KINGS OF LEON: Can We Please Have Fun (POP,Alternative Rock): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Twenty years into their career and nine albums to their credit, Kings Of Leon are a rather unique band, who for many years have been offering us a rather universal form of FM alternative rock with Southern inspirations. After the introspective “When You See Yourself” in 2021, this year sees “Can We Please Have Fun”, with its evocative title, the band having declared that they had made an album to enjoy themselves, without any particular pressure or expectations.

Those who grew up with Kings Of Leon and have been following them since “Only By The Night” will not be disoriented by the content of this new album. With the exception of the nervous 'Nothing To Do', the pace is as relaxed as ever, and the tracks, which border on pop, flow along smoothly. The bass, round and warm, is once again one of the most notable elements, a solid rhythmic and even melodic foundation, 'Rainbow Ball' and 'Actual Daydream' being the best examples. The guitars - and synthesizers - are always very light, building atmospheres that are often vaporous ('Ballerina Radio', 'Split Screen'), and Caleb Followill's highly recognizable vocals once again bring that famous coloration that makes Kings Of Leon 's music so singular.

Once again, the band can be criticized for their apparent nonchalance, delivering several tracks at the end of the album that are a little simplistic ('Don't Stop The Bleeding', 'M Television') or border on the indigence ('Hesitation Gen', 'Ease On Me'). 'Mustang', the title track, is no exception, taking us back to the band's early days. Kings Of Leon 's music has never been complex, but fortunately the band has always been able to find the right harmony or mood to transform a banal track into a success, such as the groovy 'Nowhere To Run', the sunny 'Actual Daydream' or the dark and heavy 'Seen'.

The reception of “Can We Please Have Fun” should trigger neither outrageous disappointment nor inordinate enthusiasm; it remains a highly respectable album from Kings Of Leon. Perhaps a little more mainstream than previous releases, “Can We Please Have Fun” confirms the band's slow evolution towards ever more accessible territory, to the detriment of originality. - Official website

KINGS OF LEON

CAN WE PLEASE HAVE FUN

CAPITOL

POP