Kings Of Leon Might End Up Real Kings (Of England) At This Rate

Dan Gibson | September 22, 2008 10:00 am

Our look at the closing lines of the biggest and most important new-music reviews continues with a roundup of reactions to rock revivalists Kings Of Leon’s Only By The Night, which hits stores in the U.S. tomorrow:

• “…no one ever demanded a refund at a Coldplay gig because the songs were too calculating and the words to ‘Fix You’ rang a little trite. They want big, streamlined tunes, which is what Only By The Night provides. Occasionally, it provides them in a way that suggests the Kings of Leon could be a more intriguing and characterful band if they wanted, but perhaps they don’t want. They’re putting plenty of bums on seats as they are.” [Guardian]

• “Surely, we can do better for the platonic ideal of a rock band than four guys gunning for a spot rightfully inhabited by My Morning Jacket but instead coming up with the best songs 3 Doors Down never wrote.” [Pitchfork]

• “Anyone waiting for a more invigorating–or better–rock record to come along this year should try another planet. This throne’s taken.” [The Mirror]

• “But when the Kings find a gussied-up groove with teeth — like the effects-laden Zeppelin stomp of ‘Crawl’ or the pulsating, New Wave ‘Sex on Fire’–they sound like rock heroes experiencing the joy of well-manicured sound.” [Rolling Stone]