It doesn’t seem like long ago that Kings of Leon burst onto the rock music scene with Youth and Young Manhood, a Southern-fried rock gem that earned the acclaim of many a music critic. Ironically, the success of the album put them back in a place they were hardly unfamiliar with: the road.Brothers Nathan, Caleb and Jared Followill spent a large portion of their youth traveling with their father, who was a United Pentecostal Church preacher. They eventually joined forces with their cousin, Matthew, in 2000 and released Youth and Young Manhood three years later.
Their sophomore effort, Aha Shake Heartbreak, earned the same amount of approval as the debut.
Because of the Times marks an artistic turn of the corner for the group, whose sound has changed significantly from the simplistic, energy-driven buzz of the first two albums. The album’s title is a rather blunt reference to the name of a United Pentecostal Church conference.
For the most part, critics have either panned or praised Because of the Times, and while it probably isn’t the group’s magnum opus, Kings of Leon succeeded in making three great albums in succession despite the slight modification in sound, which is comparable to U2 with a Southern buzz and a smothering heap of reverb.
However, one aspect of the group’s signature style hasn’t changed one bit. The overall theme and inspiration for the majority of the material on the band’s latest release is the struggle to understand the opposite sex.
The album begins with “Knocked Up,” an epic tale with self-explanatory lyrics that leave little room for open interpretation from listeners: “I don’t care what nobody says/ We’re gonna have a baby/ Taking off in a Coup deVille/ She’s buckled up on navy/ She don’t care what her momma says/ No she’s gonna have my baby.” Apparently, the storyteller and his wife are going to have their child whether their parents like it or not.
Despite the lack of subtlety, the 7 minute anthem is easily among the group’s best songs. Lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Caleb Followill solidifies his status as one of the most unique voices in modern rock, while drummer Nathan keeps a consistent shuffle throughout.
With “Charmer,” it’s evident that the Kings of Leon have been listening to more than their fair share of Pixies. While the song is almost a complete rip-off of the late ’80s rock band’s style, it still manages to be strong and captivating.
“On Call” was the first single from the album to be released. It builds on the catchiness of the first two tracks but takes a considerable step back lyrically. “I’m on call, to be there/ One and all/ I’ll be there/ When I fall, to pieces/ No I don’t know, I’ll be there waiting.”
Did the group try to steal a page from the Coldplay book of songwriting? “On Call” is still a great song, and it’s easy to see why it would be a single, but the lyrics make little sense and leave a lot to be desired.
“McFearless,” the fourth track, is not only quite possibly the best song on the album, but literally sounds like it was recorded on the moon. From here the album seems to hit a plateau, as a few of the remaining songs fail to match the quality of the first four.
“My Party” marks the low point of the album. Everything from the riff to the lyrics fails to be remotely engaging and could easily be categorized as forgettable album filler.
“True Love Way” manages to be much more listenable and solid. Aside from “On Call,” it’s the closest thing to a ballad the group has to offer on the album.
“Fans,” “The Runner” and “Trunk” act as somewhat of a country-soaked acoustic trilogy that complements the first portion of the album well and hearkens back to the feel the group was able to achieve on Youth and Young Manhood.
Caleb Followill sounds at his most convincing on “Camaro.” His vocals and storytelling are superior, and the straightforward rhythms make the song effective and strong.
“Arizona,” the album’s finale, manages to be one of a handful of master works on the album. Very few artists can pen such simplistic yet time-stopping lyrics anymore: “She waits/ in and out of Texas/ She must be plum crazy/ I kinda think I like her/ I kinda think I do.”
Despite a few weak moments, the group has reached new heights with Because of the Times. It’s hard to believe they could have done much better than Aha Shake Heartbreak, but the band has proven itself a well-oiled machine. If the Followill boys improve too much more, they just might be the band capable of recording the perfect rock album of our time. Watch out for these guys.