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Come Around Sundown Image
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 132 Ratings

  • Summary: Released two years after the international breakthrough hit Only by the Night, Come Around Sundown continues Kings of Leon's journey into the upper echelon of mainstream pop/rock, with super-sized choruses and guitar heroics thrown in for good measure.
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Top Track

Pyro
A single book of matches is gonna burn what's standing in the way. Running down the mountain, now they're calling on the fire brigade. Carry out the... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 27
  2. Negative: 2 out of 27
  1. Oct 22, 2010
    83
    Kings Of Leon's fifth album, Come Around Sundown, is just as much of a crowd-pleaser as Only By The Night, but the four Followills bring back more of the chasing-a-whim personality of their earlier albums.
  2. Uncut
    80
    This time out, the band wants you to have an experience, and that's what you get, on a record that's over the top, wildly inventive and satisfying in the ever-deepening way of landmark longplayers from the last century. [Nov 2010, p.89]
  3. With its redemptive sins, Come Around Sundown ends up being a portrait of light and dark worthy of the rock and roll bible.
  4. Oct 22, 2010
    60
    It's all a show with Kings Of Leon, and there's nothing they yearn for more than the chance to exercise their sexual prowess.
  5. Dec 21, 2010
    60
    While enjoyable and familiar, this set of songs reflects a band who knows what music they don't want to be making but haven't--at least, not yet--determined what it is they want to be defined by instead.
  6. Ultimately, too many of these tunes are rehearsal room grooves in search of a hook.
  7. Come Around Sundown is musical wallpaper for those who purchase such amenities from the likes of Tesco or Asda. It represents little more than a giant turd amidst a sea of mediocrity, several million of which will shortly be appearing in homes near you.

See all 27 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 50
  2. Negative: 12 out of 50
  1. Oct 20, 2010
    10
    A stellar followup to their breakout album "Only By Night", Kings of Leon continues delivering rousing anthem rock with a resonant emotionalA stellar followup to their breakout album "Only By Night", Kings of Leon continues delivering rousing anthem rock with a resonant emotional undercurrent. It's great work, and people who protest ought to take note that they're not "pushing the envelope" because they don't have to and that they haven't "sold out" because their sound, while on a grander scale here, still retains the soulful spirit of their first three albums. Expand
  2. Mar 4, 2011
    10
    After a few listens come around sundown is def grower. Songs like the end, pyro, pony, birthday are instant hits but after a few listens songsAfter a few listens come around sundown is def grower. Songs like the end, pyro, pony, birthday are instant hits but after a few listens songs like pickup truck and mary really grow on you. quality album Expand
  3. Feb 4, 2011
    9
    I truly enjoyed this album. And I still do. It is a very simple album, with a nice layer to it. It's no Because of the Times, or Only By theI truly enjoyed this album. And I still do. It is a very simple album, with a nice layer to it. It's no Because of the Times, or Only By the Night, but it has some value. It takes a handful of listens, but once it sticks it has a nice sound and message. Pickup Truck is one of the best songs of the past year. It is utterly riveting. The drums on the album have a great sound as usual. Caleb was a little weak in his delivery, as far as lyrics go, but not bad. I would rate this as a good album. Not great. Not bad. It is at least worth a listen. Expand
  4. Jan 9, 2011
    7
    A solid rockin' album from the Kings of Leon. Different than all of their other albums, it shows them using their creativity to make BIGA solid rockin' album from the Kings of Leon. Different than all of their other albums, it shows them using their creativity to make BIG music. Would love to see them do some of these songs live. Go Kings! (btw Pitchfork, you are too full of yourselves. This album is much better than you say it is!) Expand
  5. Nov 1, 2012
    6
    They still got a nice flair in their songs, but it's not that special as in 'Only By The Night'. The lyrics got ruder, the whole appearance ofThey still got a nice flair in their songs, but it's not that special as in 'Only By The Night'. The lyrics got ruder, the whole appearance of the CD is kind of drab. Yet, they've got a couple of great songs on here, too, so you won't do bad with checking it out. They still make nice music. Expand
  6. Oct 28, 2010
    4
    This is the fifth album for the Tennessee based band and unlike the whiskey the state is known so well for, The Kings of Leon have not maturedThis is the fifth album for the Tennessee based band and unlike the whiskey the state is known so well for, The Kings of Leon have not matured well with age. Coming off their pop success of Only by the Night, this album also lacks the soul of earlier albums like Because of the Times or Youth and Young Manhood. The teenage girl/soccer mom sing alongs like Radioactive & Pyro don't provide any emotional lyrics to really latch on to. Mary is your atypical 50s slow song with a variation of two alternating electric guitar chords blaring in the background. Lyrically, KOL is trying imagery of being back home in Tennessee; tired and homesick from touring. The lyrics feel infant, unimagined and cheap compared to songs like McFearless or Charmer. Go out and listen to Because of the Times if you truly want a sense of what this band is made of. Song Redemption : (couldn't find one)
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  7. Oct 20, 2010
    0
    What a disappointment. I was hoping for something more innovative rather than some mundane, ho hum, material that falls way short of myWhat a disappointment. I was hoping for something more innovative rather than some mundane, ho hum, material that falls way short of my expectations. I guess I will have be content listening to their previous efforts. What happened to the band I so loved? Expand

See all 50 User Reviews