As I’m a big fan of all their records so far, the 4th album from the foursome from Nashville, Tennessee was met with the usual nervous excitement. This was probably put together quicker than any of their other albums, to capitalise on headline slots in UK festival after festival the previous summer. That thought alone led to anxious thoughts, but I need not have worried too much. An indication of what was in store came from the album design which is an amalgamation of the four Followills faces within an eagles head! Only by the Night is the album that brings them together as a musical unit, whereas on past albums I feel that their individual talents have shone. Let me take you through my thoughts track by track:

Use Somebody – The second single from the album and a much gentler one at that. Not one of my favourite songs either. Has a feeling of filler material within the album but catchy enough to sing along to in a stadium with a lighter in the air.

Revelry – This is more of a slow dancer. Caleb’s voice kind sounds as heartfelt as on any song, and will be the third single release. Maybe it seems so heartfelt because the words could relate to a desire to give up the party lifestyle but having found it hard to leave behind. It tells of lost loves along the way through hard drinking and smoking. This is a haunting, evocative song that could strike a chord with many.

Be Somebody – A fun song that everybody can relate to! It’s about stepping onto a dance floor, and having everybody in the place enraptured by your moves, if only for one night!

To be fair, this CD didn’t strike a chord with me as instantly as their earlier work but as I have now had the chance to listen to numerous repeat plays, I can certainly say that it is a grower and there’s not really any filler. I could see all of these songs being hits if they were released as singles. As with any KOL album, it’s best served loud. Since its release they have won numerous awards and their popularity has soared overseas. All my friends who never liked them before like this album. As much as that pains me I can see why their earlier work would not appeal as broadly, as it can be hard work at times to decipher what the lyrics are through the strong southern accent. I think that Caleb finally proves here that he is singer of the highest order. I would say that in my opinion their second album Aha Shake Heartbreak is still their masterpiece, but unlike many diehard fans I can still appreciate their move to a more mainstream sound. It is a shorter more condensed album and none of the songs outstay their welcome. I consider it to be a further indication of some very talented musicians finely tuning their craft. On this evidence I would say Only by the Night still stands as one of the best records of 2008 which just about says it all. Their albums are each different in their own way and show a progression many artists of today can’t achieve. They’re not doing anything groundbreaking here, but the band are savvy enough to know that a step to more commercial territory will free them up to experiment a bit more on the next. Personally I can’t wait for the 5th album to see which way they go.