KINGS OF LEON: Only By The Night (ALTERNATIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

They finally got it! This unavoidable hit that will finally propel Kings Of Leon to the top of the charts. 'Use Somebody' reached in December 2008 a very nice fourth place in the American Billboard 200. Across the Atlantic, it is rather the other single 'Sex on Fire' that will make a hit. It is the beginning of a success supported by the unanimous critics who will greet the evolution of a group proposing from now on an alternative rock much more consensual than the very rootsy Southern rock of the beginnings

In reality, not quite. If the most recent fans are over the moon, especially the ecstatic midget girls listening to Caleb Followill screaming the lyrics of 'Sex on Fire', the critics will be unleashed via opinions, sometimes hateful, which will only have this title in mind to shoot the Followill siblings. However, "Only By The Night" is the logical continuation of "Because of The Times", an album that didn't really thrill the crowds. And this is not new, Kings of Leon have always talked about sex and often not in a very subtle way. Whether you like it or not, Caleb's vocals haven't changed much either, keeping that fragility even if he sounds more accurate and confident.

Reading the title, the theme of 'Sex on fire' seems obvious. It is as always pictorial (fortunately) but the subject is clear and does not deserve to be dwelled on. As far as the music is concerned, the song doesn't revolutionize anything, but it is terribly efficient. The verses are only there to bring a chorus which comes each time to dynamize the song. It is catchy, easy to remember, nothing more... And finally 'Use Somebody' is just a repeat of the same recipe, adding just a little solo at the end of the song. Its chorus is easily memorized with the 'oh oh oh' that allow to be taken back on stage by the crowd. Some will stop there and it's a pity.

Because Kings Of Leon knows how to propose other more personal and less formatted compositions. Let's already mention 'Closer' the title that opens the album, very close in its concept to 'Knocked up' that started "Because of The Times". With its small haunting melody, it goes up very slowly in power to totally release the pressure on its last seconds. The drums are quite interesting here with its 3 beats in offbeat with the bass drum. This is the kind of track that makes the strength of Kings Of Leon and on which they will rely in their last productions.

In another genre, 'Crawl' is also interesting for its bass using a big muff which gives a very dirty and saturated sound, this famous bass very put forward and making the melody, characteristic of the Kings Of Leon sound that we can also appreciate on the choruses of 'Manhattan' or 'Revelry'. And not to cut completely with its roots, the band offers us at the end of the album an old-fashioned 'I Want You' and a slow and introspective 'Cold Desert', a logical conclusion of this production with a coherent content.

Despite those who refuse their metamorphosis, Kings Of Leon seems to have found its way on this "Only By The Night" which is not limited to its two hits. The band is still looking for itself, experimenting, everything is not perfect but the bases are there. An album which is a very good introduction to discover this band which is only at the beginning of its career and which has not finished offering us beautiful songs. - Official website

KINGS OF LEON

ONLY BY THE NIGHT

RCA

ALTERNATIVE ROCK