JENNY LEWIS
INSIDE SPIN EDITOR’S LETTER

The follow up to Rabbit Fur Coat

ACID TONGUE

Sand and deliver: Kings of Leon

Bands of Brothers

Also available:

Two vinyl disc set

with bonus CD.

Available

September 23

jennylewis.com

A FEW YEARS AGO, Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher told me that to control the band’s frontman, his famously irascible and frequently incoherent brother Liam, he engages in psychological warfare. “I can make him make decisions that he thinks are his, but really they’re mine,” Noel said, one of the few moments in our conversation that wasn’t followed by a chuckle.

I have no idea if the members of Kings of Leon (three brothers and a cousin) employ similar tactics, but they may want to give Gallagher a call. In “American Regal,” frequent Spin contributor David Peisner profiles the Nashville-based band, perennial almost-superstars in the U.S. whose popularity in Europe is nothing less than extraordinary. Over the course of four albums, their initially chicly stripped-down Southern rock has evolved into a beautiful thing. And with the new Only by the Night, they have created a thoroughly modern record that throbs with a pure, paneled-van classic-rock heart. Peisner was on hand to watch the biggest concert of their lives (so far), and he delivers a fascinating portrait of still-young veterans dealing with jealousy, resentment, and abandonment—issues perhaps unique to blood relations who also happen to create art together.

This month we also hear from Noel Gallagher on the occasion of his band’s fine new album, Dig Out Your Soul. He may still be having brother troubles—“Ryan Adams is the only person who ever got [‘Wonderwall’] right”—but it also sounds as if he’s resigned to the fact that the pair will continue to have “the same fucking argument” till death do them part.

Whatever you may think of his music, this endlessly quotable loudmouth remains one of the funniest and smartest interview subjects around.

Enjoy the issue.

Doug Brod

Editor