Youth & Young Manhood
by Kings of Leon
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Aug 19, 2003
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 89 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 75 out of 89
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 89
  3. Negative: 6 out of 89

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  1. peter
    Oct 8, 2003
    5
    Sorry, nothing special. Far far behind The Strokes or The White Stripes.
  2. joonspoon
    May 19, 2004
    6
    Kings of cut 'n' paste plagiarism.
  3. dead_beat_dave
    Oct 5, 2014
    6
    Youth and Young Manhood may not be the bands most outstanding LP, but it still stands up quite well on the back's of some surprisingly strong, clever and fun garage rock tunes.

    Kings of Leon's first two EPs form the backbone of their debut record (Holy Roller Novocaine gave us "Molly's Chambers," "Wasted time" and "California Waiting," while What I Saw churned out "Red Morning Light").    Youth and Young Manhood may not be the bands most outstanding LP, but it still stands up quite well on the back's of some surprisingly strong, clever and fun garage rock tunes.

    Kings of Leon's first two EPs form the backbone of their debut record (Holy Roller Novocaine gave us "Molly's Chambers," "Wasted time" and "California Waiting," while What I Saw churned out "Red Morning Light"). Smart to an extent, as the album sometimes feels like a fleshed out compilation of these two releases.

    "Red Morning Light" (the album's first single) is a strong indication of what is to come, opening the album with bravado. The flesh carries us to "Wasted Time," (single #3) a short little rocker with a grimy edge. The only special moment barring the EP backbone comes with "Trani," a slow and reflective track with lots of soul. "California Waiting" and "Molly's Chambers" (singles #2 & 4 respectively) round out the framework of Youth & Young Manhood, and prove to be the two most memorable pieces on the record.

    Divorced from the strong backbone taken from the bands first two EP releases, Youth & Young Manhood would prove itself unmemorable and pudgy. Luckily, we are able to look back on an entertaining, quirky and memorable release from Kings of Leon - without the slight commercial tinge seen on their latter releases.

    Crazy and undeniably southern, here is a debut that is surprisingly worthwhile thanks to a powerful stable of well written garage rock hits.

    Track Picks: || Red Morning Light || Wasted Time || Trani || California Waiting || Molly's Chambers||    … Expand
  4. clem666
    Jan 20, 2022
    5
    First studio effort for the Kings of Leon band. Clearly not bad but it kind of makes me remember of Queen of the Stone Age's first records in a way : tracks follow each other on the almost exact same tone. Caleb Followill's voice don't change from the beginning to end excepted some pale and minor variations. On the other side, instruments shout and manage to achieve noticeable spins fromFirst studio effort for the Kings of Leon band. Clearly not bad but it kind of makes me remember of Queen of the Stone Age's first records in a way : tracks follow each other on the almost exact same tone. Caleb Followill's voice don't change from the beginning to end excepted some pale and minor variations. On the other side, instruments shout and manage to achieve noticeable spins from time to time.

    I enjoyed the progression of 'Trani' while 'Molly's Chamber' made me desperate as both vocals and instruments are monotone, monochrome and definitely do lack of taste. In overall it is an 'easy' record : nothing amazing on the lyrics side, nothing brand new on the structure level, nothing revolutionary, just easy-listening rock basics.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

38
#38 Most Discussed Album of 2003
37
#37 Most Shared Album of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. Spin
    83
    The Kings are probably sick of the "redneck Stones" tag already, but the signs are all there. [Aug 2003, p.111]
  2. Blender
    70
    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]
  3. ShakingThrough.net
    70
    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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