albums and tracks

Editor's rating

It's very hard to take Kings Of Leon seriously. Not merely becauseof the fash mag good looks, the ludicrous Southern accents and the factthe Followills are three sons of a Pentecostal minister - even withoutthese things, they'd never feature on a Channel 4 list show of "100Serious Rock Acts" (This will almost certainly be made, and willfeature Rick Wakeman telling his story about ordering a curry during aguitar solo. Again. Fearne Cotton may even pretend she was in thecrowd).

So when they kick off their new album with the ratherclassy, if odd, seven-minute epic 'Knocked Up', it's a bit of asurprise - particularly when the second track 'Charmer' is a stalkingsaga featuring repeated, full-throated yelps from Caleb Followill.

Thereare a few departures, some more successful than others. GuitaristMatthew seems to have discovered the work of U2's The Edge (Followillfollows 'I Will Follow'?), whacking in bursts of harmonic stadiumguitar at regular intervals, while 'True Love Way' is uncomfortablyclose to The Strokes.

Still, aside from the opening two tracks,there are gems throughout. 'The Runner' is an intriguing, slowerdelight and 'On Call' shows they could still kick up a storm at a rockdisco. Overall, it is a pleasant departure from Kings Of Leon's formulaand their ambition deserves reward.

Jon Horsley