Kings of Leon have finally unveiled their eighth studio album, ‘When You See Yourself,’ after a turbulent year filled with global uncertainty and turmoil. Any fans hoping the four-time Grammy winners would eventually revert to their boisterous days of the critically-acclaimed Only by the Night may face slight dissatisfaction. Nevertheless, that should not dissuade anyone from completely disregarding the album, but instead should still give it a spin. After all, you have got to give credit where credit is due, and they certainly have hit some high notes with this record.
‘When You See Yourself’ is a touching and affectionate nod to the band’s Nashville roots, reminiscing back to the days before peak rock-stardom and sold-out stadiums across the globe. With the Followill brothers (and their cousin) occupied with familial duties, it was due time that their lyrical stance would evolve. We witness them wavering away from the drugs, sex and rock & roll that consumed them during their adolescent years as a band and transition into something more mature and thoughtful.
Featuring eleven tracks, the album weaves between softened, gradual melodies and livelier, upbeat tunes while embodying personal themes of addiction, love and self-reflection. The album commences with ‘When You See Yourself, Are You Far Away?’ which leisurely yet gently eases us into the record, and keeps us hanging on for the rest of the album. By incorporating synths, funky basslines, and twinkly guitar strums, the song is accompanied by raw, tender vocals as vocalist Caleb sings about self-reflection as an individual and as a band.
During the early stages of their career, the band have been no stranger to exploring new sounds, seen evidently with their third album Because of the Times, which saw them advance away from being dubbed ‘The Southern Strokes‘ and into more mainstream, radio rockers. Several tones throughout this record reconnect with those of their previous releases. They play around with some funk for ‘Stormy Weather,’ by incorporating a bouncy bassline, toe-tapping drum beats and undulated guitar strums, sounding precisely like a reject from their 2007 album. ‘Echoing‘ presents an expeditious blend between the distorted vocals and the rippling guitar pace, seeming favourable amongst fans of their first two albums: Youth and Young Manhood (2003) and Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004).
The band have also dabbled in different song-writing styles, teasing more personal lyrics without disclosing too much about their private lives. ‘Supermarket’ illustrates a groggier and dense tone layered with a lyrical turn. Initially written in 2009, the weirdly prophetic lyrics could resonate with many listeners today:
“And it’s a long hard road ’til I can get to you / And I’ll be holding on / Hoping the sun comes shining through”
Written at a time when Caleb was feeling “a little lonely,” he is vocal about overcoming addiction in a raw and naked voice, evoking sympathy from the audience:
“I know what you’re thinking / I know just what you mean / I’ll never be whole again until I get clean”
Additionally, ‘Claire and Eddie‘ is a sedated yet sensitive track that welcomes a political stance, something the band often opts out of. The lyrics speak of the imminent effects of climate change, urging for change.
In a promotional discussion video released on YouTube, drummer Nathan describes the album as them having “finally found the place that we wanna be and the way we wanna be seen… I feel more creative now than I ever have as a band.” This album comes across as the most comfortable the band has ever been, both lyrically and instrumentally, as they showcase their true and authentic selves. The close-to-home comfort is shown through their home video-esque music videos, filmed either in black and white or with a vintage filter.
‘When You See Yourself’ encompasses an overall slower pace in comparison to previous projects. Although the songs solely from this album may struggle to fill the vast spaciousness of arenas internationally, their back catalogue expanding two decades and a surplus of old and new dedicated fans is enough to saturate the remaining atmosphere. Nevertheless, respect should be given to Kings of Leon; by taking a sharp turn through their song-writing and musical expression, they have stuck to their guns and pursued a direction they felt the most comfortable, and happiest in their music.
