ThereвЂ™s still a studied, beautifully mannered feeling when more modern sounds are brought in on songs like вЂњWe of MeвЂќ which is obviously cut from the same cloth as classics like вЂњMarlene on the Wall.вЂќ Vega tends to shine as of late in a vintage way and so the Broadway-meets-cabaret vibe of this set seems fitting somehow when compared with the old-school noir elements she played with on 2007вЂ™s вЂњBeauty and Crime.вЂќ Quicklist: 2title: Suzanne VegaвЂ™s вЂќLover, Beloved: Songs From An Evening With Carson McCullersвЂќ ****text: Suzanne VegaвЂ™s latest album really serves as a soundtrack to the show she did five years ago as a tribute to the work of author Carson McCullers. вЂњAround theWorldвЂќ Depending on your perspective, you could possibly fault this song for taking an easy route to accessibility, but the bottom line is that it works and it sounds like a hit. There are hints of Van MorrisonвЂ™s influence here and it suits them well. вЂњConversation PieceвЂќ This ballad with a strong walking beat serves as a semiethereal hymn of sorts. Somehow this song sounds bright, but it seems to have a darker underlying subtext. This is definitely the albumвЂ™s strongest point. вЂњFind MeвЂќ The second the guitar line comes in on this song is key turning point on this album. It is a solid place filler of a record that has a few really excellent moments. вЂњWallsвЂќ just shows the Kings of Leon doing what they do well without breaking much new ground. вЂњAround theWorldвЂќ has a bouncy guitar line that will probably lend itself to dancing while вЂњEyes on YouвЂќ has a similar sense of pep. The riff on вЂњFind Me,вЂќ is one of those moments and as the song blossoms it recalls вЂњRock n RollвЂќвЂ“era Ryan Adams in the best way.Д«ut thereвЂ™s also a jaunty quality to this collection in places. Still there are a few moments that will likely cause your ears to perk. вЂњOverвЂќ and вЂњReverendвЂќ are the kinds of songs the Followills could probably write in their sleep, but at the same time, these songs are still decent additions to their discography.ДЄlthough this record is solid, it is also a tad predictable.

It doesnвЂ™t show any of the weakness of 2010вЂ™s вЂњCome Around Sundown,вЂќ but it doesnвЂ™t quite distinguish itself either. Compared with their other albums, this one lies somewhere in the middle to the higher end of their discography. Quicklist: 1title: Kings of LeonвЂ™s вЂњWallsвЂќ ***1/2text: If youвЂ™ve ever liked Kings of Leon, youвЂ™ll probably enjoy вЂњWalls.вЂќ ItвЂ™s a pretty streamlined collection, angling toward a new-wave direction. В— - intro: This week Kings of Leon return with a new album, Suzanne Vega pays musical tribute to one of her favorite classic novelists, former Soul Coughing leader Mike Doughty releases yet another strong solo album, the work of Elliott Smith gets an all-star tribute, Irish band Bell X1 release their strongest album in a decade and Moby rediscovers his harder and louder side.

The rockers call their new release the 'unofficial greatest hits album.' Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

New kings of leon review