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CD REVIEWS Family-based Kings ’ debut album shows group’s upbringing “YOUTH AND YOUNG MANHOOD” Kings of Leon out of BY CHARLES TOMLINSON Till'] (i.VWKOOCK At first glance of the album cover, the band looks a great deal like Stillwater, from Cameron Crowe’s film “Almost Famous.” But on Kings of Leon’s debut, “Youth and Young Manhood,” the band sounds more like Tom Petty and modern-day garage bands such as the Strokes. The band members are all family — three of them are brothers, and the bassist is a cousin. They were all raised in the church, where they learned to play instruments while their father was a Pentecostal minis fpr The vestiges of the band’s up bringing show up on the debut al bum, released Tuesday. Their fa ther, Leon, exposed his boys to the rock ‘n’ roll of the day, and now they have a deal with RCA so they can blast their rowdy mu sic for the world to hear. Songs such as “Spiral Staircase,” however, sometimes sound like a bawdy gospel hymn with handclaps in the back ground. The Kings also show a mastery of lazy, bluesy rock on such tracks as “Dusty.” In the spirit of such acts as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the band does just enough to support the vocals as a centerpiece. Drummer Nathan Followill locks every bass drum beat with cousin Jared Followill’s bass lines. Whenever Nathan changes rhythms, Jared follows, and vice versa. Vocalist Matthew Followill sings in a devil-may-care drawl, | but he shows more creativity with his vocal range on “Youth and Young Manhood.” He does his best imitation of Bon Scott on speed during the final chorus of “Joe’s Head” and on “Spiral Staircase.” Four of the five songs on the band’s “Holy Roller Novocaine” EP, released earlier this year, return on,“Youth and Young Manhood.” The band re-record ed all but one of those songs, “Molly’s Chambers,” for the new album. Those songs, pow erful and tight on the EP, sound even better after their recent facelifts. But on the Kings’ new album, they take away the swelling drama of “California Waiting,” the EP’s catchiest track, by playing it at a much faster clip. “Youth and Young Manhood” was crafted by the capable hands of producer Ethan Johns, who has recorded and toured with Crosby, Stills and Nash; Ryan Adams; and Counting Crows. He’s the son of legendary pro ducer Glyn Johns, who pro duced Led Zeppelin and the Who, among others. While Kings of Leon haven’t done anything sonically that hasn’t been done before, they’ve released a solid full-length debut that alt-country and Southern rock fans will eat up. It’s fun rock ‘n’ roll worth checking out. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com Rock band samples society to produce enjoyable sound “THE IMPOSSIBLE LEAP IN ONE HUNDRED SIMPLE STEPS” From Monuments to Mars out of BY MICHAEL ARDAIOLO TIIKOA.WKCOCK Every once in a while you buy a CD on a hunch, maybe af ter hearing a song on a sampler or someone makes a recom mendation. After listening a few times, it becomes the CD you’re most proud to own. From Monuments to Masses’ “The Impossible Leap in One Hundred Simple Steps” is one of those albums. This album, made by an anti-imperialist trio from Oakland, Calif., involves the listener in a revolutionary riot. Not only is it technically and artistically well done, but it makes the listener reflect on the surrounding society. Vocals are very rare; instead the band uses samples from po litical speeches, interviews, tele vision, radio and even “The Matrix.” Don’t let that stray you from the album though. The samples blend flawlessly with the music, at some points using the tonal quality of speaker to fill a jazz rhythm or a hardcore breakdown. From Monuments to Masses, on Dim Mak records, pushes the listener to celebrate art and culture, combining drum machines, guitar loops and samples to pull it off. Each song contains its own unique personality, which keeps the al bum from becoming redundant. For example, “Sharpshooter,” the nine-minute opener reflects on Sept. 11 and television’s por trayal of the incident. This record is good for any one who enjoys rock ‘n’ roll mu sic, political or not. It is truly worth paying $12 to be able to listen to it over and over be cause with every listen, there is something new to be heard. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockmixeditor@ hotmail.com August 27,2003 Russell House room 205 AH are welcome , : ’» r—-:-:-r-■ Every Monday $2 Corona Everyday j $1.25 Busch Light & fufitAHCZ Miller H'9h Life ** • if you are under 21, it is illegal S, abc ZZEEJZZSZ f/o Cover Charges Enjoy live music Tuesday through Saturday usually beginning between 9 and 10 PM. Call 803-771-7262 or visit www.sundancebarandgriii.com for an updated schedule of events. The Sundance Bar and Grill features a great appetizer and dinner menu. Located in the l/Tita at 902-B 6eiva?y Street [rust I WELCOME! TO MY PARTY • -4 ■ ■:. t „■ ;_..v <, : «• •-< ; . f.& 11 "tVj^i II] IJ Li Jil * »jl j n 1