"If it's not forever, if it's just tonight, it's still the greatest...your sex is on fire." Though somewhat inane, these lyrics belting across the airwaves initially attracted me to the four piece rock outfit from Tennessee, Kings of Leon. Call me a perv, but I'm glad they caught my attention. Although KOL's first album was released in 2003 and I've heard some KOL tunes before, the single Sex on Fire from their fourth full-length album Only By The Night (RCA Records, September 23, 2008) compelled me to delve into the KOL music library. As I worked my way backwards through their collection, I was less and less satisfied by the sound. Upon taking Only for a spin, however, I discovered a pleasurable departure from their early music and the bait I needed to be hooked to KOL.

Three brothers - Caleb (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Nathan (drums) and Jared (bass) - and their cousin, Matthew (lead guitar) -, all ending in Followill, are the KOL; three sons of a Pentecostal minister with a Southern religious upbringing. As expected from this childhood, KOL's first two albums contain beats and riffs heard in country and southern rock. With each record, the band further evolved from the up and down pulse of country to more mainstream and alternative rock rhythms that propel the music forward; in simpler terms, less Billy Ray, more Pearl Jam and U2 (two esteemed bands for which KOL has opened).

With each passing album, Caleb's boot stomping, mumbled, talk-sing style dissipates in favor of bona fide, well-articulated singing. A noticeable Southern accent remains, most notably in the track 17, but Caleb's voice is soulful and in the third and fourth albums shows actual range and melody. Caleb's voice is distinct and compelling; it's about time he stretches its proverbial wings.

Fairly consistent from top to bottom, the record opens with Closer, a druggy, artsy rock tune with a hint of Otis Redding. Next up is Crawl, a grittier tune with scratchy guitar riffs about taking loved ones for granted; it's markedly different from everything else on the album. The hot sex song previously mentioned follows it up just before Use Somebody and Be Somebody, sentimental tracks akin to those of Coldplay, the latter of which is one of the only songs that feature piano. Separating the poignant tunes is Manhattan, a light-hearted track about enjoying life. And finally, Cold Dessert a U2, Band of Horses-esque ballad tops it off.

What we are likely witnessing by KOL's third album and even more so with this fourth release, is a not-so-subtle choice to take their music on the route to mainstream-ville.

With what I view as a large departure from their first two albums and an expansion on what they started to do with the third, KOL has the ability to attract a new audience with Only By The Night; however, maybe at the risk of alienating their original fans who may have appreciated the country backdrop. Although KOL can rightfully be applauded for having a diverse discography, for me, it didn't work...until now.

UPCOMING SHOW: Kings of Leon (with guests We Are Scientists and The Stills)
October 15 7PM
Nokia Theater
777 Chick Hearn Court
Los Angeles, CA 90015
$30-$45
www.kingsofleon.com
Myspace

Story by Megan Karasch.

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