All hail the new kings of rock &roll

If only rock and roll was a monarchy, Kings of Leon would fit right in. In an industry where talent is said to be in abundance there have been few records released to justify such a reputation -- until now. In their debut EP, the Kings of Leon serve up classic sounds in the style of 60s rock. At times the Nashville quartet's lead singer, Caleb Followill, calls upon the smoky, soulful vocal style of the late George Harrison, but the bulk of the material rings with originality. This family band keeps fabulous beats with rhythm and lead guitar and plenty of percussion. It's hard to imagine a group recreating that "oldies" sound so dead-on with kids ranging in age from 16 to 22. Their delightfully mature sound paired with a youthful energy make this band one for the ages. Whoever thought that three sons and one nephew of a Pentecostal preacher would ever land something on Rolling Stone's top ten up-and-comers of 2003 list? The Kings of Leon take the crown and run with it, once again restoring faith and proving that rock and roll is nowhere near dead.