Album Results
Album Reviews
There was a time when Southern rappers felt marginalized. That was before the rise of 2 Live Crew and their bass colleagues in the late '80s; southern rap has long since become a huge industry, and Dirty South MCs who hit big in cities like New Orleans, Memphis, and Miami can easily sell a ton of CDs in the South alone. While some Dirty South rappers have a gangsta/thug life agenda and some are into serious sociopolitical messages, Atlanta rapper Lil Jon and his two East Side Boyz (Lil Bo and Big Sam) have tended to favor rowdy, in-your-face, profanity-filled party music. Kings of Crunk, like the trio's previous releases, is full of the sort of hook-filled call-and-response jams that Southern hip-hop clubs are known for. The list of guests reads like a who's-who of Dirty South rapping -- Mystikal, Petey Pablo, Trick Daddy, and Pastor Troy all have cameos -- and Jon's trio works the crunk formula to death on relentlessly energetic tunes such as "Knockin' Heads Off," "Throw It Up," and the single "I Don't Give a Fuck." At times, the group sounds like it is recycling hits from previous albums, but one is inclined to be forgiving because even the CD's most formulaic tracks are infectious -- the Atlanta residents do have a way with a hook. And to their credit, not every track is formulaic crunk. Kings of Crunk detours into more of a Texas-type sound when Jon features U.G.K. on the rock-influenced "Diamonds," and those who find that Jon's up-tempo material can be exhausting will be surprised at how much his group chills out on "Nothin's Free" and a few other smooth, R&B-drenched items. Arguably the trio's most well-rounded album, Kings of Crunk will keep crunk fans happy, but has enough variety to keep listeners from calling them one-dimensional. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Track Listing
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Use Somebody Kings Of Leon |
| When Kings of Leon were announced as one of the headline acts of Glastonbury last June, it was accompanied by a cloud of doubts. Questions about the bands legitimacy for such a prestigious slot were all answered when the Followill's delivered, what was for many, one of the highlights of the festival. As well achieving this milestone the band completed a sold out world tour and, in "Only By The Night", released one of the defining albums of the year. "Use Somebody" captures the band at their most reflective, revealing a desire to turn away from philandering ways and settle down. Could it be that the band's notorious womanising days are behind them? Whether the lyrical content is autographical or not is irrelevant, the track is just another example of how the band provides mainstream rock that doesn't, fortunately, fall into Snow Patrol territory. Anthemic without ever feeling overblown, "Use Somebody" is the sound of the band fully hitting their stride. Expect a sea of lighters when this gets played live and while you may feel a bit cheesy for complying, with songs of this standard it's perfectly acceptable. ©2008 Shazam Entertainment Limited. All rights reserved. | |
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