A-Ha Shake Heartbreak in Bloomington, MN

The mysterious
Followill
family returns to the front porch/garage on
the Kings of Leon
's engaging sophomore effort,
Aha Shake Heartbreak
. On
Youth & Young Manhood
,
the Kings
gave
Southern rock
a swift kick in the rear, sounding like
Lynyrd Skynyrd
posing as a bunch of N.Y.U. film students (or vice versa). For their latest, the Nashville quartet raises a flag that's equal parts Confederate and Union Jack. Their success in the U.K. is understandable, as
Caleb Followill
's lazy drawl sounds like a cross between
Bon Scott
Ray Davies
, and
Eddie Money
with a slight Jamaican accent, but it's their seamless and agreeable blend of
rock & roll
country
Roky Erickson
-style
psychedelia
, matched with a keen lyrical wit, that makes them fascinating to both sides of the pond. On the twenty-something barfly opener
"Slow Night, So Long,"
Caleb
laments/celebrates the soulless dance of the one-night stand ("She's opened up just like she really knows me/I hate her face, but enjoy the company") like a true student of
outlaw country
. It's a theme that runs rampant throughout
Heartbreak
, and whether it's set against a swamp-sick
boogie
(
"Pistol of Fire"
) or emitted through a lonesome
yodel
"Day Old Blues"
), it resonates as clear and cool as the opening notes of a
Creedence Clearwater Revival
tune. ~ James Christopher Monger