Come Around Sundown - Discuss (Spoilers)

[mymachinekills]

I love Kings of Leon. Been listening to them since 2003. So you can imagine my excitement when they claimed the album "has a little bit of every record they've done" on it. That being said, here is my opinion of what's really going down on this record.

They're still great song writers, that can't be denied. But the album doesn't live up to what Kings of Leon has put forth in the past. Perhaps seeing them perform some of these songs live is what dampened my opinion of some of the songs, because live they are awesome. But honestly, the production quality isn't that great. That's not to say I like when music sounds clean and perfect - I don't. But there seems to be a touch of laziness on this record. Ad-libbing lyrics, I'm totally fine with that, but the energy I get from listening to this album is that they wanted to finish it fast.

The best example of songs that could have been better recorded are The Immortals and Back Down South. I know they did Back Down South in one take, but come on, Caleb's voice isn't balanced (again, much better live.) The Immortals, when played live is fucking awesome. He belts it out and you can really feel the passion, but on the record, you can hear the laziness in his singing.

I'm just a little bummed. I wanted to hear something in the style of Four Kicks, or Trani. I wanted more raucous, southern brawl songs - like the ones they used to make. The album is by NO MEANS bad. In fact, most of the songs are really great at their core. I just feel like a few more takes could have made it amazing. It's like you know they've got these amazing songs brewing between the four of them, we've seen it four times before, only this record doesn't resonate as much with me. Maybe I just need to give it more time and stop over thinking.

So - IN A NUTSHELL: Album tends to lean on the 'lazy' side (as far as vocals and production go) but because of their inherent talent, it still has that dazzle and charm that KOL always delivers. Just see them live and sing the songs the way you remember Caleb singing them at the show (especially Pyro, Immortals and Back Down South.)

[mymachinekills]

OH - and Pyro and The End...Love them. They remind me of the colors you see when you close your eyes. Ha, not sure why either.

[kolohiostate]

the thing to me is would you think his voice was lazy if you didn't hear the live versions?

this is probably why caleb was pissed those videos were leaking.

[mymachinekills]

that's the thing...I don't know. It might be like reading a book and then seeing the movie version...the movie's never as good, ya know? You could be right though...I saw them live in Irvine in July...but yea, those video's aren't going to help

[kolohiostate]

yea i wish i didnt hear the songs live either. it took me a few listens to get used to it and tell myself the song doesn't sound weird it's just the tempo is different from the live version.


in other news....

pony up is awesome

[mymachinekills]

pony up is so awesome

[kolohiostate]

if i had to rank the songs:

the end 4
radioactive 8
pyro 12
mary 6
the face 1
the immortals 10
back down south 11
beach side 9
no money 5
pony up 3
birthday 7
mi amigo 13
pickup truck 2


all of them were real close save mi amigo.

that one was just kind of a joke, but it makes me laugh at least

[steelersfreak1]

My rankings would be:

Mary
Back Down South
The Immortals
The End
No Money
Pickup Truck
Pyro
Pony Up
The Face
Birthday
Radioactive
Beach Side
Mi Amigo

I'm really curious about the B-side Celebration now, VERY curious. Especially after how great the b-sides on OBTN were. Come to think of it, Frontier City could actually fit in nicely on this album.

[mymachinekills]

i'd put pyro a lot higher up, i think it's great

[mymachinekills]

OH yea, i forgot about Celebration

[guitargogether]

I didn't read everyones reviews but I skimmed through... I'll make mine short and sweet. It will not be #1 on my top albums of 2010 list. (or #2 and if I'm honest I doubt #3)

I wanted to cry listening to Southbound... not because it was good. It was my favorite out of all the ones they've been playing live because it was such a fun country sounding song. The recorded version sounds more like it should be played at a funeral. 90% of the album sounds effortless and not in a good way...

I do love The End. It made me cry b/c it was so good. Also Pick Up Truck and The Immortals are very good.

I've listened 3 times now. Maybe if I listen some more I'll like it better.

[washedaway]

Bit of backgroiund: First time posting, but have listened to KoL since they started. Loved Aha Shake and Because of the Times, but was not hot on Only By the Night mainly because I thought it just lacked any a real edge or experimentation.

When I first listened to the new album I thought it was total crap. BUT the more I listened to it, the more I'm starting to dig it. I think the use of new instruments is a major plus, and something they should've been doing a while ago. Collectively, I think its a pretty damn good rock album.

Highlights for me: Back Down South (Agreed with previous poster at first, but now I like that its slower and not as "rock", good use of fiddle too), Immortals (thought it was corny as hell at first, but now I like it), Pony Up (faster, nice bass line), No Money, Mary (great classic rock) and Beach Side (sounds like the Smiths or something).

I do have two beefs though: One is that some of these songs sound very similar - particularly Caleb's vocals in The Face, Immortals, and The End. The other is that the lyrics are subpar - he didn't put much effort into and it showed. You gotta give more effort than that unless you're a phenomenal lyricist and Caleb just isn't one. The lyrics for Birthday totally ruined the song for me.

Much better than I initially thought, so hopefully it continues to grow on me. Its not Aha or BOTT, but that's not gonna happen anymore. Its pretty solid though.

[Helene]

The End has popped up on youtube, I am going to stop there and not listen to the rest if I find it, but so far, I love it. I find it quite moody, atmospheric, especially the chorus. BOTT to me was like a potential soundtrack, a road movie soundtrack, The End comes in that category too.

[benief]

whilst i dont think it's a particuarly bad album, i think they are capable of so much more.

[Jonathan88]

Been listening to the songs since Saturday night on youtube, found everything except Pyro but I'm back home and now have the whole album. I'm going to listen to it in order a few times a write a proper review but here is my initial ranking of the songs:


1. The End
2. The Face
3. Mi Amigo
4. Beach Side
5. The Immortals
6. Back Down South
7. Pickup Truck
8. Pyro
9. Mary
10. No Money
11. Pony Up
12. Radioactive
13. Birthday

[larrikin]

Love the new album! So, SO Much better than OBTN.

I thought they were going to sell themselves out even more with this album, but it sounds more like they have made the music they want to make!

[JOJO]

Wow, some seriously mixed reviews on here. This album really needs to drop so I can hear the whole thing.

[Rebecka]

It's really fun to read the reviews of the album but I do get quite nervous. I wonder what I will think about the album... Hopefully I'll love it!

[saminton]

Oct 3, 2010 8:32:53 GMT ahajames said:

could someone send me the link of the leaked download? privately if people dont want to be tempted.... thanks

Me too. I buy all KOL's albums as well as downloading leaks after having the previous 3 albums weeks before (Months in BOTT's case).

I can't find this one though. A PM would be fine if you don't want to post it anywhere. I would much appreciate it!

P.S I've already pre-ordered it from HMV if that was an issue

[Erin]

Please don't post the link to the leak in any of the threads. It's not allowed & no-one wants accidental thread deletes again.