By the time I post this – I fully expect them to be number one (yep – they are) with ‘Sex on Fire’ and so this album will be eagerly awaited.

This is a monster of an album – a spaced out desert sound – loads of reverb and squealing guitars. Super vocals from Caleb Followill, and ample backing from the rest of the brothers.

In a nutshell – buy this album, you won’t be disappointed – I’d love your opinion if you’ve heard this – I’m new to the Kings of Leon in detail, so what should I listen to next?

For a track by track, click more

The album opens with the malevolent sounding ‘Closer’, the sound is instantly dark and brooding, with a simple melody being repeated and forming the foundation of a swirling track – great way to start a CD.

‘Crawl’ is probably the closest to the Kings of Leon that I heard before, and wasn’t 100% sure about – but this is another cool track, followed by ‘Sex on Fire’ which is going to call a lot of attention to this band.

‘Use Somebody’ will probably be a future single – radio-friendly, with a really accessible chant along chorus. ‘Manhattan’ is a much more mellow affair, I guess the closest to a ballad – I absolutely love the middle eight on this, the guitar sounds awesome and the drums remind me of the kind of loose breaks that Reni might play.

‘Revelry’ is the highlight of the album for me, awesome vocals – and great lyrics.

on a run, baby, run
like a stream down a mountainside
with the wind in my back
i don’t ever even bat an eye
just know it was you all along
who had a hole in my heart
but the demon in me
was the best of friends from the start

so the time we shared
it was precious to me
all a while i was dreaming of revelry
dreaming of revelry

‘17’ has some interesting sounding chimes in the melody, strong song writing and superb vocals.  ‘Notion’ reminds me a little of a Killers track, I can’t work out which one…but it’ll come to me – all pianos and ‘reverbed’ guitars.

Next up is ‘I want you’ – a louche, laid back track which sounds like an anthem to meeting a hot girl in a bar and ‘Be Somebody’ – sounds again like the Killers a little bit, but I love the drums on this.

The album finishes out with ‘Cold Desert’ – which is really another superb track, with superb vocals and excellent lyrics – a stand out line:

Hand over your heart – lets go home…

Which seems appropriate as the track fades once, then twice…a great album and destined to be in a lot of end of year lists.

My mum just IM’ed me here in the US, to tell me that Elbow have won the Mercury Music Prize for their album ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’

I wasn’t convinced that it was a winner – and I know that Burial had some big bets on it, but I’m really happy – it has been my album of the year so far – and now it’ll pick up some more sales and good reviews.

I even had a cheeky tenner on it when it was announced – so I’m richer as well as happier today!

I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

At 73 – many men would be settling down to a life of repose, but Leonard Cohen has been on a comeback tour – taking in festivals and arenas all over the shop. Last night he took to the stage in sharp suit and hat and delivered an amazing set ‘just the other side of intimacy’ at the O2.

So I couldn’t resist my first trip to the O2, to see Leonard Cohen playing a sold out arena for his only solo date in London on this tour. Some new tour dates have been announced  – tickets on sale tomorrow.

The band were truly sublime, mixing gentle jazzy sounds, with precision arrangements and delivery. The backing vocalists – Sharon Robinson and the Webb Sisters were fantastic.  There was a selection of songs from right across the catalogue, Bird on a Wire, Suzanne – through to Democracy and In my Secret Life.

Leonard Cohen was wonderful – humble, but with a just a touch of stage aristocracy. The voice rumbled around the huge auditorium, roaring at the right moments – soft and gentle in between songs when he recited a few lines or made some funny comments.

Highlights for me were a spoken word version of ‘A thousand kisses deep’, ‘Everybody Knows’ and the most amazing version of Hallelujah – which totally reclaims the song from every piss-poor cover version of recent years.

It was a truly sublime concert – and ticks one of the boxes of live music that I need to see before I die (Scott Walker is the other if you’re interested – and that box may remain empty for some time).

The O2 is a little bit sterile for this sort of gig (great venue in terms of sound and size – travel from the west of London is a bit of mission) – I suppose it will suit the Coldplay/Elton John gigs down to the ground, but you can’t blame them for picking a venue with great sound (if a little quiet) and loads of seats.

Tracklist after the jump – although my memory is a bit shaky.

The o2, London – July 17th 2008
Tracklisting – I think (done from memory)

• Dance me to the end of love
• The future
• Ain’t no cure for love
• Bird on the wire
• Everybody knows
• In my secret life
• Who by fire?
• Hey, thats no way to say goodbye
• Anthem
• Tower of song
• Suzanne
• Gypsy Wife
• Boogie street
• Hallelujah
• Democracy
• I’m your man
• A thousand kisses deep – spoken word
• Take this waltz
• So long, Marianne
• First we take Manhattan
• Sisters of mercy
• If it be your will – not LC, but the Webb Sisters on Guitar and Harp
• Closing time