Youth and Young Manhood

The other day I read that Nathan Followill, drummer for Kings of Leon admitted that their next album will be beachy, fun and more like Youth and Young Manhood. I've enjoyed the Kings of Leon trajectory. I've never really felt betrayed by the raucous and rowdy promise they made with Youth and Young Manhood when their songs grew more precise and anthemic. For me, this tidbit of news is the most exciting thing I've read in days and also the most troubling.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1640099/20100526/kings_of_leon.jhtml

And I'll tell you why.

During the final weeks of my senior year in high school I decided to play hooky. This proved easier than I thought when I told my mom I did not feel well and she suggested I stay home from school. Easy enough. My day of luxury began with Guy Ritchie's Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and a large bowl of Captain Crunch Oops All Berries (a cereal that only hits the shelves when the inattentive Captain forgets to flip the yellow crunch switch). When the credits rolled and the bowl was dry I decided to find some new using the Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels soundtrack as an obvious starting point. I never limit my searches to one genre or time period and soundtracks are great for getting started and pointing down divergent musical paths. That day I came across Kings of Leon's Youth and Young Manhood. My immediate reaction was "wow! These guys sound just like JET! Great!" Further listening proved me wrong and I fell in love with what sounded like four dudes just having fun in their garage.

A year later Aha Shake Heartbreak released and my love for this band was solidified. When I listened to "Four Kicks" I wanted to swig the last warm inch of beer from the bottom of the bottle, kick in a window and start a fight with the local street toughs. Another year later I didn't care that Because of the Times was more polished, more thought out, longer, more epic because I was ready for it. I had grown a little and was ready for my favorite bands to grow and evolve as well. I never could stand"Sex on Fire." But that's okay, the rest of Only by the Night more than compensated for that single. I don't know how, but Anthony's voice is almost heartbreaking throughout the entire album and again, I lapped it up like a parched horse drug to water. It may not have been what I was looking for, or what I expected, but it quenched my musical thirst .

When I heard of a return to form for Kings of Leon I reacted with hoops, hollers and all manner of carrying on. But now I've grown wary. I'm not the same kid. What if I don't like it? My track record with KOL is immaculate, aren't I due for a disappointment? What if Jeff Mangum came out from whatever state park he is hiding in and says he's recording a sister album for In the Aeroplane Over the Sea? Hipsters and indie rockers everywhere would rejoice but that music had its place and time. It's not meant for right now. We all listen to it fondly now, but if it released tomorrow how would it hold up? What if the rebellious, southern garage rock I fell in love with doesn't hold up as well, eight years later when I'm all grown up?

Doubt is insidious. I will wait with an open mind. But on the release day for Kings of Leon I will feel like a small child reaching over my head into a brown sack that is said to contain candy, but may very well contain razor blades.