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.

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Village Voice

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

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

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

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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.

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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.

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Dot Music

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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All Music Guide

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

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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.

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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.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 9.1 (out of 10) based on 37 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

dan c gave it a9:
Kings of Leons's first album is good, simple, dirty garage rock 'n' roll. Almost feels like it was made in the mid seventies. no other band would get away with it but they do. Excellent album.

Colin S gave it a9:
Notice the pitchfork review no longer exists. Great album.

Zach gave it a10:
I can never decide what i like more: Times or Youth. But then i hear "California Waiting" and music makes sense again. This is one of the top 5 debuts of the 2000s, no doubt about it.

Phil B. gave it a10:
Bloody brilliant

Will L. gave it a9:
Fantastic energy, rips out of the speakers, 'California Waiting' and 'Red Morning Light' are the highlights.

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 :)

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Youth & Young Manhood

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