Razz (Kings Of Leon) (LP 2951 - 2955)

Kings of Leon  Aha Shake Heartbreak (CD, RCA Records, 2004) **** 

Kings of Leon  Because of the Times (CD, RCA Records, 2007) ****

Kings of Leon  Only by the Night (CD, RCA Records, 2008) **** 

Kings of Leon  Come Around Sundown (CD, RCA Records, 2010) ***

Kings of Leon  Mechanical Bull (CD, RCA Records, 2013) ****  

Genre: NZ Music, pop 

Places I remember: Charity shops in Caterham (yes, all of these CDs)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Sex On Fire (Only by the Night)

Gear costume: Pistol of Fire (Aha Shake Heartbreak); On Call (Because of the Times)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4

Active compensatory factors: The Followell brothers and a cousin make up Kings of Leon. Their blend of American southern rock and UK indie rock is a winning combination, plus they have the distinctive drawly vocals by Caleb Followell unifying their sound.

I picked up all of these albums (their second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth) cheap from various charity shops in Caterham. CDs are now seen as poor cousins to digital these days obviously. No matter - my gain!

I like Kings of Leon without loving them - i.e. I wouldn't actively pursue them and complete their catalogue. Mainly because they sound quite samey on the surface. 

That said, Aha Shake Heartbreak is very indie rocky compared to Because of the Times which settles into a more spacious rock approach. I like both!

Only by the Night is also a quality rock album - the upward trajectory continues. This is the one with Sex On Fire as the big hit, but the rest of the album is on fire as well. Caleb's vocals are to the fore now and he is enunciating more as well (these things are relative - he still garbles words in a unique way). 

Come Around Sundown is a bit of a holding pattern as the guys aim to replicate the big sound from the previous album and they largely succeed, although there aren't any huge hits on this one.

Mechanical Bull was a good refresh to the Kings of Leon sound. It doesn't try too hard and sounds a bit freer - Comeback Story is a good example - a poppy, countryish feel with catchy chorus and melody. 

Caleb also sounds great throughout. His voice has undergone changes over the years. This album should appeal to people who previously discounted Kings of Leon.

Where do they all belong? I'll pick up their other albums if I stumble upon them.