Kings Of Leon – What’s happened?

What has happened to Kings Of Leon?  Now this is not a rant and a rave about Kings Of Leon ‘selling out’, far from it.  Their choice to pursue a more marketable sound is fine; it is their job after all.  Although in their quest to become the “world’s biggest band” (Doherty, The Fly) it does beg the question, why have they decided to ignore or dismiss the sound of their previous works?  The sound that made them unique.

As a fan of Kings Of Leon the release of Only By the Night in 2008 was a disappointment, but my optimism stayed true and I hoped that this was a mere detour on an otherwise glorious journey.  With songs like ‘Be Somebody’ and ‘Use Somebody’ not to mention probably the strongest song on the album ‘Sex On Fire’ (which reveals a lot) it felt like they wanted to cement their place at the top whilst their headliner performance at Glastonbury 2008 was still fresh after the success of their third album ‘Because of the Times’ (2007).  My thoughts were that they just wanted a bit of money and fair enough, they deserved a bit of cash.  They obviously rushed the album and they produced it themselves, this made me respect the producers Angelo Petraglia and Ethan Johns a hell of a lot more. 

The reason why Only By the Night and new album Come Around Sundown are even more bitter to swallow is because of their third album Because of the Times (2007).  Now, here we must briefly take a look back at their first two albums Youth and Young Manhood (2003) and Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004). 

Youth & Young Manhood, released 2003

Youth and Young Manhood was met with universal acclaim for its fast paced drug taking raunchy indie-punkness, dripping with country sweat from the bible belt of the US.  Songs like ‘Red Morning Light’ and ‘Molly’s Chambers’ were genius, making the drink laden crowds go wild.  But then there was also the slower, more classical country infused songs like ‘Trani’, ‘Dusty’ and ‘Talihina Sky’ which showed the intelligence of their writing capabilities.  They could make a slow song without changing their unique sound, a skill which seems to have disappeared.

Aha Shake Heartbreak, released 2004

Aha Shake Heartbreak followed a year later, the sound had developed and it had matured.  Again met with acclaim they still had the raw sound of their first album with songs such as ‘Slow Night, So Long’ and ‘The Bucket’ showing a band that had allowed their progression to occur organically, not rushing to release after the critical success of the first album.  The band received plaudits from fellow artists such as Elvis Costello and Bob Dylan.

Because Of the Times, released 2007

Now the most important album in the Kings Of Leon story was their third.  Although not my favourite, Because Of the Times released in 2007 was a great album.  The word ‘great’ is banded around too much but Because Of the Times truly was.  It was a departure from the sound that blasted around the small venues, fast paced and ludicrously fun into a more considered and anthemic sound mixed with powerful hard hitting rock songs like ‘Charmer’, a band at the peak of their musical competence.  It was this album in which Caleb’s voice became an instrument within itself, showing the outstanding distinctive sound he can produce.  Barry Nicholson wrote in the NME that the album “cements Kings Of Leon as one of the greatest American bands of our generation”.  It was hard to argue, although I have never had the urge to do so.  ‘Knocked Up’ and UK Number 1 hit ‘On Call’ saw the band slow down the tempo and not be afraid to look beyond the 4 minute song.  ‘Black Thumbnail’ and ‘My Party’ paid homage to classic American rock but with an originality never heard, they truly were an accomplishment in song writing.  ‘Fans’ is a song that I label with personal poignancy.  It was an expression of appreciation to the fans of the UK:


               “All of London sing

   'Cause England swings the extra love the tales I bring

      You know the rainy days they ain't so bad when you're the king

                               The king they want to see”

But since the release of Over By the Night and Come Around Sundown I have looked at ‘Fans’ as a farewell.  The end of a journey with the Kings Of Leon I knew.  A moment of irony.  ‘Fans’ was a thank you to all who had travelled with them, those that had joined the journey on the way, those who had packed the small smoky (remember those days) venues.  But it was also a goodbye, this was where that journey ended, came to a crossroads one way heading to Bridlington Spa the other to the MEN in Manchester.  They capped off their year with a deserved headline slot at Glastonbury in 2008.  Kings Of Leon mark 2 were on the way. 

Headlining Glastonbury 2008

Now I will not attack the band like so many have, saying they have “sold out” or “forgotten about those that made them” because frankly that is moronic and childish.  Instead, I want to put forward what I recognise as a band that has craved recognition in their home country for so many years.  Breaking America has always understandably been an issue for the band, they have always enjoyed success at a decent level in the UK but in the US they consistently went unnoticed and it clearly had an adverse effect, they are a very American band that could not make it in America.

Only By the Night, released 2008

Only By the Night saw a change, a rejection of the sound that had elevated them into the mainstream proper.  An album that’s significance is in its marketability, it is full of radio friendly singles like the worldwide smash hit ‘Sex On Fire’, anthemic songs that would not be amiss on a Coldplay record such as ‘Use Somebody’ and ‘Revelry’.  Songs that by their very nature left me confused and wandering if I had purchased the correct album or if I had picked up a Killers CD.  This may seem a little contentious but I was genuinely disappointed and upset by what I heard.  It had become an album of lazy song writing aimed toward mass audience sing-along’s and it breathed homesickness.  They had been touring almost non-stop since the release of their first record and this was rushed because of the unexpected commercial success of Because Of the Times and their Glastonbury headline slot.   The only genuine positive I take from this album is that it genuinely shows the quality of Caleb’s voice, it really is fantastic.

But what has come from this album is worldwide fame.  Only By the Night went platinum in twelve countries including x7 in Australia, x5 in the UK and finally the elusive United States.

This new fame seems to have had an odd effect on the band.  Seeing them on Later with Jools Holland on the 5^th November 2010, they seemed uncomfortable under the spotlight when being questioned by Jools.  They were shown footage from their first ever appearance on the show seven years previous, all long hair, beards and youthful.  But looking at Caleb he looked embarrassed.  Was it embarrassment due to their appearance or perhaps the change in style and quality of their music?  He seemed uneasy in front of camera, unsure of answers.  Perhaps I am reading too much into it, but I see a band that are uncomfortable with mainstream success, which was highlighted when it was reported that Caleb’s house had been broken into whilst he was away on tour.  Wealth and fame has its downsides.

Come Around Sundown, released 2010

Come Around Sundown has just been released and I will give my verdict following a proper listen, but if ‘Radioactive’ is anything to go by its an improvement but hardly groundbreaking.  Indeed, Jared the bass player has said of the album “we could have sold out so much more” (Guardian.co.uk review).  Things bode well...