Album Review: Can We Please Have Fun by Kings of Leon
Are the guys from Kings of Leon still having fun? With their latest release “Can We Please Have Fun,” we are diving in to see if it’s true. The Southern Rockers partner up with pop producer Kid Harpoon, who famously works with Harry Styles, so we had to see what came of this pairing. Caleb talked to Radio X, explaining that it was their first record where they were free agents, so they wanted to focus on making something they all loved. Let’s see if they accomplished just that.
Ballerina Radio
They kick off the album with “Ballerina Radio,” and it's a fantastic opener, with emphasis on fantastic. The instrumentation creates an echoed feeling, while the vocals reminisce about someone or the past. Lyrically, it tells a depressing story of someone describing their mundane day-to-day life, with lines like “Sunday supper coming from a can.” However, as the instrumentation and vocals come together towards the end, it offers a glimmer of hope for this person, because at least they have the ballerina radio.
Rainbow Ball
The bass line is incredibly captivating; even when the vocals and drums kick in, you still feel the power those chords hold. It tells a story about someone experiencing loss or making a mistake, with lyrics like “Sweetheart, it’s just bad luck” and “Our bet has died,” and explores how a person deals with such situations. The fast-paced beat conjures up images of cinematic scenes where someone is determined to prove something, but ultimately falls short, emphasized by the sharp camera angles expressing those emotions.
Nowhere to Run
This track quickly became one of our favorites, perhaps because it's impossible not to dance when it plays. It also highlights Jared's talent with the bass riff and showcases how Caleb's voice continues to improve. The question "Are we still having fun?" is posed, and the flawless production of this song, it certainly evokes that vibe.
Mustang
This is the lead single of the album, where the bass and drums deliver that classic KOL rock sensation, while the vocals embody that sense of rock isolation. It describes a peculiar place with lyrics like “Is that the smell of fall or the city burned?” The sound is impressive, but the lyrics seem somewhat disjointed as if words were thrown together without much thought, relying on the vocals and music to mask it. If you're not one to focus on lyrics, this might be your song. However, we have a penchant for songs with profound lyricism, and this one falls short in that aspect.
Actual Daydream
The euphoric 80s influence on this pop production lends the track a vibrant imagery and feel. The pulsating guitar riff is addictive, and the lyricism juxtaposes the title by describing challenging situations while attempting to maintain a positive outlook, even though it ultimately proves futile.
Split Screen
A perfect middle track, striking a balance between a ballad and retaining that rock influence. The textured guitar work contributes to this balance. The lyrics vividly portray a sense of things falling apart, such as "Doing jumping jacks in the basement," while also offering complex scenes open to interpretation, like "The weight of the feather you fall like a leaf." Both expressions convey distress but in different forms.
Don’t Stop the Bleeding
An acoustic track that highlights the band's vulnerability, emphasizing Caleb's vocals. However, despite repeated listens, it failed to become one of our favorites. It feels lacking on an album that has already presented several standout tracks, almost like a filler song.
Nothing To Do
The pulsating guitar riff strikes you like a sledgehammer, while the pent-up aggression in the frantic vocals and lyrics reflects the band's palpable excitement. Caleb elaborated on Radio X, describing it as their post-COVID song, evident in lyrics like “There’s panic on the streets man is obsolete.” It's a solid punk tune, but not one of our personal favorites.
My Television
Now, this is a song. We have this rule that if a song hits you while driving, regardless of the setting, then it's pure gold. And this is precisely that kind of driving song. It's packed with angst, upbeat energy, and it just sounds perfect. Why isn't this a single? It's a quintessential KOL track. We absolutely must hear this live!
Hesitation Generation
A solid continuation of “My Television” with that bass tempo. However, the rhythm and vocals on this track are so distracting that it detracts from the enjoyment. While we appreciate the aesthetic reasoning behind its inclusion on the album, it feels as though there's a conflict between elements, making it seem like just another filler song.
Ease Me On
KOL employs this track to gently guide its listeners towards the end of the album, adopting a 60s-inspired ballad feel. The instrumentation allows the vocals to remain delicate without competing for attention. This contrasts sharply with what we perceive "Don't Stop the Bleeding" attempted to achieve, but failed miserably.
Seen
A grungy final track that evokes a sense of the bass reaching out for someone, a sentiment echoed in the lyrics. It's exceptionally moody and dark. Is it a fitting closer? Absolutely. However, we were on the verge of saying no, if not for the impactful vocals of lines like “Electrical underworld” and the delicate tinkling sound towards the very end. Without those elements, it might have felt like just another filler song.
As an album, this one surpasses their last effort, although there are a couple of filler tracks that dampen the high provided by songs like “Mustang” and “My Television.” Musically, it's robust, with each member shining throughout the tracks. However, lyrically, I wish it weren’t so indirect; it often feels like the band is simply stringing words together, missing opportunities to craft a compelling narrative. Nonetheless, we remain excited for the band and hope to snag some tickets when they come to CT. See you next Thursday, groupies!
All our love,
Your Favorite Groupies
