skill in an explosion of sound.
A virgin listener may just want to purchase "Sex on Fire" and "Closer" off iTunes Music Store for immediate gratification. While the album has its gems, like "Sex on Fire" and "The Bucket," listeners may not find them enough to justify the full album price.
The album has listeners expecting the next song to be better than the last, but it never happens. There's no climax, only disappointment in its absence.
But passing up the Kings of Leon would be a mistake. They're good, as their past albums have proven - but "Only by the Night" could've been much, much better.
With a heavy southern voice and modern rock influence the band has jumped to the top of the charts in the United Kingdom, but has had a lackluster success here. Perhaps it's because we can get alternative southern rock in our backyard. But when you listen to "Only by the Night," it's not hard to understand why the Kings aren't doing so well in the U.S.
The album opens with a swank guitar and drum rhythm in "Closer" and continues its originality for about four songs. After "Sex on Fire," however, the sound begins to meld together. Maybe it's to make the four good songs stand out. But listening to the whole album, one can't shake the feeling that the band tried filling a quota rather than making music for the joy of it.
The Kings' vocals rely on lead singer Caleb Followill and use little in the way of backup or alternating vocals. He has a fine-tuned, folksy voice, but his repetitive style throughout the album grows old. But the Kings shine when lead guitarist Matthew Followill and drummer Nathan Followill take charge with melody and beat and show the band's skill in an explosion of sound.
A virgin listener may just want to purchase "Sex on Fire" and "Closer" off iTunes Music Store for immediate gratification. While the album has its gems, like "Sex on Fire" and "The Bucket," listeners may not find them enough to justify the full album price.
The album has listeners expecting the next song to be better than the last, but it never happens. There's no climax, only disappointment in its absence.
But passing up the Kings of Leon would be a mistake. They're good, as their past albums have proven - but "Only by the Night" could've been much, much better.
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