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Kings of Leon AOL Sessions |
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Sunday, 25 February 2007 |
 The rhythm guitar playing, front man Followills brother Caleb, has one of the most recognizable voices in the business. But the songs from their latest album ‘Because of the times’ to be released in April, proves they shouldn’t be thought of as predictable. During a session at West London’s Olympic Studios, the Kings Of Leon played 6 tracks from their forthcoming album that will be exclusively available on the AOL Music site.
Long gone are the 70’s beards and hairstyles and flares and now the guys look as comfortable in their skins and drainpipes as they do playing these songs. The new material comes across as having much more of themselves in it and you get the feeling that this is how they always wanted to rock but held back from playing it because they lacked the confidence to be this honest. The two standouts in the session were My Party, a number that takes Calebs distinctive voice and messes with it through an effects mic, and Black Thumb which is a massive track that should get the crowds at the biggest of venues moving. Other tracks are strong and vary in pace and complexity but all of them are strong and will play well on the summer festival circuit.
The KOL are Nashville based and a fine place it must be if you’re serious about your music, and the Kings certainly care about theirs. During the session, they weren’t only concentrating on their own pieces but acutely attentive to their other family members’. The fact that a note had been bummed was completely missed by us in the gallery but clearly visible on the face of the offender with a confession hurriedly made at the end of the track before another member could jump on it. Maybe it’s the influence of their father with whom they traveled around the southern states while he preached the honest Word. The music also shows strong links their upbringing – they weren’t allowed to listen to ‘modern music’ and grew up in the areas of the US that most white blues based bands sing about without having lived the lyrics. And there are the keys to their music; God fearing southern folk, pre 80’s rock influences, no TV as kids but loads of time to practice becoming dammed good musicians.
Written by: Stephen Izatt
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