Mechanical Bull

tl;dr: You're gonna really want to hear the two bonus tracks in the deluxe version. Last Mile Home can replace one of a couple of songs in the main album in my opinion, and Work on Me could be the best work the Kings of Leon have ever released.I think the most accurate description for this album comes from the drummer, Nathan Followill, describing Mechanical Bull as an unofficial "greatest hits" of all the Kings' earlier work. There is certainly something here for every Kings of Leon fan. I think those that were expecting a return to Youth and Young Manhood will be somewhat disappointed, however, but that is not a bad thing at all.Don't Matter and Rock City most closely reflect the Kings' earlier style. Fans of their first two albums and of harder rock in general will find a lot to love about these two tracks, and I can easily see these two songs being favorites for many fans. Temple is a more classic rock hit which flows at a fast pace, but will probably find more favor in fans of the Kings' third album. Temple is definitely a showcase of Caleb's vocal talents.I think fans of Only by the Night will get the most out of Mechanical Bull. Comeback Story and Coming Back Again are both arena-sized rock hits, both signaling the Kings coming back to the album that propelled them to super-stardom. Family Tree in particular is Only by the Night with a blues rock spin to it. Fans of Only by the Night should definitely be able to recognize Crawl as Family Tree opens. Family Tree shows that the Kings can definitely pull off blues rock in a very satisfying way, and it's one of the more catchy tunes in the album.The rest of the songs tend to be more experimental. On The Chin is a slower country rock-style song, the one you would play for a buddy (or indeed for a brother or cousin) after going Back Down South and getting into a bar fight. Of their three slow songs on the album, Tonight feels like the weakest, and the weakest overall in the album. It shows promise, with Caleb showing flashes of ambition with his voice, but sinks into repetitiveness. Wait for Me also suffers from repetitiveness with a slow tempo. It feels like you're left waiting for an ending that never comes. It could be said that Beautiful War also veers into repetitiveness. However, the bass guides the song along a continuous crescendo, a la Bolero, and Beautiful War unfolds into a magnificent Kings of Leon classic. The second bonus track, Last Mile Home, is a happy medium, flowing along at a brisk pace but not overwhelming.Where the Kings really shine in this album are Supersoaker and Work on Me. These two songs are unlike anything the Kings have previously released. Indeed, they feel like they could be the first two songs the Kings really enjoyed making in a long time. Supersoaker, as the name implies, is a fun song. It will "red, white, and blow you away". The guitar is enjoyable, the bass sounds great, the drums are fun, and you just gotta love the lyrics. Supersoaker was a good choice as the opening single.The hidden gem is Work on Me. As most reviews focus on the songs in the main album, Work on Me has received little exposure. One of the few mentions I see basically write off Work on Me as a "Cure song". Frankly, if it was a Cure song, it would be the best song The Cure could ever hope to make. Robert Smith does not compare to Caleb Followill. Work on Me is all the Kings' strongest talents working together perfectly. I personally cannot stop listening to this song, I've had it on repeat for a while. If Supersoaker did not blow you away, this song certainly will. The guitar in Work on Me does bring to mind The Cure, but on a completely different, much more enjoyable level. The bass is among the best Jared has played, and combined with the drums make for a great rhythm to this song. Top it off with Caleb's unmatched vocals and the song's fun lyrics, and you have a song that will make you feel great. If there's any song on this album, or even from all of Kings of Leon's catalog, that you should get, it's Work on Me.Songs like Family Tree, Beautiful War, and Temple definitely make this a good album. What gives it five stars is just how great Supersoaker and Work on Me are. If these two songs signal the direction the Kings will be taking in the future, it is something to look forward to with much excitement. Buy this album!

As if I expected them to do anything other than create a great album. I purchased this a day after it released and couldn't listen to it til the next day and when I did, that feeling I get when I listen to Caleb's voice, happened all over again.SUPERSOAKER is fun and a great way to open the album. ROCK CITY makes me forget I'm singing a song. DON'T MATTER had to grow on me (there is always one that does) but now that it has it flows with me, BEAUTIFUL WAR is a wonderful song, it opens up with truth from the first to the last word, TEMPLE is great reminds me of the 80's, I feel happy when it comes on. WAIT FOR ME starts off with that great opener that you can only get from a KOL album, FAMILY TREE is a solid rock song, COMEBACK STORY is Brilliance in music. There is always a few KOL songs that make me cry or feel some kind of way and this is one of them. The lyrics, the passion in Calebs voice, the production, it's brilliant and every time I listen to it, I drift off into a place where only music can take me, TONIGHT is the other song that gets to me deeply. I am so happy these were placed right after each other because when I repeat one, the other tags along. The lyrics are perfect, absolutely perfect. Sometimes I think when they are writing songs, that they are right up in my head. ON THE CHIN closes the album out nicely. It's soft, like a melody, it's sweet and charming. It's a KOL.If you are a fan like I am and you know all of their music, have accepted all of their albums and it's differences, then you will LOVE, LOVE this album. Get It . . . listen and fall into that place that only KOL can take you.KUDOS

One of my husbands favorite albums. Came in perfect shape with no dents or scratches on the case.

Kings of Leon started off very differently than where they are now, and this is a good thing. Like all bands that have longevity, Kings of Leon knew they couldn't just keep making southern rock albums like "Youth and Young Manhood" or "Aha Shake Heartbreak". They needed to stretch creatively. Unfortunately, they went in a direction that drew comparisons to U2, Coldplay, The Killers. But that would be a stereotype, because the band has continued to retain its southern rock roots even while making stadium filling, moody songs.This is evident on "Mechanical Bull" just as it was on their three previous albums, "Come Around Sundown", "Only By The Night" and "Because Of The Times". These four albums all share that same moodiness, that same stadium filling sound. My recommendation at this point is that the band change once more. They've exhausted this genre of music now, so it's time for a change in producers, a change in where they're recording, maybe a change in band members' instruments or vocals by other members of the band. Something new to shake things up."Mechanical Bull" is a solid work from start to finish with very little waste along the way. First single "Supersoaker" has a hook, "Rock City" has a hook, "Don't Matter" has a hook, "Beautiful War" another hook, "Temple" more hooks. "Wait For Me" might be filler, but it fits. "Family Tree" has hooks, "Comeback Story" has hooks, "Tonight" and "Coming Back Again" could be considered pleasant filler. "On The Chin" finishes the album out with more hooks. The two bonus tracks, and particularly "Work On Me" are solid. In fact, some of the best aspects of this album are musical passages that reminded me of Fleetwood Mac, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and even Collective Soul at times--all bands I like and respect.It's just that Kings of Leon need to move on now. Like I said, "Mechanical Bull" is four stars, but their next album, should it sound similar, will be docked a star for just repeating the same formula. It would be interesting to see this band call upon Tom Petty or Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell to produce tracks on their next album. Likewise, it would be interesting to have the band work with Ed Roland of Collective Soul or members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Greg Allman Band or even .38 Special or even Bachman Turner Overdrive or Grandfunk Railroad. I think the band should try a heavier southern rock approach on their next album and focus on other things besides love, loneliness, relationships, etc. They should dig deeper into their Tennessee roots for some southern tales not unlike what Bruce Hornsby has done.So, four stars for once again treading the same musical ground with some new tweaks and twists, and for having about three songs that might be considered album filler, but decent album filler. Here's how "Mechanical Bull" compares with the band's previous works:2003 Youth and Young Manhood: Four Stars2004 Aha Shake Heartbreak: Three Stars2007 Because of the Night: Three and a Half Stars2008 Only By The Night: Four Stars2010 Come Around Sundown: Four Stars2013 Mechanical Bull: Four Stars