Kings of Leon

[xtrmx]

When I hear KoL songs I always feel disappointed that there ain't another vocalist on that band. Subjective of course but I cannot stand that mans voice. Great songs ruined by a moaning screamer, it makes their songs totally unlistenable to me .... Too bad because a lot of their songs have great potential when sung by someone else

 

[Nate Dogg]

Come Around Sundown....New album in October. Please don't hate....

Kings of Leon's New Disc Due in October | Rolling Stone Music

 

[last unicorn]

Come Around Sundown....New album in October. Please don't hate....

Kings of Leon's New Disc Due in October | Rolling Stone Music

I like KOL, I'm excited about the new album

 

[U2isthebest]

I like them too. The backlash is inevitable. They were popular in Europe for quite awhile and were really not well known in the mainstream here. When they exploded last year, a lot of people here who were already fans did the transparent backlash things because the "other kids" started listening to them, and they weren't their early fans' little secret anymore. I understand that some fans were disappointed in the last album, and that can be a legitimate argument. But at least in my life, most people that I've seen that openly hate KOL were fans 2 years ago or at least appreciated the band even if they didn't like the music. Now, they hate them because it's cool. OHEMGEE, They're so indie!!11!! PITCHFORK, GUYZ!!!11112!

ETA: At least in terms of rock vocalists that have emerged in the past 5 years or so, Caleb is among the best, I think. I understand that his voice doesn't appeal to everyone, but neither did/do Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Kurt Cobain, Thom Yorke, etc., and I love all of them. It's just taste.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Five syllables. Caleb, you cheeky fucker.

I don't like this band nearly as much as I used to (as my post on page 1 of this thread can attest), but I also don't have as much rabid hate for them as I did when I made that post. Sure, the big singles from the last album got incredibly old and obnoxious after about four listens, but I'm kind of over bashing them.

I'm going to download this album when it leaks, and am hoping they surprise me. There are still damn good songs on their first three records.

And pigeons like to shit in their mouths, which is always good.

andyuk, where you at?

 

[martha]

If the new album is anything like the last two, count me out.

 

[powerhour24]

You didn't like Because of the Times? I did, although Aha Shake Heartbreak is the only album of theirs that totally clicks with me. Their debut is too unpolished to the point of being obnoxious, and Only By The Night is unfocused and more based on hooks than riffs, the polished production and the poppy vocals are their prerogative though. I think the 'sell out' backlash is hilarious, to the point where people who know nothing about liken them to a chick band (because girls like Caleb??) and the fans seem to think US popularity is the end of the world.

I think on their old material, his voice fit perfectly with what it was, but depending on my mood it can be very hard to take, where the instrumental work of the first 3 albums was always entertaining if not artistically groundbreaking. With BOTT especially, I really find myself wishing forman instrumental only version of the album.

 

[LemonMelon]

I think Caleb's voice went from acceptable to unbearable once it became required to do more than simply howl over shuffling southern rock riffs. He can't sing pop music, that much is obvious.

They've always been a pretty mediocre band, but at least they were fun at the beginning. They're taking themselves far too seriously at this point. Only KOL would attempt to make a song called Sex on Fire sound tortured and oh-so-poignant. SO many horrible things came from them touring with U2 (not the least of which that I watched them open for U2), and their turn for the grandiose is arguably the worst of them all. I just hope they don't try so hard next time. Hell, at least Jet is hilariously bad.

 

[martha]

You didn't like Because of the Times?

Nope. It seemed like they abandoned the music they did well for the sake of sales. That's not a sell-out charge, but when you suddenly get more radio-friendly, your music suffers.

They're taking themselves far too seriously at this point. ....... and their turn for the grandiose is arguably the worst of them all. I just hope they don't try so hard next time.

I agree.

 

[Catman]

I don't think just because a band's music becomes "radio-friendly," that the music is destined to suffer because of it. A lot of my favorite bands created their greatest works while being commercially successful (U2 w/ "The Joshua Tree," REM w/ "Automatic for the People," Matthew Good w/ "Avalanche," Depeche Mode w/ "Violator"). I do understand some artists suffer under the weight of commercialism, but I wouldn't attribute that weight to all musicians.

Also (in response to LemonMelon), I never thought "Sex on Fire" was supposed to be taken so seriously. It's a fun, catchy tune, but does the band actually think it to be a poignant single?

eh, I know it's probably going to be heresy, but I actually think U2 taking the band on the road with them was for the best. They honed their craft, created a decent set of melodies, and the music is all the better for it. It's not like they were some great "hidden secret" of a band before U2 got a hold of them; they were, imo, much more average than they are now (sounds like a paradox, but whatever).

 

[U2isthebest]

This hasn't happened in this thread, at least not since it's been revived, but it's always amusing to me when U2 fans accuse another band of being too commercially-friendly or mainstream. Seriously? U2 didn't get to be the biggest band in the world by being indie snobs, and in my opinion their music has never suffered for it.

 

[LemonMelon]

Also (in response to LemonMelon), I never thought "Sex on Fire" was supposed to be taken so seriously. It's a fun, catchy tune, but does the band actually think it to be a poignant single?

I sure hope they don't; the lyrics are ridiculous. However, Red Morning Light it is not, and I feel they will it into being Until The End Of The World when they should have aimed for the more reasonable Vertigo. It doesn't sound light, and that's more what I mean. Yeah, it's a stupid song. But it should have had stupid music too.

 

[martha]

I don't think just because a band's music becomes "radio-friendly," that the music is destined to suffer because of it. A lot of my favorite bands created their greatest works while being commercially successful (U2 w/ "The Joshua Tree," REM w/ "Automatic for the People," Matthew Good w/ "Avalanche," Depeche Mode w/ "Violator").

I don't know who Matthew Good is, and Depeche Mode will never win an argument with me. I have never been able to stand them, even when they were somewhat relevant.

I do understand some artists suffer under the weight of commercialism, but I wouldn't attribute that weight to all musicians.

Nor would I, but KOL seems to have suffered in that attempt.

This hasn't happened in this thread, at least not since it's been revived, but it's always amusing to me when U2 fans accuse another band of being too commercially-friendly or mainstream. Seriously? U2 didn't get to be the biggest band in the world by being indie snobs, and in my opinion their music has never suffered for it.

I would disagree. First, I'm not an indie-snob at all. But U2's modern output has suffered in their quest for popularity. ATYCLB was a snooze-fest for the most part, Vertigo was marginally better. NLOTH isn't all that radio-friendly at all; it sounds better than the last two; didn't sell as well, and now, if the setlist reports are to be believed, the band is panicking at bit and ditching the new material in an effort to play the "popular" stuff.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

It's not like they were some great "hidden secret" of a band before U2 got a hold of them;

This is very true. I remember reading a lot of hype about them surrounding their debut, Youth and Young Manhood. And that was a good two years before they even opened for U2.

There are some fun songs on that debut.

 

[U2isthebest]

I would disagree. First, I'm not an indie-snob at all. But U2's modern output has suffered in their quest for popularity. ATYCLB was a snooze-fest for the most part, Vertigo was marginally better. NLOTH isn't all that radio-friendly at all; it sounds better than the last two; didn't sell as well, and now, if the setlist reports are to be believed, the band is panicking at bit and ditching the new material in an effort to play the "popular" stuff.

I wasn't referring to anyone in this thread in particular. I saw your posts earlier in the thread about the reasoning for your dislike of KOL's last 2 albums, and they're completely legitimate. And while I disagree in terms of personal opinion about U2's 2000s work, I understand where you're coming from and have no issue with it. I was referring more to an attitude I've seen in the past in multiple places on the forum where a fan will accuse 'fill in the blank artist/band' of trying to be to mainstream or appease a mass following while ignoring the fact that U2 does the same thing. Like I said, for me, I don't view that as a bad thing as long as I still enjoy the music and feel that the artist/band is maintaining their integrity both of which I feel about U2. I don't have a problem with anyone holding another opinion as long as they're not foaming at the mouth over some band becoming more popular while seemingly ignoring the fact that they're a fan of the biggest band around right now. I hope that makes more sense than my last post.

ETA: In terms of the possible setlist changes, isn't that a fairly common thing from U2 for years? That is, they choose to playthe hits and well-known songs as opposed to the deeper cuts that some of us more diehard fans would like to hear. I completely echo that frustration sometimes because there are many songs in the back catalog that I'd love to hear them play. But as we all know, out of 60,000+ people at a stadium show a very small percentage of people are actually huge fans that would know most of those songs. So, I understand why they choose to play hits as opposed to "Acrobat" or "Red Hill Mining Town" as much as I'd love to hear them.

 

[martha]

I suspected you didn't mean me, but I wanted to address your points.

 

[U2isthebest]

^Ok, good! I just wanted to clear the air in case I came off wrong in the original post.

 

[martha]

No, you didn't. Maybe I got my panties a little bunched.

 

[U2isthebest]

Haha, no worries! That can happen. The Internetz are serious business!

 

[cobl04]

I sure hope they don't; the lyrics are ridiculous. However, Red Morning Light it is not, and I feel they will it into being Until The End Of The World when they should have aimed for the more reasonable Vertigo. It doesn't sound light, and that's more what I mean. Yeah, it's a stupid song. But it should have had stupid music too.

yep. the way he sings it, combined with the music, it sounds like it's an incredibly deep song which makes it even more ridiculous.

Use Somebody was the worst though.

 

[powerhour24]

This hasn't happened in this thread, at least not since it's been revived, but it's always amusing to me when U2 fans accuse another band of being too commercially-friendly or mainstream. Seriously? U2 didn't get to be the biggest band in the world by being indie snobs, and in my opinion their music has never suffered for it.

U2 may be synonymous with success, but their music rarely exudes what is currently popular in the mainstream. TJT was huge at the height of hair metal and 80s synth rock, it ran counter-culture to the mainstream. AB is a left field form the band, and lead the way with the kind of sound it contains. Obviously Zooropa and Pop are not the quintessential sounds of 1993 or 1997 either. Yes they went back to basics with ATYCLB and the Bomb, but show some popular albums from those respective eras that are similar, or remembered. NLOTH contained CT, and to an extent Boots that sound like a U2 the world had heard and gobbled up before, but Magnificent (while containing hallmarks of their sound, it is not U2 by the numbers, and is a joyous, simple and yet long song), MOS, NLOTH and many of the album tracks are far from mainstream and traditional U2. Obviously they often craft hooks and memorable verse/chorus singles, but for the most part U2 is marked for their swelling, optimistic, anthemic sound, the chiming guitar, Larry's drum patterns, and of course Bono's distinctive voice.

It may not be as true nowadays, but for a long time U2 created the mainstream instead of aiming to be in it.

 

[U2isthebest]

^I agree with you. I guess what I was getting at the most basic level when I say "mainstream" is not really the type or even the quality of music U2 has made over the years. They're my favorite band. I love everything they've done, for the most part. What I meant was, at least since JT came out, U2 overall in terms of album sales, tours, awards, and fame has pretty much been the most recognizable and well-known band in the world. And while we all our have our preferences on our favorites and at times, perhaps, disliked or even disagreed with moves the band has made, I would say most people here are big fans. I'm just generally bugged by the posts I've seen over the years not necessarily criticizing the work of a band/artist but the fact that they've become successful in the mainstream industry in the ways I've described above. These are complaints not about the quality of the work but more bitching about popularity while not seeming to notice that they themselves are fans of one of the biggest bands of all time and arguably the biggest of the past 20+ years.

 

[powerhour24]

Gotcha, good post, .

 

[Gonna Run 2 U]

New songs performed live. Quality is not great but better than beach clips


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIIn8BkVlgU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2nYWRztOB8

 

[Gonna Run 2 U]

Im surprised no one has responded to my post, thoughts on the new songs?

 

[martha]

I didn't make it all the way through either of them.

That makes me sad.

 

[Gonna Run 2 U]

Thats too bad. Well, there are other new songs floating around youtube if you guys care to check them out - Radioactive (first single), Southbound, and Pickup Truck.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Thats too bad. Well, there are other new songs floating around youtube if you guys care to check them out - Radioactive (first single), Southbound, and Pickup Truck.

Can you hook it up with a source saying that Radioactive is the lead single? Where did you hear that?

 

[Gonna Run 2 U]

People from the kings of leon board were saying that an exec from RCA tweeted it.

 

[The_acrobat]

So first we have the St. Louis incident, and now they have suddenly cancelled two concerts (Pittsburgh 9/7 and Hershey 9/8) without any explanation other than a "scheduling conflict". Low ticket sales are the real suspect. Seems like this summer has been a PR nightmare for the band. I really like all their album, but from what I've seen, their recent success is going straight to their heads.