thus spake drake: Ear on TV: Week of 10.25.10: Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon on Letterman Monday: For me and pigeons to poop on

It's been a crazy ride to the top of the heap for Kings of Leon. Once dubbed "the Southern Strokes," the band born in a garage has risen quickly to selling out stadium shows, and gaining a new moniker: "the Southern U2" (or, as Pitchfork has christened them, "Y'All2"), and their latest release (Come Around Sundown) only reinforces the idea that the title is not without merit.

The Followill family (brothers Nathan, Caleb and Jared, along with cousin Matthew) were a plucky, bearded bunch, with more positive press than sales when U2 nabbed them in 2005 to open for them on their North American tour. That tour provided the eager Kings with the opportunity to learn from their successful elders, and as the successive albums would attest (2006's Because the Night and 2008's breakthrough success Only the Night), more than a little bit rubbed off on the band. It's tempting to believe that Matthew Followill stole The Edge's guitar pedals at the end of the tour ("he has so many, perhaps he won't notice?").

When the band plays Letterman on Monday, in support of Come Around Sundown, it's obvious they're mostly keen on just holding on to their current fans, crafting songs with big sing along choruses for the stadium ~~Bic lighters~~illuminated cellphones. Those early fans hoping for a return of their hungry Appalachian garage rock can only be consoled by Caleb bringing back his beard -- as perfumed and well-groomed as it is. Perhaps the pigeons had the right idea.

Elsewhere, Kid Cudi is poised and ready to follow-up his Kanye West-approved debut (Man on the Moon: The End of Day) with the similarly titled Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. While it won't be in stores until November 9, the rapper gives us a preview with an appearance on Letterman Thursday.