Kings Of Leon
Because Of The Times

THE REVIEW

"What was the last song you played tonight? It was the most intense thrill of my entire life." Words of Bob Dylan, directed towards the Kings Of Leon.

I believe it's everyone's dream, come on, that Mr. Dylan should utter these beautiful words. Who knows if good old Caleb fainted, happily hugged old Bob, or simply smiled with satisfaction, knowing that his band's new work has achieved indisputable, albeit unexpected, heights.

And so, my dear ones, from a decent garage rock band and little else, the K.O.L. earn the gold medal for the most remarkable high jump of the year. There are no other words to describe this astonishing third album "Because Of The Times," an incredible, dense, and rocky rock record that seems to leap out from a dusty basement closed since the '70s.

Courage in spades, as they say, right from the mighty opener "Knocked Up," a little over seven minutes where Caleb Followill's voice (in stellar form) lays over a bare melody based on bass, yet interrupted by bursts of drums and electric guitar. Still, the entire album exudes quality from every pore, from "Charmer" (a kind of headbutt between an angry Eddie Vedder and a Kele Okereke who failed a breathalyzer test) to "On Call" (great yet representing the more commercial—and marketable—side of the work), from the hard flairs of "McFearless" and "Black Thumbnail" to the clerically-inclined vein of "The Runner," culminating with "My Party," four minutes and ten seconds of unrestrained punk-funk that wipes out the entire discography of Franz Ferdinand in one fell swoop. Not to mention the rhythmic single "Fans," where Caleb has fun pretending to be voiceless. "Arizona," then, is the perfect closure even in the title, fully evoking the atmosphere.

Music that seems to come from distant times and places, dusty and retro (though never in the pejorative sense) yet well-crafted and polished, managing to be both a stick and a carrot, a punch to the face or a reassuring caress, but always something clear and unmistakable. We've already mentioned Caleb Followill's voice, undoubtedly the medium that perfectly squares the circle (with expressiveness now reaching frighteningly impactful levels) for a proposition now mature and self-aware.

The path of good music, in this well-advanced 2007, also runs through the courtyard of the Kings Of Leon.