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Having arrived on a frankly mystifying wave of hype, it's reassuring to see that, like the Libertines two months ago, Kings Of Leon's second album has arrived with the words "The Emperor Is Stark Bollock Naked" screaming from it at a frankly deafening volume.
Let's be honest - what the hell was the fuss about this lot anyway? They chucked out a debut album ("Youth And Young Manhood") last year which was one part Jet (never a good thing) and one part poor man's Queens of the Stone Age which was raved about by the press and, somewhat predictably, avoided by anyone whose musical tastes are advanced beyond hearing early '70s hippy rock regurgitated thirty years too late.
"Aha Shake Heartbreak", it's fair to say, isn't gonna change your perspective of KOL. If you liked 'em first time, fair enough, you'll like this as well. But, if you've even heard of music after about 1975, you'll be spitting pure bile at the thirty-odd years of progress that this record ignores. Really, do we need another group of gormless redneck losers digging up "Hotel California" yet a-fucking-gain (as evidenced on the likes of "Milk" and "Slow Nights So Long")? Somehow I don't think so. Essentially, "Aha Shake Heartbreak" is a safe, cosy album that your dad would probably like. Really though, if this band is your tonic of choice then all I can say is ditch the cardy, get out there and listen to some proper musical rebellion rather than playing it safe. Really, why bother acting like you're 40 when you've still got your whole life ahead of you?
Rating: 4/10
Reviewed by Andy James
