Kings of Leon - Because of the Times (2007)

Like Modest Mouse, the White Stripes and Sgt. Pepper’s, I’ve always enjoyed Kings of Leon, but have never been able to give myself over to them unfalteringly. As much as I enjoyed Youth & Young Manhood, my allegiance weakened with release of their sophomore album, 2005’s Aha Shake Heartbreak. The Nashville-based group has always posed some problematic dilemmas. After all, their raucous, southern-fried roots evoke the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top and the Allman Brothers, but after a few repeated listens, I tend to turn back to the bands that influenced Kings of Leon, instead of revisiting the band’s repertoire. Because of the Times solves this problem quite nicely.

More sprawling, unfastened and at-times experimental than previous releases, Because of the Times reveals a Kings of Leon which sounds and feels like more than just a bundle of influences. “Black Thumbnail”, “My Party” and “Charmer” are taught rockers, laden with loose drum fills and guitar feedback which mark them as distinct and not merely derivative of bands like the Black Crowes. The slack laments of tracks like “Arizona”, “Camaro” and the album’s incredible opener, “Knocked Up” reveal a band that has grown into their backwater Bible-belt britches and whose talents now surpass clever derivation and quaint novelty. All of this would mean little if not for frontman Caleb Followill’s incredible and distinctly rock ‘n’ roll vocals. Like a pubescent Howlin’ Wolf, Followill believably bemoans starr-cross’d romance and spits unsullied Southern sentimentality like it actually means something. A great album.

Verdict: 4.4/5 (great)