why?

[fingersinthedirt]

this has puzzled me everyday...
im sure it has been talked about before, but

why arent the kings of leon talked about more in the states. their music is so much better than the crap we see on television.

i have yet to see a music video of theirs on mtv (2), fuse, etc.

i have had numerous conversations with fellow fans and we cant really put a finger on it.

is moving overseas a good idea?

[moonagedaydream]

I don't get it either. I've heard of The Bucket being played ONCE on L.A.'s one indie station and I saw On Call twice on Subterranean...other than that I've never heard them played here. I really don't listen to radio much anymore, though. I kind of gave up on it back in '04.

It really pisses me off because they're so great. I've started to mobilize on the KOL front recently, playing them for who ever will listen. I'm converting people! It's beautiful. Right after playing Arizona for my cousin, she was like "Can we play it again? I really like it" Yeah a little tear ran down my cheek. Still, I hear they managed to fill up the Greek Theatre here in LA (it holds 6000) so all their hard work is paying off--with or without any help from radio and MTV, so they can suck it.

Personally, I think they're too good for radio--too visceral. We like stuff that's not going to grab hold of us and be distracting in any kind of way--we like boring crap that just serves as background noise or is so basic and menotonous. I don't know. What is wrong with us Americans? Yes, let's just all move to the UK. Let's all pool our money and buy a small island. Then KOL fans can just migrate there.

[pandorasboombox]

It's something that I've never been able to understand either. I think people are slowly catching on though... since Because of the Times came out, especially. Which is a shame because the first two albums were completely neglected here. I read an article a couple years ago that said they could stand outside of the club they were playing at and be just another face in the crowd, yet as SOON as they travel overseas they have to layer up in security guards.

I'm rambling... and I don't think that anything was resolved from what I said. Maybe it's just plain and simple: the majority of Americans have shit taste in music. Yes... yes I believe that's true.

[fingersinthedirt]

because of the times, the youth and young manhood, has caused heartbreak.

[pandorasboombox]

moonagedaydream said:

Personally, I think they're too good for radio--too visceral. We like stuff that's not going to grab hold of us and be distracting in any kind of way--we like boring crap that just serves as background noise or is so basic and menotonous. I don't know. What is wrong with us Americans? Yes, let's just all move to the UK. Let's all pool our money and buy a small island. Then KOL fans can just migrate there.

A thousand times backed. And a prime example of why I don't listen to the radio... it's all repetitive bullshit that literally brainwashes people!

[lloyd]

I have heard them a grand total of once on the radio.

[interestingtrash]

i want nothing but the best for kings of leon. they deserve success. however, i'm also somewhat glad they haven't blown up over here. i don't want them to be victims of another american trend - quick to catch on, quick to die out. they're worthy of slow, passionate love-making, not a quick "wham bam, thank you ma'am." yes, i am overanalyzing this with unnecessarily horrible analogies and everything, but just putting it out there.

[benief]

eeek that sounds awful

in australia they dont play k.o.l all that much

cept..they did play the hammersmith apollo show on channel [V] which was excellent.

[moonagedaydream]

interestingtrash said:

they're worthy of slow, passionate love-making, not a quick "wham bam, thank you ma'am." yes, i am overanalyzing this with unnecessarily horrible analogies and everything, but just putting it out there.

No, I like that analogy Trash! Except now I can't remember what we were talking about. You can't just put passionate love-making and KOL in the same equation. It does things to a girl...

[alexa]

interestingtrash said:

i want nothing but the best for kings of leon. they deserve success. however, i'm also somewhat glad they haven't blown up over here. i don't want them to be victims of another american trend - quick to catch on, quick to die out. they're worthy of slow, passionate love-making, not a quick "wham bam, thank you ma'am." yes, i am overanalyzing this with unnecessarily horrible analogies and everything, but just putting it out there.

i agree. i would die if i found at the bitches that listen to like Rihanna and Jojo now listened to Kings of Leon. That ain't right.

[mollysslightreturn]

Don't think Britain isn't guilty of crimes against music. Yeah, bands may be more mainstream over here than they are in America, but to be honest they're a bit too mainstream sometimes. We have too many of what are essentially boy bands with guitars and a strategically coiffed barnet, who masquarade themsleves as 'serious musicians'. They disgust me more than the blatantly manufactured shit we are also over-subscribed with.

[Neon]

I don't know what the deal with Irish music is but we love certain bands alot for some reason

for instance - read these from Wikipedia

Josh Ritter - Ritter's 2003 full-length album Hello Starling debuted at #2 on the charts in Ireland, where Ritter has developed a loyal following

Kings of Leon - Kings of Leon are very popular in the U.K. and Ireland. On July 20th 2007, they sold out two nights at the 5000 seater RDS Arena in Dublin in just 13 minutes.

Arcade Fire are massive here in Ireland too - Wikipedia used to say that in their trivia section but it's since disappeared for some reason. I'll give you an idea though - The Arcade Fire's gig in the Phoenix Park in front of 10000 sold out in less then a minute

[mollysslightreturn]

Arcade Fire are one of those bands I hope NEVER become huge. Not because I don't like them - in fact I absolutely adore them - but because I want them to be one of those bands who are really influential in years to come, but totally underated whilst they're active.

God, what a load of arty-farty bollocks that was.

[double]

i'm sure a lot of very respectable points have been made, but since i am pressed for time i don't have the time to read all of the replies, so i'm sorry if i sound redundant.

the simplest answer to your question i can provide is supply + demand. we are a capitalist nation, in every sense of the word.

a few weeks ago a friend of mine expressed her anger at "people from the UK being more talented than americans". that isn't the case. the talented in the UK are just appreciated more.

even the tabloids in other countries won't bother with you if you aren't somewhat productive. see amy winehouse..

in america, the demand is for gossip and image, so record companies supply it. simple as. i'm not angry at the record labels, or the radio, or whoever else. i'm angry that our generation is so disgustingly superificial and generic, and i'm disappointed that it will most likely always be this way. i mean not even with music. i've been DYING to see "control". i'm willing to take a road trip to see this movie, but it isn't playing within 70-80 miles of my area, one of the top 10 cities in america, but saw iv is being shoved down my throat at every movie theater i pass? and that's not even all of it. it isn't even the kids/fans who aren't accepting music such as that of the kings.

"we are the change we want to see in the world".

those who do embrace the kings are so greedy with it. the second a band gains notoriety and the praise they deserve, they become "sell outs". they are "generic" and "mainstream" and so indie kids go hunting for new unknown bands to listen to and use as an example of "real music". and the worst part is, it's so fucking blatantly obvious what's happening, and no one cares to stop it.

so like i said. supply and demand. the demand for shit music and gossip, and the demand for indie to stay indie and mainstream to be mainstream is what is being supplied.

[alexa]

mollysslightreturn said:

Arcade Fire are one of those bands I hope NEVER become huge. Not because I don't like them - in fact I absolutely adore them - but because I want them to be one of those bands who are really influential in years to come, but totally underated whilst they're active.

God, what a load of arty-farty bollocks that was.

you can have a karma for the arty farty bollocks business. but i think they're pretty well known to people who know music. i think that's the difference. kings of leon are well known to people who pay attention to music, other 'popular' bands are known by anyone with a pulse.

[rainbow82]

I think It's cause Rap is so big here in the states. It's not all rock anymore like it was in the 70s and 80s. Rap got big in the 90s and it's still really big. I love both Rock and Rap. alot of people don't. I wouldnt know what I'd do without muh RAP! but I like Classic Rock (like 70s) alot more than Rap.

It's probably because Rap hasnt gotten big in other countries yet like rock has....It's had more time to go around.

[lauralimonada]

double said:

the simplest answer to your question i can provide is supply + demand. we are a capitalist nation, in every sense of the word.

those who do embrace the kings are so greedy with it. the second a band gains notoriety and the praise they deserve, they become "sell outs". they are "generic" and "mainstream" and so indie kids go hunting for new unknown bands to listen to and use as an example of "real music". and the worst part is, it's so fucking blatantly obvious what's happening, and no one cares to stop it.

amen. amen. amen.

[mollysslightreturn]

I agree with double, which I know contradicts what I said. The reason I don't like certain bands becomming huge though, is because there are people out there who lump the Kings of Leon in the same bracket as Razorshite and the fucking Pigeon Detectives. I hate music snobbery, but just find it infuriating that people can't see the difference.

[oceanofnoise]

I've seen their videos a few times on tv but never heard them on the radio. Although the other day, Four Kicks was on Good Charlotte's 'Most Dumbass Videos'. Good Charlotte... says it all really.

[razzz]

BECAUSE AMERICA IS BASICALLY BLIND [when it comes to good music].
Kings of Leon are too good for MTV, anyways.
I don't see why Fuse doesn't play them, though...
There is ONE radio station that plays them.
It's the ONLY station I ever listen to.
[man, am I using a lot of caps ]


And I was just randomly wondering, idk why,
where the heck is jamiemc?
I haven't heard/seen any of him in forever!