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TCU 360

TCU 360

All TCU. All the time.

TCU 360

Students discuss religious topics in a small group. (Photo courtesy of tcuwesley.org)
Wednesday nights at TCU’s Methodist campus ministry provide religious exploration and fellowship
By Boots Giblin, Staff Writer
Published Mar 27, 2024
Students at the Wesley said they found community on Wednesday nights.

Music: Kings of Leon album appealing to rock music fans

On Kings of Leon’s new album, “Because of the Times,” the band takes lots of risks and stretches their sound into a new universe.The band’s first album, “Youth and Young Manhood,” released in 2003, sounded like a band of kids playing in your living room.

On “Aha Shake Heartbreak,” released in 2005, the band’s sound was a little more refined. Singer/guitarist Caleb Folowill’s lyrics and hound-dog singing voice made fans out of girls everywhere, and it was one of the best party-rock records ever.

But “Because of the Times” catches the band in a place where they’ve achieved major success all over the world (especially in the UK). They’ve toured with legends like Pearl Jam, U2 and Bob Dylan, and Kings of Leon’s new album demonstrates how these major artists and bands have influenced them over the past year and a half.

The record shows the Kings now better than ever, with more intricate songwriting and sounding like they’re playing in a huge empty stadium.

The opening track, “Knocked Up,” clocks in at over seven minutes and has an airy aroma of U2 about it with guitarist Matthew Folowill’s chiming, heavily reverbed guitar work.

“Charmer” has a strong Pixies taste to it, with crunchy distorted bass courtesy of bassist Jared Folowill (yes, everyone in the band is family) and a repeated shrieking howl by Caleb.

“Fans” is a punchy, toe-tapping track in which Caleb thanks the UK fans that have loved them and embraced them from the start in which he sings, “Oh the London scene, / Cause England’s Queen makes you love the tales I breathe, / And those rainy days they ain’t so bad when you’re the King.”

“Because of the Times” closes with the epic “Arizona.” Like the album’s opener, “Arizona” is a very airy song that just floats through your stereo. Caleb’s lyrics on this track are probably the album’s best in which he sings, “She waits, / Thinkin’ that it’s sexy, / She must be plumb crazy, / I kinda think I like her.”

If you’re a fan of rock music, “Because of the Times” is definitely something you should not miss out on. The Kings are out on tour now in support of the record, and you can see them in Dallas May 13 at the House of Blues.

4 out 5 stars

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