Rating: ***Truly embracing your musical heritage and beginnings is one thing. But branching out and expanding your horizons to the point of alienating fans is another.
I don't believe the Kings of Leon have managed to alienate their audience, in fact over the last two years their fanbase has grown considerably. They are a band who you will consider amongst some of the best the first decade into this century.
Believably, you could claim that they wanted to dazzle fans with unexpected changes in style between albums. This isn't really so, at the core of all this music is the distinctive Caleb Followill at the front of the music, with his distinctive southern swagger.
The initiation of synthesizers on Because of the Times, marked a turning point for their sound and direction. The songwriting on all three of their previous albums was sophisticated and consistent and i believe will continue to be for a long time. With the use of catchy melodies and introducing synths and an arena friendly demanour to the songs, they built on what they already had as reputable back catalogue.
Only By the Night builds on this again. The southern consciousness is ever prominent in all of the songs but the flourishes of synths still make this music accessible to fans fond of the early material of Youth and Young Manhood.
Hightlights include, Closer, Sex on Fire, Cold Desert.
Fans arguably wouldn't be continuing to latch on to this band as one of the most improved and exciting bands of the last 10 years. Other acts, namly The Strokes, had groundbreaking debut efforts but have failed to deliver on successive occassions, slowing down their momentum.
Kings of Leon have that momentum all have been able to continously suprise and delight fans thorughout their last three albums, and the newest is no exception. There's a lot to like here, and it all comes with ease as you would expect from the threesome from Tennesee.
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