Sooo. Lets keep it current eh. Well not that current their new album came out a couple of weeks ago. And everyone's done one of these. But screw you I'm doing one too. Since they entered public consciousness in 2003, we
have seen KOL transform from hay-loving Tennessee hicks with handlebar
moustaches, men who shout YA’LL GAT PURDDYY LIPS at girls to woe them… to clean-cut smart looking lothario global superstars who underwear models just adore.
There’s no doubting Kings Of Leon are one of the biggest bands in the world. But
which Kings Of Leon do you like most? The slick arena band with a taste for
driving verses and epic choruses, or the dirty, rough and ready Southern stoner
boys? Does anyone care? Well you do because you’re somehow reading this page.
YA’LL GAT PURDDYY LIPS.
6) Mechanical Bull
(2013)
Kings Of Leon’s sixth album comeback. Surely they can do it.
Rocky Balboa came back in his sixth film. Henry the VIII found love in the 6th
marriage. Chad Kroeger has 6 penises. Unfortunately, for me, Mechanical Bull is
more a The Fast and the Furious 6 than
a fighting comeback. I loved Supersoaker, the driving verse, it felt like Caleb
was either venting some pent up frustration, that or he was recording the song
whilst on the John. But it just feels a bit like a drab U2 album. And who listens to them anymore. It Don’t Matter To Me just sounds so watered down, and
Beautiful War and Wait For Me don't even sound like Kings Of Leon. Oh well.
5) Only by the Night
(2008)
Somewhere along the line, Kings Of Leon must have asked some overweight super-millionaire record
company execs how they could earn a bit more money. These rich men told the boys to cut their hair and record a bland stadium rock album, with songs that contain
simple hooks which silly people who watch Glee would enjoy. It worked, turning them into one the biggest bands on the planet. However, musically this was
the album Kings Of Leon turned from credible artists to stadium sell-outs. Even
so, there are still some highlights, Crawl is
a cracker and Revelry isn’t a bad
song. But even the guys in the band hate Sex
On Fire and Use Somebody. However
they do now have super model wives and fans all across the world. So I doubt they're too fussed.
4) Come Around
Sundown
(2010)
I like this one. Ok ok its not exactly as exciting as this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUfuZJI9LK4
but its at times mellowing, at times
gloomy, but also at times reminiscent nature seems at home in the long drive home
you do when you’re driving home to see your mum once in a while. Unless you
never do that. You cold cold bastard. Some have argued its uninspiring and KOL
on auto-pilot. But I think it was more a step away from stadium sing-alongs, into
a mellower and more introspective album.
3) Because Of The
Times
(2007)
The Leon’s third album was an interesting album that often
kept you guessing what was coming next, a bit like when Russell Brand opens his
mouth (oh a popular culture reference there). Starting off
with the hauntingly wonderful and downbeat Knocked
Up, back to Caleb’s screaming we love on Charmer, the fascinatingly evolving True Love Way, towards the epicly toned The Runne,. the variety on this album makes it as thoroughly
enjoyable to listen to as Piers Morgan admitting that he’s a twat.
2) Aha Shake
Heartbreak
(2004)
(2004)
Only a year after their cracking debut, Kings released this
brilliant follow up. The Southern brashness of their debut was left behind on
this one, and instead a marrying of new sounds and more upbeat tempo’s and tones. This
is evident in The Bucket (how can you
not like that song), Velvet Snow and King Of The Rodeo. There is still the
daring side reminiscent of their debut on Four Kicks and Pistol Of Fire, and the slow songs are
huge winners, Milk a wonderfully
ambient song which builds evolves and contracts beautifully, and which is just
something else compared to Use Somebody.
Day Old Blues is another slower song
of which the Kings just can’t seem to match later in their career when they
seem to do more of them. This album wails of American adolescence, freedom and
fun, and to have produced it so soon after their debut is just damn impressive
if you ask me.
1) Youth and Young
Manhood
(2003)
This is without doubt one of my favourite albums of the last
20 years. The year was 2003. Music was shit. The biggest selling artists of the
year? 50 Cent, the man who enjoys lecturing in force about women’s rights and explaining
to youngsters how to make money through a respectful career and hard work.
Avril Lavigne, lady who began with an image slaughtering the use of sex to sell
music, then later used sex to sell music.. Linkin
Park.-Linkin Park. Yes music was shit. But out of nowhere these Tennessee rough
and ready rockers emerge, smashing whiskey bottles and covered in cigarette
burns, along with a menacing aura and great big bushy beards. They stuck out because
they didn’t fit in. They didn’t dress like anyone else. They didn’t sound like
anyone else. They brought an edgy southern Garage Rock to the table, and a fresh
sense of genuine rebelliousness and danger which no one else had, or anyone has
had since. The album is just brilliant from start to finish- from the opening
chords of Red Morning Light, through
to the rough and ready Wasted Time, the Punky California Waiting, the best
song they’ve ever done Molly’s Chambers,
and finishing with the epic Holy Roller Novercaine.
The authenticity of the album, the fuzzy rhythms and dirty licks and the
sheer Southern whisky chuggin’ energy of the album is intoxicating, and unforgettable.
