There are many words that come to mind when I think of the music that Kings of Leon produces: homey, soulful, amazing, and those are just a few. However, when it comes to the group’s new album, Come Around Sundown, the first that comes to mind is “arena”.
It is obvious that Kings of Leon, made up of brothers Caleb, Jared and Nathan Followill along with their cousin Matthew, were going for a bigger sound on this album. Come Around Sundown is its fifth studio album and a follow up to their award winning album, Only by the Night. With the praise the previous album received, it had plenty to live up to with the new one.
While Sundown was able to maintain a similar sound to its predecessor, it’s much more commercial than the Kings’ first three albums. The opening track alone titled “The End” is set apart from its previous works. With guitars rifts that are similar something by the Eagles and a rhythmic bass line, it’s a catchy song but not necessarily something new to fans.
The following track, “Radioactive”, deviates slightly from the rock n’ roll sound to take on a more country twang with a little gospel thrown in. As lead singer and guitarist Caleb croons about how “it’s in the water/it’s where you came from”, a choir joins him, adding to the “churchy” feel of the song. It is an upbeat track and is also the first single that will be released from the album.
The rest of the tracks showcase the Kings taking on many different sounds. The fourth track “Mary” sounds like a ballad from the 60s you might have heard the Beatles sing, while the song “Back Down South” is all country and also features violins and a traditional country guitar. It has something for everyone, except for fans hoping for something more daring.
By no means is the album bad, but it’s not the raw, gritty Kings of Leon that was portrayed on their second album, Aha Shake Heartbreak, or the powerful tracks from Because of the Times and Only by the Night. I’m all for progression with sound and it’s great when bands put out albums that don’t sound exactly the same as previous ones, but with Sundown, everything sounds safe and some of the tracks sound like the ones that came before them.
Despite all of this, there are a few shining tracks on the album. Track six, ‘The Immortals”, is akin to the Kings’ hit song, “Use Somebody”, with its intense chorus and raucous guitars, while it is also able to capture a sound that is reminiscent of their album Because of the Times. “Pony Up” as well is one of the better tracks. Its buoyancy coupled with jumping guitars and Caleb’s expressive voice make for an energetic song.
All in all, it’s a good album, but one that’s going to take some time to get used to. Maybe the Kings found a comfort zone it isn’t willing to escape, or maybe they were just going for a more mainstream sound. Whatever the case may be, they were able to make some good music.
