Year in Rock 2013 Nominee: Kings Of Leon

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KINGS OF LEON
Beautiful War
From: Mechanical Bull
Released: September 24

Having weathered storms both personal (Caleb Followill's alcoholism) and professional (the inevitable backlash that came with success), Kings Of Leon now seem poised to go soldier forth through neutral ground. The haters have quieted down, and the songs aren't overreaching in their ambition as they sometimes were on Come Around Sundown. Better yet, the songwriting benefits greatly from some sober reflection; just listen to the heartbreaking highlight Beautiful War and consider it wasn't even considered for inclusion on the album that spawned megahits Sex On Fire and Use Somebody. Kind of scary, no?

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