Queens

Yay! The Kings of Leon are recording a new album and going to tour again this summer and fall.

They are starting in Australia this summer and officially in the Austin City Limits lineup (check that out here).

The lead singer, Caleb Followill - who weighs less than I do - truly uses his voice as an instrument. (Side note - it reminds me of how Karen O. can go from sweet 'la la las' to screaming freakout in the Yeah Yeah Yeah's song "Art Star.") For the KOL, their stuff has such a great blend of rocky-twang (or twangy-rock) that it's impossible not to try to sing along to their songs, despite the fact that you just can't replicate Caleb's vocal sounds.

Sadly no singles up yet on their website or myspace, but you can hear some of Aha Shake Heartbreak, their last album, here.

As for ACL, the jury's still out for me on that lineup. Sure, it's unlikely that you would see such names as Willie Nelson and Van Morrison at the same grounds as The Secret Machines and Matisyahu ever again, but is it worth trekking to Texas for?