Kings of Leon - Only By The Night

The first few albums by these guys didn't do much for me but starting with their last album, Because of the Times, they have moved in a direction that I really dig. This new album is their best yet in my opinion and the first single, "Sex on Fire", I've no doubt will be in my top 5 singles of the year. What's funny is that most of the reviews I've read have been bashing it as their worst album, so what the fuck do I know I guess. I know I love it at the very least. Do yourself a favour and watch "Sex on Fire" at the end of this post, it's such a fucking amazing song.

America, it seems, doesn't really want the Kings of Leon. Inexplicibly, the countrified rockers are more popular overseas - something their stunning new album might still struggle to change.

On-the-button music magazine Blender could only muster three-and-a-half stars for Only By The Night, despite overwhelmingly lavish praise from British rags Q (four stars) and NME (nine out of 10).

The Brits have got it right. The Kings' fourth album is a pared-back record that replaces those ear-shredding riffs and vocal shrieks that hindered last year's Because of the Times with something more understated, anthemic and unique.

The results are spine-tinglingly thrilling, thanks to one major change: front man Caleb Followill is singing. Like, proper singing.

His indescipherable southern drawl has been replaced by a slower, more pronounced lilt that sounds like he cares - especially on summer smash Sex On Fire and hit-in-waiting Use Somebody.

They're also writing songs that are capable of rocking stadiums and the charts.

If you want anthems, Only By The Night has got them, whether it's the atmospheric opener Closer, the indie-rock of Manhattan, the power-stomp of Crawl and the piano-based sing-along Notion.

Keep saying no, America. The rest of the world will gladly have the Kings of Leon. -- from here.

Click here.

Sex On Fire