King's of SPOT-ON

The Kings of Leon are a band that have done well so far without attracting too much mainstream attention, that Reading & Glasto fans could still come away singing their praises and not look Uncool. And when I heard a lot of hype surrounding this album and the band prior to Christmas I was unsettled by the thought of the band beginning to show signs of giving up creatively and producing music that we can all see through and think 'you're just not trying anymore' (Ahem, The Killers). But this really isn't the case with this album, this is possibly the best Kings of Leon album to date, with some brilliant Melodies, guitars layered in stadium-worthy delay, thumping drums and brilliant bass harmonies.
Opening track 'Close Crawl' does a great job at shaking off any Chart fans with a great Rock concert opener that is coated with anthemic reverb, and supportive backing guitar screeches complementing a beautifully crafted lead riff.
When a band can open an album with a track that is a constant build up like this, it shows their confidence and success, and for Kings of Leon this is really deserved.
Once the second track 'Crawl' enters this is where the sing-a-long Pop melodies heard on the adverts for this album come in to play. The only possible criticism of this album is here, as most bands really wring the flannel on a good catchy chorus melody, so that half way through the second listen we are sick of it, Kings of Leon have made theirs too short.
After the festival openers are out the way in comes the sure fire single 'Sex on Fire'. From the very first lyric 'Lay where you're laying' you know this is going to be sung in the head of any festival fuelled listener while they are in the shower cleaning out the mud of Glasto '09 from their hair.
The rest of the album continues in the same vain, echo-y, audience-sing-a-long romantic anthems that will run riot with nostalgia value, in the minds of festival go-ers this year, as they sift through photo slide shows of moments that made their summer.
This album really is a must own album, doused with tune after tune of brilliantly executed Rock anthems.

10/10