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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Youth & Young Manhood
by Kings Of Leon


9.0

based on 21 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 32 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

This is the debut full-length for the Nashville-based rock band consisting of three brothers (the sons of a preacher) and their cousin.

LABEL:	RCA
RELEASE DATE:	19 August 2003
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Alt-Country, Rock

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Uncut

Makes you want to chain-smoke while swigging a quart of Jim by the neck and taking agreeable houswives to stud. [Aug 2003, p.110]

100

The Guardian

Using and abusing passionate gospel, country sweetness and filthy guitar licks, the Kings of Leon are the kind of authentic, hairy rebels the Rolling Stones longed to be.

Village Voice

Youth & Young Manhood is 2003's finest rock debut.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

This remarkable debut captures the sound of growing up and busting out without sparing the rough edges.

Austin Chronicle

If Alabama's Drive-by Truckers are the Second Coming of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tennessee's Kings of Leon are ZZ Top -- barons of boogie.

Entertainment Weekly

Their lyrics... roil with the randiness and violence of Delta classics. [22/29 Aug 2003, p.132]

Spin

The Kings are probably sick of the "redneck Stones" tag already, but the signs are all there. [Aug 2003, p.111]

Magnet

The Kings of Leon sound like Molly Hatchet locking horns with the Gun Club. [#60, p.105]

Q Magazine

While rough and a little patchy, it's a cracking debut nonetheless. [Aug 2003, p.108]

Filter

Despite their penchant for over-the-top tribute, Kings of Leon recycle classic rock 'n' roll with such earnestness and ebullience, that it's hard not to sing along. [#6, p.88]

Rolling Stone

They come on like old-school greasers who've been around long enough to know how to savor a moment.

Dot Music

'Youth and Young Manhood' is nothing more than a great rock'n'roll album.

Mojo

Faced with the Kings of Leon's musical savvy, however, it's easy to believe the hype. [Sep 2003, p.104]

Splendid

A safe, if frayed, rock album that bristles and pops with flashes of brilliance, yet never ignites into the full-blown firestorm they're quite obviously capable of creating.

Blender

Their debut throbs like the Strokes with cross-eyed parents, their songs gritty and economical, their drummer nasty in all the best places. [Aug 2003, p.126]

ShakingThrough.net

And not unlike the uncertain characters populating their songs, the band members have yet to stake out a distinctive musical identity, borrowing a little too liberally from their Southern Rock roots without adding anything original to the mythology.

Launch.com

There's absolutely nothing revolutionary about what these guys are pulling, but they synthesize a gritty staccato new wave attack with the arrogant, swaying machismo of old school boogie with an authority far beyond their few years.

Junkmedia

The band shows an incredible level of bravado on their album of fun summer hymns, but has a hard time breaking through the barrier the lackluster vocals create.

All Music Guide

Youth and Young Manhood isn't sonically adventurous, but in the new-millennium pop realm, some greasy licks sure sound good.

Pitchfork

Their bar band approach sounds as if they've taken a book of rock history and, dutifully following along, bookmarked some of the most unremarkable passages.

PopMatters

The songs are so generic that the only thing left at the record's conclusion is the feeling of how hollow and insubstantial the whole thing is.

The average user rating for this album is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 32 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Matt J gave it a10:
Reffering to popmatters, i have to say this is definately the least hollow and insubstantial record iv heard, raw bluesy rock, they know how to swagger, and when it comes down to it they can whip out a classic calmer song. Great album

Adam B gave it a10:
The best band i have heard ever!! there music is different, in a good way. But i like the fact that 3 brothers and 1 cousin join together to make brilliant music :)

karl h gave it a10:
As many ''buzz bands'' do the kings of Leon create allot of love/hate divide’s across the media spectrum. Those in the hate party criticise the undecipherable singing and vintage rock and roll style and attitude which is said to be to unprogressive. Those in the love party (which I am) love them for their unarguably great music, diverse and fantastically effective vocals, vibrant and urgent sounding guitar solo's and their unique blend of gospel, folk and the dirty rock and roll guitar licks of such a quality they bring to mind the efforts of the Rolling Stones. I say if you have not already been brainwashed into thinking that these are a band lorded by the scenesters whilst making pretty awful music then you should defiantly pick up a copy of one of the best albums to come out of the USA in a long time and give the Kings of Leon a controversial yet well deserved listen

Chris gave it a10:
Bloody flippin fantastic. Wat garage is really about.

James L gave it a10:
Superb and brilliantly original debut, the tag "generic" just reflects how they have and stick to their own style

Paul C gave it a10:
Sam W is a fool! This album is F**King fantastic. If you dont like it dont buy it or listen to it! Simple.

Sam W gave it a0:
This is worst music I have heard. Vocals and instrument work show lack of talent and practice. Vocal pitch is poor, Reminds me of punk rocku froim years back, can't believe RCA is backing these guys, they muyst have really done a major sell job or snow job shall I say. Anyone who likes this doesn't know what good music really is, what a shame.

Youth & Young Manhood by Kings Of Leon

Youth & Young Manhood
by Kings Of Leon