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Kings Of Leon – Only By The Night

When Kings Of Leon recorded their 2003 debut Youth & Young Manhood, bassist Jared was just 15. The bands rough rock sound captured the hearts of many, like me, starting to get into the growing English indie scene, yet failed to impact in their homeland. It’s clear from listening to the opening of their latest offering, Only By The Night, that they have grown a lot since then.

The slow fading in of the band on opening track Closer grabs you instantly, it just feels as though something truly epic is coming. The rest of the track does not disappoint. “It’s coming closer” Caleb’s voice eerily echoes over steadily growing music, as the freshly evolved sound of Kings Of Leon is unleashed. Here is a sound that is going to sound stunning when they play to sell out arena crowds across England in December.

Closer is followed immediately by Crawl, a track released on the internet as a warm up for the album (as appears to be the custom these days), first single Sex On Fire and (next single?) Use Somebody. And here in lies Only By The Night’s biggest flaw. The opening four tracks are all so strong that it takes away from the end of the album. Crawl, the bands first attempt a proper political track, thunders along as Caleb laces his emotions all over it, “The reds and the whites and the abused, the crucified USA”. Sex On Fire is the most lustful, passionate and glorious indie anthem to be written in a good while and Use Somebody is probably the bands best track.

However, patience is a virtue with this album. There would be something wrong if it wasn’t the opening 4 tracks that grabbed you on the first listen, but with persistence comes rewards as you learn to love the later tracks. While Manhattan and 17 are weak points in the link between beginning and end, this wound is healed by the beautifully nostalgic Revelry and the epic I Want You that rounds off the slower paced mid-section of this album.

The ominous feel from the beginning of the album returns during final track Cold Desert once the refreshingly upbeat ending to Be Somebody has faded away. Cold Desert fades out, then back in for no apparent reason, and builds up to an almost Sigur Ros-esque crescendo to round off the Followill brothers latest effort, firmly cementing them as one of the great bands of the decade.

This album is the sound of a band coming into their own, refining their sound to one that has the potential to throw them up there with all time great rock acts, and while I can’t see this album itself being their defining moment it definitely a big step on the path to kingly glory.

4/5

here is another review by Alexis Petridis of the Guardian...i actually agree with this alot...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/sep/19/kingsofleon.popandrock

ive just noticed that my posts on the streets and cut copy have mysteriously disappeared, so ill try and get them back shortly!