Kings of Leon: Come Around Sundown, Track by Track

No more beards. Plenty more hits?

Where did it all go right? In 2003 brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared and first cousin Matthew were a bunch of weirdos wearing tight denim and sporting long hair and enormous beards. They looked pretty disgusting, but rode a post-strokes wave of super-cool indie and released their debut album Youth & Young Manhood . Seven years later and the boys from Tennessee are releasing fifth record Come Around Sundown as one of the biggest bands on planet rock. Less amazingly, they shaved their previously marvellous faces and got themselves some trendy haircuts so now all their photos look like Topman adverts.

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No matter! Let’s see if they can still bring the hits.

01 The End

And we begin with The End and its heavy bass, eerie and echoey guitar lines and Caleb Followill sounding all tortured. “This could be the end,” he sings, before adding: “’cos I ain’t got a home.” Dude! You’re rich! FHM says: A familiar opening that’ll convert no one, but reassure followers of KOL’s twisted country.

02 Radioactive

Lead single featuring high-pitched guitar twiddles, a sepia and gospel choir-heavy video and a huge chorus: “It’s in the water! It’s where you came from!” Stadiums worldwide prepare to bellow in 2011.

FHM says: Might be an anthem about contaminated drinking water. Might not. Either way: a hit.

03 Pyro

Down to the dirty business of an album track.

Killer or filler? Depends if you like the Kings best when they’re boogying and lively or reflective and soulful. This is the latter.

FHM says: We like the former. Sorry.

04 Mary

Promising title given the quartet are often best when writing songs about humping. Uncharacteristically, this is a shy song about courting.

FHM says: Has the album’s first proper guitar solo.

05 The Face

Another good title. Makes us think of Play-Doh.

Starts slow. Moody bass. Controlled drums. Looks like Come Around Sundown is a much mellower affair than Only By The Night.

FHM says: We miss Caleb’s beard.

06 The Immortals

Oh, hello country music for modern chaps. Come on lads. Bring the noise. Bring the rock. Show us who’s boss. Destroy us. Epic but disappointing chorus, charmingly skewy bass solo.

FHM says: Arena rock pretending not to be.

07 Back Down South

Time to resurrect the back story. Slide guitar: check. Lyrics about “pretty little girls”: check. Barely audible vocals: check. The impression that this would go down well at one of Sarah Palin’s dinner parties: check.

FHM says: Sounds like old times and apple pie.

08 Beach Side

Here it comes. A song about party times and smoking. FHM says: Things are about to kick off.

09 No Money

Finally, something to get sweaty to. Big rock song by a big rock band. But: “I got no money, but I want you so.” Dude! We told you already! You’re rich!

FHM says: Come Around Sundown’s biggest moment so far. This’ll be a single. Tell all your friends.

10 Pony Up

Ten songs in and the boys are hitting their stride. So much so they’ve got the cowbell out. You know the score: cowbells are always a good idea.

FHM says: Any idea what ‘pony up’ means? To reluctantly pay money for something, that’s what.

11 Birthday

It’s a Caleb Followill sexy time special: “Your comeon legs and your pantyhose/You look so precious with your bloody nose.” Randy bugger.

FHM says: The higher-tempo second half of the record continues. The Leon are having it.

12 Mi Amigo

A slow rocker that, at one point, features someone telling Caleb he’s got a big dong. A lady, probably. FHM says: A sound track to sitting on the veranda of your house in the middle of nowhere, swatting flies and spitting out your chewing tobacco.

13 Pick-Up Truck

A sombre ending. Moonlight, driving, bloody teeth, distant memories and regrets about acts of violence. FHM says: And the fifth Kings Of Leon album ends, leaving the taste of dust, retribution and homemade lemonade in our mouths.

From the November 2010 issue of FHM India.