What's so great about KoL?

[chandler]

Ohhhh, you're expressing your love through hate. Now I get it.

Saying they suck pretty much conveys the same thing as 'steaming pile of shit' though. They clearly don't suck.

I doubt Nickelback has forums. Or fans. Gah, could you stop referring to them in conversations about the Kings??!! It's unsettling!

[countess of leon]

girlanachronism said:

Caleb's unique vocals and the bass and also the drumming in the songs is great.

And the fact that they can have such huge anthemic songs like Trani, knocked Up and Arizona and then such short catchy ones like POF, TJG, Charmer, RML and so on.

Who could forget Matt's great guitar solos too!

Thanks girlanachronism - you reminded me about the drumming!

And yes their songs, while recognisable as theirs are certainly varied. Talihina sky, charmer, holy roller, my third house.....by contrast many other bands (foo fighters nowadays, strokes) all sound the same.

[GirlAnachronism]

Your welcome!

I love the drum beat on My Party, Black Thumbnail, McFearless, Razz, Woo-Hoo and My Third House especially.

I love the bass in Charmer, Holy Roller Novocaine, McFearless and Razz.

[countess of leon]

kjam1988 said:

chandler said:

How articulate of you. Saying something 'sucks' is hardly a meaningful way of putting it. And you had the cheek to say we could come up with no valid reasons why we think they are a decent band? You are a hypocrite, my dear.

OK. They lack the creativity to diversify their music. Particularly in a live setting. Anybody can play the songs exactly from their recordings. It's what they practice over and over. What makes a band great is the ability or the desire to stretch the boundaries and come up with something nobody has heard before. They do nothing influential, they do nothing to make your jaw drop. Which is sad because I think they have the ability to do it, they just don't want to. They have the ability to whip out a crazy ass solo on nothing but a whim and make you say "damn." But they don't. Why? They go up on stage every night for one reason: to satisfy those casual fans who heard a song or two on the radio.

And therefore, they suck.

The last part is, of course, my opinion and nothing else. Don't take it personally.

I don't agree. If you think of classical composers, the music they composed was the music they wanted to hear.
KoL are performing their own compositions..one would presume that they would put out on CD the performances they considered to be the best. Therefore why not replicate it in concert?

You quite rightly point out that they are probably capable of doing something jaw dropping. But if they think that the sound they have produced is as near as they can get to just how they want it, why change it?

[countess of leon]

I was thinking....

Perhaps their music is like a persian carpet...

Ordinary threads, sublimely woven.


That's not meant to sound pretentious, but trying to get to the bottom of why, ignoring the performance, the look, the charm and charisma, KoL songs are so great.

I speak as someone who heard them once on the radio in 2003, bought YYM on the strength of that, then AHS and BOTT, and was blissfully unaware of all the rest of it - not that i protest against the rest. I just thought this was a brilliant band before i knew what they were like in performance/ with fans/ when they rescue you in your broken down skoda on the motorway (OK, I made the last one up).

[Neon]

They blend Southern Rock with Alternative Rock - whats not to love?

[jamiemac]

The way that they create music from the heart, and write about experience not just 'oh people will relate to this lets write a song about splitting up'.

It's all hard time, real life experience...this is why I love KOL.

[loserresol]

Matthew dimples

[soniac]

loserresol said:

Matthew dimples

.....you know what....i never thought about that, but yes, matthew dimples are pretty swish.

i'm also not original so i'm just going to second everything everyone above me has said, along with caleb's ears.

[sovietkitsch]

I love how they're so contradicting.
They're cocky, but unpretentious at the same time. They sing songs about their dicks, but know how to word love in a none cheesy way as well.
Their background, experiences, family band and so much more seep through their albums, which are always different from the last one. They're not afraid of changing their sound and taking risks. The songs are like individuals, each has its own characteristic, but they're all equally beautiful.

I could go on and on and on .. I'm just really into the music and the band.

[xlouisex]

basically, all i can say is whats not so great about kol?
everything about the kings is amazing, so the answer to the question of this thread would take hours... well more like days. I could go on and on with positive stuff =)

[wakingdreams]

Sorry to jump in but...hmm...

for me the progression from each and every album is amazing. There are only a few bands that I truly adore other than Kings of Leon (and I won't name them because I know I'll be lynched) and each and every one of those bands progresses with each album.
Starting with the drumming...it seems like Nathan is developing his own style as he goes on, which is beautiful. He is not doing things with the drums that every one else does. He's adventurous and tries new things. The way he melds in with Jared's bass lines is amazing and it seems like the two of them are truly in sync. That in itself would be reason enough for KOL to be great because a lot of bands don't quite get the fact that the "partners", if you will, in a band are the bass+drums and then guitars working as one.
Speaking of guitars, Matt's Southern inspired playing is a breath of fresh air in a world that seems to think the only stroke of genius that a guitar player can have is one that involves crazy solos that last an hour. Matt's solos are beautiful while at the same time simple and short enough to match his music. He is not overpowering the feeling of the song, but accenting it and pouring even more passion into it.
Caleb's singing is phenomenal. His voice is pleasantly unique and full of soul. This is going to sound corny but, every time I hear it I think of being upstate NEw York, by Lake George, running around with my cousins and family and just acting like a kid. IT removes me from the hectic lifestyle I lead down here near Manhattan and for me, any voice that can do that, is a God send. He has a truly wonderful gift and the emotional range of his voice is spectacular. His guitar playing has also been perfected over the years and his passion is further expressed through it.
Now we get to Jared and his amazing bass playing. Let me tell you, the first time I heard Youth and Young Manhood I smiled and thought to myself that the bass player was going to be amazing some day. I played it for a friend of the family who used to produce records and he saw it too. He told me, and I still remember every word, that :
"Some day this kid is going to be a legend. He's already got the skill and, if what you're telling me is true, about him barely knowing how to play when they first started playing together, then, hell, he's got the makings for success."
His skills have progressed so much and sometimes I forget it's a bass I'm hearing and not a guitar. It's wonderful how his emotions can translate into music as well, which is rather hard to do with a bass. He blends in beautifully with his bandmates' playing while still standing out and setting a beat that the listener can latch onto. His playing is both comforting and invigorating and I can't say enough about it.
The lyrics themselves should be something that makes these guys legends. Their heart felt and simple yet, they speak to every one. Not one person that I have "made" listen to KOL doesn't relate to the lyrics; every one I know loves the lyrics (except for my dad but he's an Ozzy fan so... what do we expect?). I, a 17 year old high school soccer player can relate to them and so can my 63 year old grandfather who lived through WWII in Italy. It's amazing and I love how the music breaks barriers between generations and cultures.
So, what makes KOL amazing? Just take your pick!!!!

Sorry it was so long! I just couldn't stop myself. I critique albums and bands for my school newspaper so once you get me going, I don't stop!

[groupielove]

^^^^^ when you leave school, you should be a music journalist.

everyone has made some great points - even mike (aka kjam)

I swear to god, whenever i lie in bed and listen to ASH (particularly) i think to myself- "oh my gah!! WHY is this band so good".. i think that after i realise that ive been forgetting to breathe. thats right. their songs make me hold my breath, unconsciously o'course. i dunno, theres something magical, there really is

its caleb's voice, jared's catchy bass, matt's amazing geetar solos, nathan's ongoing drums.. and the sound of accoustic geetar against electric guitar, also.

i have no music-realted education/training, so the reason as to why kol are so freakin genius has always piqued my interest. i just dont know- i think its the lyrics, the catchyness, but mostly the energy of the songs. thats the best way i can put it, coz i suck with expressing myself

kol rock on!!

[izzy]

Whoever mentioned that each guy plays their part and is heard is right on. And i think live they are true to the songs, which is not a bad thing. But when they play the older stuff you can see how much they are developing their sound. They are ambitious and honest about it.

[Ziggy]

I'm pretty picky about modern bands I'll listen to, mainly because I don't want to listen to a band that is doing something that has already been done.

Well, there is no one with a voice like Caleb's and no other bands are creating songs right now with such honesty and attitude. Plus that bit of southern twang gives them an edge.

[thewhiteunicorn]

Yeah, I limit my music to bands who sound like way out there. Pick 10 screemo bands and you wont be able to distinguish which band is which.