Kings of Leon
Come Around Sundown
RCA

They got their start as the bearded Southern Strokes. With some glossier production, they became the beardless Southern U2, and now, as it turns out, the brothers (and cousin) that make up Kings of Leon are somewhere in between.

Following some post-haircut backlash from their hipster fans, Kings of Leon’s new album Come Around Sundown is neither a continuation of the commercially successful Only by the Night nor an entirely new experience. The band has called it “breezy” and “fun,” and with an album cover depicting palm trees at sundown, that assessment is not surprising.

But “fun” isn’t something that has been entirely lost to Kings of Leon in the past. Before the fatally serious Night, the Followills still had a Tennessee edge — playing simple garage-rock like the four average bros they claim to be.

Not that Kings of Leon has completely abandoned their rough-and-tumble roots. “Mi Amigo” is a pleasantly cool step back to the band’s original sound that’s tailor-made for their favorite pastime: drinking. With a great sing-along refrain and a thumping beat, the track begs you to raise a glass of beer in the air and cheer. “Beach Side” (which stays true to its name) is similarly laid back, featuring relaxed guitars that could almost be the soundtrack to a Hawaiian tourism ad.

The paradoxically titled opener “The End,” however, reaffirms the band’s rep as the dreaded second-rate U2 rip-off. Like previous smash hit “Use Somebody,” the track builds from excruciatingly melancholic verses to an explosive finale. It’s a formula that fills up stadiums, but for a band that used to flaunt Southern authenticity, it all seems rather contrived.

Yet somehow the tune sticks with you — a sensation largely due to Caleb Followill’s raspy voice, which continues to be one of the band’s best-utilized features. Caleb is especially noteworthy on the head-banging lead single “Radioactive,” leading a catchy chorus that morphs into a falsetto-laden breakdown. Album closer “Pickup Truck” is another highlight, rife with emotional lyrics that, as per usual, ascend to a bombastic ending. The track — expected fireworks and all — is hand crafted for the encores of their many festival-headlining sets.

With their Jack Daniels-fueled guitar solos and signature vocals, Kings of Leon certainly knows how to craft appealing rock ’n’ roll tunes. Yet by the end of Come Around Sundown, it’s obvious that they are also a band with no distinct direction. The move towards a mellowed-out beachside vibe is a welcome breather from the serious Night, but Kings of Leon still needs to lighten up a bit more. (7/10)