New album talk?

[timgrw]

I posted my opinions on the new album here this morning and with further listening this evening said opinions have changed.
I certainly don't rate it as my favourite Kings of Leon offering, that accolade goes to, without doubt, Ah Ha Shake Heartbreak.
Anyhow I wish to retract the earlier Bon Jovi remark! I put that down to me writing it in work!
Yes OBTN has a more commercial element than any of the other three albums but it also has some classic KOL sounds, namely Crawl, which is sublime.
Manhattan is perhaps the most commercial of the the tunes, just as Fans was on the BOTT album. The radio stations here (Ireland) seemed to have latched on to Use Somebody and I could see that ruining the song for me.
Going through the songs Closer, although good, is a little slow for my liking. The feedback is slightly irriitating.
Crawl, as I said, is perhaps the highlight of the whole album.
Sex on Fire I liked from the first day I heard it despite the rather silly video!!
17 seems to be getting rather a lot of stick but funny enough I like it, while Caleb's voice on Revelry is amazing.
Cold Desert is the perfect way to end the album, just like Arizona was the perfect way to end the last.
Perhaps it is lacking lyrically compared to the other three, which is why I think it's rather odd that it is getting so much positive press but hey, that's what a headline slot at Glastonbury does for you I suppose!

[irishmick]

Sept 23, 2008 21:47:34 GMT timgrw said:

I posted my opinions on the new album here this morning and with further listening this evening said opinions have changed.
I certainly don't rate it as my favourite Kings of Leon offering, that accolade goes to, without doubt, Ah Ha Shake Heartbreak.
Anyhow I wish to retract the earlier Bon Jovi remark! I put that down to me writing it in work!
Yes OBTN has a more commercial element than any of the other three albums but it also has some classic KOL sounds, namely Crawl, which is sublime.
Manhattan is perhaps the most commercial of the the tunes, just as Fans was on the BOTT album. The radio stations here (Ireland) seemed to have latched on to Use Somebody and I could see that ruining the song for me.
Going through the songs Closer, although good, is a little slow for my liking. The feedback is slightly irriitating.
Crawl, as I said, is perhaps the highlight of the whole album.
Sex on Fire I liked from the first day I heard it despite the rather silly video!!
17 seems to be getting rather a lot of stick but funny enough I like it, while Caleb's voice on Revelry is amazing.
Cold Desert is the perfect way to end the album, just like Arizona was the perfect way to end the last.
Perhaps it is lacking lyrically compared to the other three, which is why I think it's rather odd that it is getting so much positive press but hey, that's what a headline slot at Glastonbury does for you I suppose!

have to disagree wit u saying that manhattan sounds commerical and that the album lacks lyrically, the lyrics to manhattan, revelry and cold desert are some of the best he has ever wrote. indeed has caleb not said he thinks this album contains sum of his best lyrics.

for me manhattan has an arizona feel to it, a proper beautiful song.

four brilliant albums in the space of five years and constant touring and hard work is why there getting proper press not just because of the headline slot at glastonbury!

[timgrw]

Sept 23, 2008 22:11:30 GMT irishmick said:

Sept 23, 2008 21:47:34 GMT timgrw said:

I posted my opinions on the new album here this morning and with further listening this evening said opinions have changed.
I certainly don't rate it as my favourite Kings of Leon offering, that accolade goes to, without doubt, Ah Ha Shake Heartbreak.
Anyhow I wish to retract the earlier Bon Jovi remark! I put that down to me writing it in work!
Yes OBTN has a more commercial element than any of the other three albums but it also has some classic KOL sounds, namely Crawl, which is sublime.
Manhattan is perhaps the most commercial of the the tunes, just as Fans was on the BOTT album. The radio stations here (Ireland) seemed to have latched on to Use Somebody and I could see that ruining the song for me.
Going through the songs Closer, although good, is a little slow for my liking. The feedback is slightly irriitating.
Crawl, as I said, is perhaps the highlight of the whole album.
Sex on Fire I liked from the first day I heard it despite the rather silly video!!
17 seems to be getting rather a lot of stick but funny enough I like it, while Caleb's voice on Revelry is amazing.
Cold Desert is the perfect way to end the album, just like Arizona was the perfect way to end the last.
Perhaps it is lacking lyrically compared to the other three, which is why I think it's rather odd that it is getting so much positive press but hey, that's what a headline slot at Glastonbury does for you I suppose!

have to disagree wit u saying that manhattan sounds commerical and that the album lacks lyrically, the lyrics to manhattan, revelry and cold desert are some of the best he has ever wrote. indeed has caleb not said he thinks this album contains sum of his best lyrics.

for me manhattan has an arizona feel to it, a proper beautiful song.

four brilliant albums in the space of five years and constant touring and hard work is why there getting proper press not just because of the headline slot at glastonbury!

I'm presuming Manhattan will be realeased as a single and if it is I think it will have the same commercial audience as Fans did. I agree it is a beautiful song but it will appeal to the masses as a commercial track imo.

I also agree with your statement about the proper press because of talent and hard work but the Glasto set has most definately catipulted them in to the more mainstream. However, they have changed direction with this album, which may suggest they want to appeal to a more mainstream audience, not just NME worshippers!

Lyrically it doesn't even compare to Ah Ha Shake Heartbreak or Because of the Times even if Caleb says otherwise!!

Jesus I am sounding all too negative here! The album is great but what I am saying it's not their best (of course in my own humble opinion!).

[irishmick]

Sept 23, 2008 22:41:01 GMT timgrw said:

Sept 23, 2008 22:11:30 GMT irishmick said:

have to disagree wit u saying that manhattan sounds commerical and that the album lacks lyrically, the lyrics to manhattan, revelry and cold desert are some of the best he has ever wrote. indeed has caleb not said he thinks this album contains sum of his best lyrics.

for me manhattan has an arizona feel to it, a proper beautiful song.

four brilliant albums in the space of five years and constant touring and hard work is why there getting proper press not just because of the headline slot at glastonbury!

I'm presuming Manhattan will be realeased as a single and if it is I think it will have the same commercial audience as Fans did. I agree it is a beautiful song but it will appeal to the masses as a commercial track imo.

I also agree with your statement about the proper press because of talent and hard work but the Glasto set has most definately catipulted them in to the more mainstream. However, they have changed direction with this album, which may suggest they want to appeal to a more mainstream audience, not just NME worshippers!

Lyrically it doesn't even compare to Ah Ha Shake Heartbreak or Because of the Times even if Caleb says otherwise!!

Jesus I am sounding all too negative here! The album is great but what I am saying it's not their best (of course in my own humble opinion!).

perfectly okay for you to hav ure opinion on it, but if manhattan sounds that great who cares if its commercial or mainstream sounding, if thats wat commercial music sounds like then bring it on

and yes they hav changed direction in this album, i dnt believe like some not saying you u tho that theve delibrately went out to sell as many as they can, i think the sound is different becasue they hav grown immensly as musicans and caleb is far more confident in his own voice than he was on the earlier albums.

theve felt and experienced different things since the early stuff so obviously those experiences are gona be reflected in the music they create. the band said it was a far more relaxed and chilled out atmosphere in the recordin studio this time around, this is why i think it has a more relaxed approach.

ps in terms of the lyrics i agree the lyrics in the early stuff was brilliant, but i think thats because they are so clever and quick like spiral stircase for example, but i appreciate these new lyrics just as much because of the emotion behind them

[georgie11]

Just wanted to say: How wicked is the bass line in Use Somebody.... I had to rewind it several times in awe.

I love almost every song on the new album. Great to see them trying out new stuff! It's going to be a real mix at theri concerts though... with like the rockiness of the last album and then sort of more chillness (yes... not a word!) of this one and then stuffed in with their amazing Aha and Y&YM. EXCITING! I just hope to the heavens that I am in Australia when they play... I have delayed my trip to INdia by 15 days hoping that they will come before 15th of Jan!

[rainman]

My opinion of the album is that it's more authentic than the others. They have said that they played a much bigger role in the production of it even. As well as saying this is the album they've always wanted to make but couldn't.

I feel like each album is a phase of experimentation and they're getting deeper and deeper into their true sound. I think they're going to create something truly monumental one of these days if they keep at it like this.

I think anyone who doesnt appreciate the album needs to at least appreciate that they've made 4 albums within the span of 5 years, and all with so much integrity.

Where the fuck did these guys come from? You have to wonder if they're part of God's divine plan how surreal they are.

[fingersinthedirt]

heres my two cents,

i originally thought that the album was too different and more mainstream by hearing crawl and sex on fire. after unwrapping and unleashing this music i found myself thinking different

only by the night is a fantastic album. every song is so well put together. the vocals are stand out in my opinion. of course i like his voice in the first two albums better but this is amazing. caleb has really opened up the pipes.

the drums throughout the album are perfect. the cowbell in "i want you" is fucking mint! the bass lines are incredible. the guitar is complementing the vocals great.

Rainman,
god has definitely blessed every kings of leon fan with angelic music!
they have gotten better with each album. it makes wonder me just how amazing they will be in 10 years. im so excited to see!

i think with out a doubt will be the best album of the year behind only oasis.


This pretty much somes it up for me!!!!!!!!!
"its heavy i know, the black guy with the gift down below
a choke and gag. she spit up and came back for more."
"i want you"

[AmericanGrizzle]

I listened to too much of the album on youtube and lastfm before I bought it today.

Fucking love "I Want You", that's my current favorite

Hated Crawl originally but I kind of like it now. Beginning sounds like a Black Rebel Motorcycle Club song, but I hate to compare.

Probably listened to Sex On Fire 100x before I got the album and now unfortunately I can't listen to it anymore for the time being.

The whole CD is good, which is a good thing.

I was a moderate fan after Aha Shake... but I saw em at Bonarroo last summer and they blew me away, picked up BOTT a few days later.

[rainbow82]

I like Crawl, Closer, Manhattan, Sex on Fire, Cold Desert and Use Somebody.

That's all. But I think those are amazing!!!!!

[hoppy78]

I have to say I'm not too impressed with this album, the first 3 albums I loved straight away but this one, after listening to it, I only seem to like 4 or 5 songs straight away and dislike most others, maybe they will grow on me who knows but overall I'm not liking it like I like the other albums. Still can't wait to see the lads in Vegas next month

[clarksville]

Sept 24, 2008 2:56:45 GMT rainman said:

My opinion of the album is that it's more authentic than the others. They have said that they played a much bigger role in the production of it even. As well as saying this is the album they've always wanted to make but couldn't.

I feel like each album is a phase of experimentation and they're getting deeper and deeper into their true sound. I think they're going to create something truly monumental one of these days if they keep at it like this.

I think anyone who doesnt appreciate the album needs to at least appreciate that they've made 4 albums within the span of 5 years, and all with so much integrity.

Where the fuck did these guys come from? You have to wonder if they're part of God's divine plan how surreal they are.

You don't think they've come up with anything truly monumental yet? Individual songs? You got your head buried in the sand or something?

I am kidding.

God's divine plan, you got that right. Integrity, too, that's just the right word. That's it exactly.

[clarksville]

Sept 23, 2008 18:44:25 GMT Laura said:

Sept 23, 2008 18:15:40 GMT sexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx said:

Santogold, or was it Pixies? i don't know I just know I heard the 'I Want You' riffs before, and by different artists. It's so perfectly recognizable ...so grunge-pop. Maybe it was The Offspring? Anyone recognizes it too?

I know it reminds me of something, but i just can't put my finger on it

This is what it reminded me of:

PIXIES _ GIGANTIC
I don't think it's that similar, just slightly.

[sharon]

A lilttle bit in the sun today ...............kings of leon will rocket to no1 in the album charts this week, by then the band are likely to have pulled off first week sales that will put them second only to coldplay. the u.s rockers shifed a staggering80,000 copies of obtn on its first day in the shops..current sales of obtn are absolutely astounding one of the fastest selling albums of 2008.by the end of the week it well have shifted 250.000 copies..........

[sarah///]

Sweeeeet! This is so surreal but so amazing!

[irishmick]

does anyone know wat it is that jared sings in the background of use somebody?

[rooney217]

i love the album especially revelry and i want you(it remonds me of an 80's ballad). of course i love all the other songs but those are my album favorites right now...and notion.

the first time i hear 17 the bells threw me off..i think they might mean wedding bells...oh but she's only 17! haha

anyway great album..my brother thinks they'll start the show with closer

[nollafyzzil]

Sept 23, 2008 21:47:34 GMT timgrw said:

radio stations here (Ireland) seemed to have latched on to Use Somebody and I could see that ruining the song for me.

Prefect reason never to listen to Irish radio. It's a well know fact that it is, in fact, the worst in the whole world.


I have also decided however, to retract almost all of my earlier statements (both negative & positive) and to wate a little while for it to grow on me. I already feel bad for being mean. My opionion changes literally ever hour.
I guess it's my fault for building it up so much, but oh well...

[rainman]

Sept 24, 2008 13:16:15 GMT irishmick said:

does anyone know wat it is that jared sings in the background of use somebody?

I assume its "go let it out"

not sure tho

[fingersinthedirt]

i thought it sounded like he was singing "im ready"
seems to fit with the song

[Deleted]

I thought it was "I'm ready" or maybe "I'm ready now", not sure.

But yeah, I love the album. Not my favourite KOL album but it's a really relaxing listen, which is what I could do with after the past few stress-filled days.