The Voice

Issue date: 4/9/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: RCA Records Nathan, Matthew, Caleb and Jared Followill of Kings of Leon.

	Because of the Times Kings of Leon RCA

Best Tracks

• On Call (CD track 3)
• My Party (CD track 6)
• True Love Way (CD Track 7)
• Fans (CD Track 9)

There's not much to say that hasn't already been said about the Kings of Leon. Their back story seemed enough for them to land a major-label record deal: three sons of a preacher travel through the South for the larger part of their youth but decide to ditch the holy life in favor of the hedonistic freedom of rock and roll. Nathan, Caleb, and Jared Followill recruit their cousin Matthew as lead guitarist, and on the strength of their southern-fried garage-punk sound- and a little bit of hype- explode in popularity in the U.K., with a bit of fame eventually trickling into the States. But the novelty of good story soon wears off, and here we are with the first KoL album to be judged solely by its own merit: Because of the Times.

On their first effort, Youth and Young Manhood, the brothers (and cousin) Followill busted wide open Southern tunes about hookers, murders, and sex shows. Their follow-up Aha Shake Heartbreak slowed things down a little but kept its grassroots appeal by being recorded live in the studio, sans overdubs. Noting the change of pace between albums, the Kings said that if Youth and Young Manhood was the party, Aha Shake Heartbreak was the hangover.

Because of the Times, then, must be the day after the day after the hangover, when everything's been done, apologies have been made, and it's time to clean up all the glass from the broken bottles and head on down the road. The times demand decisions, and the Kings are trying to figure out what it means to be a man: appreciation for life, love and babies- no more talk about transvestites in podunk towns, French kissing virgins, or switchblade brawls. All the sinning they've done has made them dirty, and in desperate need of redemption.

This struggle to be good in a bad world creates two very different types of songs. Tracks like the eerie and abrasive "Charmer" and the distortion-laden "My Party" are darker and heavier than anything the Nashville band has recorded thus far, but cheery melodies like "True Love Way" (dear Lord, a love song from Kings of Leon?) and "Fans," an ode to their English following, are uncharacteristically sweet. The best of the Kings' bare-knuckle badass leaks on "My Party," when singer Caleb threatens, "My cocky look emerges when you question my moves/ Cause you ain't got no taste/ You're talkin' 'bout my baby/ I could flip you upside down and I could mop this place." They may have grown up, but these good ol' boys are still ready to throw down in fisticuffs.

They also might be ready to settle down. The single "On Call" rides on a promise to be there for a woman and for the family. Caleb's usually scratchy delivery is replaced with pretty croons, intensified by Matthew's searing guitar solo that screams earnestly that what's being said is true.

While they gave in willingly to their demons while making their first two albums, Because of the Times makes it clear that there's an inner fight between the Kings' religious upbringing and their recent past as rock stars, and it's just beginning. "My cold cold sailor heart says get on your way/ I ain't too proud to say but that's how I'm made/ I'll be that person till my dying day/ I try so awful hard but I can't change," cries Caleb on "Black Thumbnail." His repentance echoes somber on "The Runner" as he remarks, "We know our times will change/ I talk to Jesus/ Jesus says I'm OK."

The Kings of Leon have matured significantly, at least for the moment. They've reshaped their sound and their image and have clearly improved their instrumental skills, but they haven't reached the end of the road yet. As any preacher will tell you, once the Devil has a grip on you, he doesn't easily let go.

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