“Razz” asks, “Lord have mercy.” On “Day Old Blues” the band alludes to a praying woman. It’s all babbling obscurity and trouble from there on out.
In general, this stickered disc is a bohemian love-in combining casual sex and intoxication. Its less explicit tunes find singer Caleb Followill recalling splendor in the grass (“Pistol of Fire”), a wild party girl (“King of the Rodeo”) and “drinking for two” in a hotel lobby (“The Bucket”). “Milk” alludes to wine and a loaner toothbrush, and gets dark with the plea of “Kill me! Kill me!” On “Slow Night, So Long” a heel takes advantage of an underage girl who is “absolutely wasted.” The graphic “Soft” describes being drunk and impotent. Among the disc’s profanities, “Remmo” repeats “m—–f—ers” several times. Other songs mention a rumble with guns and switchblades (“Four Kicks”), a defeatist who is as “mad as h—” (“Day Old Blues”) and a trafficker of heartbreak “with a motel face” (“Taper Jean Girl”).
This roots-rock act’s biggest claim to fame so far is that it has opened for U2. That gives them a credibility of sorts. Too bad. Three of the four guys are brothers—sheltered preacher’s kids who went wild with sex, drugs and alcohol when Dad left Mom and the ministry (“This whole new world was open to us”). They say their vices inspire them. Don’t let Kings of Leon’s musical bacchanalia inspire your teens.
After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.
