The hype about these boys isn't totally unjustified, though the mainstream music press may be slightly over-egging it.

Kings of Leon are three brothers and a first cousin from the Southern states, the three brothers having spent most of their short lives on the road with their Pentecostal evangelist father.

How this influenced their blues-tinged debut is hard to say, but blood being pretty viscous stuff, there's a definite musical chemistry between the Followills (for that is their name).

But what really sets the Kings apart is vocalist and rhythm guitarist Caleb Followill's wicked voice.

His lived-in, older-than-its-years drawl is a prize instrument which elevates the band from run-of-the-mill retro rockers to something a bit special - as demonstrated on the opening double barrelled rave-ups of Red Morning Light and Happy Alone.

Their music is a blend of bouncy Allman Brother blues-rock, laid-back Skynyrd, Exile-era Stones and a handful of other bands who were past it by the time the Kings were even born.

So if you want to relive the years when overtly hairy men could somehow channel 15 bottles of bourbon and numerous Malboro Reds through a few Gibson guitars and battered amps to make a coherent and somewhat attractive noise, buy this.

JS