Kings of Leon Balance Southern Roots & Arena Ambition on "Supersoaker"
Kings of Leon just released "Supersoaker," the first single from their September 24th release Mechanical Bull, and it finally reaches what the Followills have been chasing over their last three albums: that hallowed middle ground between their Southern rock roots and arena rock ambitions. Listen above.
The track opens with jangly guitar chords, bounce-y bass and a straight drum beat—a nod to early albums like Aha Shake Heartbreak, which rightly earned the Nashville band the title of "The Southern Strokes." That name certainly applies to "Supersoaker." But after their ragged early days, the Followills released a series of studio-slick albums with pop ambitions, like Because of the Times and Only by the Night. After chart success with the latter, especially with its single "Use Somebody," the quartet attempted to revisit their roots (to varying results) on 2010's Come Around Sundown.
"Supersoaker" hits the sweet spot between the two. Its ragged, rootsy sound is just slick enough, just poppy enough thanks to the twinkling riffs, rising intensity, whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa chorus and reverbed outro that brings frontman Caleb Followill's whiskey-coated growl into the rafters.
Caleb really nails it with the sound-bite vocals, too, name checking all things Kings of Leon: "Red, white & blue"; "little girl"; "walking away"; "kisses"; "sentimental girls" and more. This should have fans wearing both mom jeans and hipster jeans head-nodding in unison.
42m
41m
21m
1h 16m
2m
20m
1m
10m
44m
1m
22m
10m
2m
2m
3m
3m
2m
20m
6m
6m
2m
6m
6m
6m
6m
6m
1m
6m
1m
1m
13m
6m
9m
8m
2m
6m
1m
46m
8m
10m
20m
23m
20m
44m
44m
20m
44m
1h 13m
43m
21m
1m
44m
22m
20m
1h 34m
3m
1h 27m
22m
23m
46m
22m
22m
2m
45m
20m
21m
44m
41m
44m
45m
23m
1h 3m
45s
20m
22m
21m
21m
19m
59m
21m
20m
20m
41m
30s
41m
41m
20m
18m
5m
1h 33m
8m
1h 49m
40m
22m