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Kings Of Leon :: "McFearless"From Because Of The Time (RCA; 2007)
“On Call” is the single, and, with its quick-shift chorus grandiosity and circular melodic pull, it ought to be. It’s proof of the Followills’ capacity to bridge the dirt-empty ruckus of their debut with mainstream accessibility while still following their muse into stranger, unkempt territory. The problem: it’s kinda boring, especially sandwiched between seething Stooges rave-up “Charmer” and this slithery, chiming whale call of a song. “McFearless” is one of those capable post-Nirvana deals split decisively between verse and chorus; first the faux-drum-n-bass stutter of the verse, recalling the dear departed D-Plan, mush-mouthed vocals and stretched guitar hiccups leaning luxuriously against the beat, and then the chorus, which slams into standard time with a four-on-the-floor chest-pound. Straddling this edge, with a foot in mere atmosphere and one in pompous largesse, this sounds like a U2 would if a U2 could be good, content with the depth and invention of its instrumentation and skipping back-and-forth between various dynamic extremes with playful imprecision. It’s not the best track on Because of the Times, the Kings’ recently matriculated third record, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s just another really good one.
Clayton Purdom :: 19 February 2007 |
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