Are Kings Of Leon good again? The last time the Nashville quartet released an album I genuinely fell in love with was in a pre-global financial crisis world. Then, times changed.
The world became a very different place. The Kings of Leon responsible for the 2007 masterpiece ‘Because Of The Times‘ no longer seemed to be scrapping for a fight. They appeared to be replaced by a polished stadium rock act that wrote predominantly for label executives and TV commercials.
“Appeared to be“, because the Followill brothers and cousin sound ready to get dirty again. In February, the band dropped “Mustang“, the first single off their upcoming album and Capitol Records debut ‘Can We Please Have Fun‘. Nature is healing – with a little help from producer-to-the-stars Kid Harpoon.
Jared‘s meandering bass lines take centre stage once more, with Caleb and Matthew‘s hooks and riffs bouncing off the groove – the unmistakable work of the badass gang that put “Camaro” together all those years ago. Nathan, unsurprisingly, delivers a groove that is characteristically solid as a rock.
Lyrically, we can discuss whether the line “Are you a Mustang or a kitty” does justice to an otherwise interesting commentary on the superficial urban life of a grown-up country boy – I think. But vocally, Caleb sounds pissed off. The guy who threatened to “flip you upside down” and “mop this place” is back. Praise be.
Kings Of Leon might just be good again. We will soon know for sure, as we’re drip-fed more tracks in the lead-up to 10 May when the new album “hits the shelves“, as the saying went back in 2007.
TRACKS:
