Kings of Leon. You’ve heard of them and if you haven’t I would have to assume you’ve been living under a rock for the past year. They exploded last year and they’ve been going strong since then. They’re on tour now playing and selling out big arenas.

Ever since ‘Sex On Fire’ exploded on the radio last year there has been a lot of talk about them. This is the kind of band you either hate or love (and I’m not so sure why that is.) I for one love this band. I have friends who hate them and I guess I can understand that because I feel that way about hundreds of bands that I find really annoying and bad. The album that stands out the most, to me, is Because of the Times.

Because of the Times is the band’s third album which was released in 2007. With songs like ‘Knocked Up’, ‘Fans’, ‘On Call’, and ‘My Party’ it’s hard to deny the fact that this band is made of pure talent. ‘Knocked Up’ is a love song about a man who’s leaving town with his pregnant girlfriend. “She don’t care what her mama says no she’s gonna have my baby.” The lyrics of the song are slightly weird because it’s a song about a man who knocked up a woman and is willing to leave town to stay with her. The album is full of amazing lyrics. It’s not as fast paced as the band’s second album. The only way I can describe this album, and the albums before it, is probably to say that it’s a Southern-rock album. Because of the Times started a change in the band’s sound but not a bad change. It’s a change from a Southern-rock sound to a more alternative/arena rock sound. When I lay down and listen to the first two albums I just imagine myself in Tennessee in a rodeo or something like that. The band’s second album, Aha Shake Heartbreak, has upbeat fast rhythm songs that are energetic and electrifying, if that makes sense.

Right now the band is on tour supported by Built to Spill and The Features. They’re playing for a sold out crowd at the Hollywood Bowl on July 12th. On the 14th they’re playing at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine (tickets still available!) I will post a review of their Irvine show for you all next week. I think that’s enough of a rant for now.

–Laura