KINGS OF LEON: Youth And Young Manhood (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Long before the arrival of their interplanetary hit "Sex on Fire" and the success that would accompany it, the Kings Of Leon distilled a southern rock that many describe as a mix of the Strokes and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Their first album "Youth and Young Manhood", which follows a relatively successful EP, presents four young boys from the same family ready to defend their southern roots in music and their will to emancipate themselves from a very religious family (the father of three of them was a preacher).

It is obvious that the fans who knew and appreciated Kings Of Leon late will be surprised, even disappointed by the content of this first effort. Forget the prominent bass that makes the backbone of most of the current tracks and the alternative and intimate style that encompasses the last albums. Here, you'll only find a rather heterogeneous mix of garage, blues and even punk rock on a dozen of very short tracks with a very roots production.

Apart from the fact that nothing resembles - at first sight - what Kings Of Leon does nowadays, from the vocals which seem here very nonchalant, sometimes forced to the limit of the listenable ('Trani') to the often anecdotal and strongly dated compositions, some curious people could well find some small nuggets to their taste. Starting with the single 'Molly's Chambers' whose melody, quite known, should make a great number of listeners wake up from their torpor as well as 'California Waiting' which is the closest to what Kings Of Leon proposes nowadays (except for this unbearable final). We could also mention to a lesser extent 'Red Morning Light' for its dynamism and its construction a little more evolved.

If this "Youth and Young Manhood" is likely to be forgotten in 2022 for a majority of recent Kings Of Leon fans with its too redundant punk rhythms and its simplistic melodies, it remains nevertheless an interesting testimony of the evolution of the band. If you listen carefully, you'll find in the background the beginnings of what will become the band, especially this omnipresent humming bass, some intonations in the vocals and these lyrics divided between religious roots and sex. - Official website

KINGS OF LEON

YOUTH AND YOUNG MANHOOD

RCA

ROCK