Rockin’ refreshment

What rock needs is a return to the sounds of the ’70s – a refresher course on what rock ‘n’… What rock needs is a return to the sounds of the ’70s – a refresher course on what rock ‘n’ roll used to sound like and just how damn good it was. A young, fresh rock band from Memphis must agree with that sentiment, as the debut album from Kings of Leon, Youth ‘ Young Manhood, is a crash course for all those folks who forgot what great rock ‘n’ roll sounds like.

Kings of Leon was formed by three brothers – Nathan Followill on drums and vocals, Caleb on vocals and guitar, and Jared on bass – who got their musical education riding in the backseat of cars and vans, and from the pulpit. Their dad, a traveling Pentecostal minister, would let them listen to The Rolling Stones and Neil Young whenever their mother wasn’t around to object.

Their father encouraged Caleb to play the guitar and Nathan to play the drums, and they would hone their skills playing during church services. After settling down in Memphis, their ES the drive to play music grew stronger, and they recruited their first cousin, Matthew Followill, to play lead guitar.

With the influences that they grew up with, it’s only natural that that their 11-song debut album sounds the way that it does – bouncing drum beats instead of banging, and smooth, airy guitar riffs that flow and produce the toe-tapping rock ‘n’ roll that has been lacking in music of late.

In February 2003, “Rolling Stone” hailed Kings of Leon as one of the top bands to watch ES out for in 2003, and this was after hearing only the band’s five-song EP, Holly Roller Novocaine. Four of those five songs made it to the full-length album, with the addition of seven more, powerful, guitar-driven tracks, Kings of Leon is definitely the band to watch this year.

Standout tracks include “Holly Roller Novocaine,” “Molly’s Chambers” and “Wasted Time,” all of which were on the EP, as well as new tracks “Joe’s Head,” “Trani,” “Happy Alone” and “Spiral Staircase.”

This entire album is filled with incredible songs blasting with emotion and blues sounds mixed with garage-rock guitar riffs. And this all coming from a band in which only two members are of legal age to drink – Nathan is 23 and Caleb is 21 – one is just old enough to vote – Matthew is 18 – and Jared is just old enough to get his learner’s permit – he’s 16 years old.

But don’t let their ages fool you. Kings of Leon play their songs with the soul of a 50-year-old blues singer.