Album Review: Kings of Leon, Walls

With its slick pop sheen and easy-on-the-ear hooks, Kings Of Leon’s seventh album is an expertly crafted crowd-pleaser in the tradition of hits such as ‘Sex On Fire’ and ‘Use Somebody’.

That’s good news for more recent fans, though it may disappoint those hankering for the dangerous swagger of the group’s early albums. Yet on its merits WALLS – an acronym for ‘We Are All Like Love Songs’ – is a perfectly serviceable slab of stadium rock. ‘Eyes On You’ is a catchy singalong with rasping vocals from Caleb Followill, while ‘Around The World’ sounds like a Southern-accented Coldplay.

The curious thing is that there’s little edginess here, with all traces of the hellraisers of 2003’s Youth and Young Manhood expunged. Nonetheless, this is a solid outing that confirms Kings of Leon as masters of the dynamics of stadium rock. Mission accomplished then.