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Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody

Single Reviews

Kings Of Leon have come a long way since their bearded beginnings.

Kings Of Leon have come a long way since their bearded beginnings. With their particular brand of danceable indie written about groupies and partying up until now, we've fondly looked to them as 'the Southern Strokes'. New single 'Use Somebody', though, reflects a new phase in their lives - they're settling down, shaving more often and, well, becoming more likely to be compared to Snow Patrol.

'Use Somebody' might be a bit more stadium-anthem than we're used to from the Followills, but it works. Epic sounding guitars and faint "woah-oh" backing vocals provide the backdrop for singer Caleb's unique voice; he sounds heartbreakingly genuine as he sings "I could use somebody like you". A guitar solo that could be cliched somehow grabs our attention more than it should, and we can't help thinking that it might sound a bit naff if James Blunt was singing it. Rest assured, though: 'Use Somebody', while it teeters slightly on the edge of scary U2 territory, settles just on the right side of cool. Rating: 7/10