Kings of Leon rule again

Meredith Schneider / Staff Writer / The USD Vista

Hailing from Tennessee, Kings of Leon have released four mainstream albums to date under a band named after the father of three of the band members. Although they formed the band in 2000, their discography consists of “Youth and Young Manhood” from 2003, “Aha Shake Heartbreak” from 2005 and “Because of the Times” from 2007. Their newest release, “Only By Night,” graced shelves this September.

The Kings of Leon can be branded in a variety of different ways. Their last album, “Because of the Times,” earned them more recognition than their previous albums had, debuting at the top spot in the charts in the United Kingdom and Ireland and at No. 25 in the United States.

Over the years, their style has developed from a raspy, southern sound to a more polished sound that can be compared to that of U2, with whom they have toured and consider a great inspiration. Some might say that they are becoming too mainstream and losing touch with their roots, but their fan base seems to have increased consistently through the release of their new album. In fact, “Because of the Times” has earned them their second No. 1 release in the United Kingdom. Seems as though these boys are only picking up the pace.

Lead singer Caleb Followill does an excellent job of switching up the vocals on the new album. The album’s first offical single, “Sex, On Fire,” has a strong Bruce Springsteen-like quality as he strains his voice after each line. The energy is undeniable; it is the type of song that can be played in any environment and get people moving. It has been a hit already; released as their first single on Sept. 8, it earned them their first top 10 hit.

“Crawl” brings the band back to the synthesizer, blending a plethora of sounds to create something unique. It begins with a strong beat on the drum, which is quickly drowned out by computer-generated sound. There are lines in this song, as well as in their others, that seem as though they were composed out of a rhyming dictionary and have no further meaning. “Cause the rat and the fly/They’re searching for an alibi,” is a prime example of elementary rhyming.

“17” is a track that starts out with a soulful vibe. Unlike some Kings of Leon songs, it follows through with its original promise and sticks with the sound that it opens with. With strategically placed chimes and poignant guitar, the song marks itself as a crowd favorite.

Not quite classifiable, Kings of Leon have released an album worthy of a myriad of appraisals. “Because of the Times” was somewhat bothersome for fans because it sounded identical to U2, so the changes that come in the new album render positive for most listeners. It is clear that the Followill boys are still working on the development of their own sound.