My Amazon Reviews: Kongos "Lunatic"

Mess With Your Sanity
4 Out Of 5 Stars

A band with a lot of promise, Kongos field a lot of variety for "Lunatic." There are touches of 80's pop surrounded by African rhythms (if you're familiar with Johnny Clegg, you'll latch on immediately). Which would suit a band whose father, John Kongos, had a hit in 1971 while sons and brothers Dylan, Daniel, Jesse, and Johnny Kongos absorbed the sounds of their South African upbringing. There's touches of reggae here, and plenty of arena sized radio hooks. In fact, there's already one ubiquitous hit that you'd probably caught somewhere, the jaunty "Come With Me Now."

The songs are hooky singalongs with moments of introspection. "This Time I Won't Forget" is a celebration of being alive and in the moment. The songs all have that feeling, being fast or slow. The tribal drum opener, "I'm Only Joking," bounces along with such feistiness that it's too much fun to ignore. Same with "It's a Good Life," which marries John Lennon's "Instant Karma" by way of Paul Simon's "Graceland" album. Can you tell that I'm digging Kongos yet? I heartily recommend "Lunatic."

    

My Amazon Reviews: Kings Of Leon "Mechanical Bull"

Ride it or Buck it.
4 Out Of 5 Stars

Having been a fan of Kings of Leon since "Youth and Young Manhood," it's been interesting to watch how they've changed and matured as each album comes along. "Mechanical Bull" is their slickest yet. Cleanly produced, vocals upfront, heck, even strings (on "Comeback Story"). It's also the Kings' most blatantly commercial album, even more so than "Come Around Sundown." If you found that album to be too much for you, you're not going to like "Mechanical Bull."

However, I do. It's OK for a band to progress beyond their roots. With all the infighting going on after "Sundown," I'm surprised we have an album at all. But, as they say, blood is thicker than water, and when Caleb Fallowill sings he'd "take one in the temple for you" (on "Temple"), he could easily be talking about the relationship he's got with his fellow bandmates. They're back to bringing out the best in each other, including some very tasty guitar on "Coming Back Again" from Matthew Followill, who is in top form throughout "Mechanical Bull." Be it the arena sized soloing ("Rock City") or even just using it for subtle coloration ("Beautiful War"), he's become a force to be reckoned with.

"Mechanical Bull" revels in that diversity. Between the aforementioned strings, the pedal steel on "On The Chin," and the album's leaner feel, Kings of Leon are finding their way to greener pastures. And that's no Bull.