Mon May 22 2023
4
I recently saw a reel that described Kings of Leon as “Southern Fried Strokes.” I thought it was a stretch. Then i heard this album. It is not a stretch.
This is a Random Album Generator.
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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Youth And Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
2003
- Album Summary
The album was recorded at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, and Ocean Way Studios in Nashville."Molly's Chambers", "Wasted Time", and "California Waiting" were released as singles. "Red Morning Light" was featured in a Ford Focus commercial and used as the opening song in the video game FIFA 2004 by EA Sports. "Spiral Staircase" was featured in the PS3 game MotorStorm. "Holy Roller Novocaine" was featured in the film Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and included on the soundtrack. Critical reception for the album was generally favorable, as evidenced by its score of 79, based on 21 reviews, at Metacritic, a website that assigns a weighted mean rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics. Many appreciated the band's punk- and garage rock-influenced revival of the southern rock genre, with NME hailing the album among the "best debuts of the past 10 years".
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Wed May 24 2023
3
I feel like I should have enjoyed this more than I did. It was fine, but something just felt off for me which causes me to like it a lot less. Maybe it's the vocalists voice which I find just a little bit annoying. 2.5/5
Wed May 31 2023
4
Enjoyable but his voice is just so affected…
Thu Aug 03 2023
1
Painfully boring. Annoying vocals and cliche instrumentation. Feels like the mix between Lynyrd Skynyrd, The White Stripes, and The Strokes went rancid in the fridge. And those were all, at best, 3s themselves. Cold garbage, solid 1.0
Tue May 16 2023
5
So many classics! I didn't know they were all on this album. Feels like Bob Dylan crawled into a punk basement in the UK in the 80s/90s.
Thu May 18 2023
5
ace
Wed Jun 07 2023
5
I think it says a lot about an album when the final track makes you want to listen to the album again. Red Morning Light is a great start, Joe's Head certainly grabs your attention, California Waiting, and Molly's Chambers are great tracks but there's something I really love about Talihina Sky.
Thu Jun 08 2023
5
Hands down their best album. I mean COME ON these songs are so EXCITING! They captured a raw energy that was still present in their second album, but by albums 3 and 4 had shifted into something else - not something bad, but something different and less magical that what they captured here on their debut. I watched some YouTube video the other day where they attributed the shift in sound to opening up for U2 on tour, which made a lot of sense to me. They were new to big arenas, and after listening to U2 play mid tempo rock arena jams night after night, how could their sound not change? So what they captured on this album was a specific moment in time in their development, and I'm glad we have it. I love ALL of these songs and will continue to come back to this album as I have over many years.
Mon Jun 26 2023
5
23rd June 2023 Listened while driving to camping with Joe and Adna outside Leicester. One of the cornerstones of my teenage years, an absolute stone cold banger.
Wed Jun 28 2023
5
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Red morning light, Happy alone, Wasted time, California waiting, Molly’s chamber, Holy roller novocaine
Thu Jun 29 2023
5
Really liked this album. It had me wanting more and had me going to Only By the Night. I think its a 5
Wed Jul 05 2023
5
Love this album
Sat Jul 15 2023
5
A fantastic album, been listening to it for years. Favourite tracks are: 'Red Morning Light,' 'Molly's Chambers,' 'Holy Roller Novocaine' & 'Talihina Sky'
Fri Aug 04 2023
5
Yes yes yes. No nonsense, full energy, distinct style. Came through like a breath of fresh air at the time. I saw them live after this album, then after then album that followed. The first gig they literally said nothing between the songs. Absolutely loved it. The second gig you could tell they hit the big time as they had a glitter ball on stage and I think they may have introduced themselves!
Fri Sep 01 2023
5
My favorite Kings of Leon, when they were raw, hillbilly-sounding rock. Everything later was more polished and produced. Still great, but this first album is the most fun.
Fri Sep 08 2023
5
This album is fucking awesome, I am bias and I will fight you if you disagree.
Tue May 23 2023
4
I've always really liked their album "Only By The Night" but hadn't ever gone back to listen to their first album. I liked this one too, just a little less. Sounded a bit less polished than some of their later stuff. But still love this dude's voices and the style they play
Tue May 23 2023
4
These guys started out so well. Forever tainted by the sex on fire phase. This is a good listen though
Fri May 26 2023
4
I've never heard anything from them before the Only by the night album... It is pretty different. Not bad.
Thu Jun 01 2023
4
Kings of Leon, what a great debut album, Youth & Young Manhood is a fantastic testament to early 2000s alt-rock/garage-rock. There are so many great singles on this that you can't help but do at least a little head-bop to. With songs featured in TV Commercials, in Movies and as part of the FIFA games soundtrack, it's easy to see why this album is part of this list. Best: Red Morning Light; Molly's Chambers Worst: Holly Roller Novocaine
Wed Jun 07 2023
4
I really like the description "Southern Fried Strokes" one of the other reviews mentioned - that's spot on! 😆 Fave track - "Molly's Chambers" or "Holy Roller Novocaine"
Thu Jun 08 2023
4
Not my fortè, but was still a good album. I can see why it is under “essential”. Gives me almost punk-folk vibes. Very jumpy, great guitar melodies and vocals to match up with it. My personal favorite from this album is “Dusty”. Great sequence.
Wed Jun 14 2023
4
Iets meer rockabilly dan ik dacht dat ze waren. Goed album met een paar toffe riffs
Fri Jun 16 2023
4
Rock
Sat Jun 17 2023
4
The “sheltered religious brothers and cousins who finally hear a rock album and form a band” narrative when this came out was an overly-referenced and cynical marketing ploy. But that doesn’t take away from what a great album this is. The next one is pretty good, too, but it’s a bummer that everything after is terrible. The “southern Strokes” or “punk-y Credence” labels were easy shorthand to describe them; at the time this was a really exciting and cool sound. There’s a jaggedness and also a jangle to these songs that are great, and that is missing on the blandly pleasing “arena rock anthem” albums they’d eventually make. I never think to play this album anymore. I’m glad this website led me back to it. 4.5
Thu Jun 22 2023
4
They were a band that came to prominence at a time where I was busy with work and schooling and didn’t have time for new music. I like what I hear here so probably missed out on something I might have loved.
Mon Jul 03 2023
4
As someone that’s only listened to the biggest hits of kings of leon, this album was more interesting from the perspective of being a blueprint for the magnum opus work later in the decade that they would come out with. Outside of that, this is an unapologetically early 2000s alternative rock album that has a couple of duds but is still a fine listen. Holy roller novocaine is probs my favorite.
Mon Jul 03 2023
4
Not as bad as I was thinking that it might be. 3.5 bumped to 4 because I went in with a bad attitude towards the band and got humbled
Thu Jul 13 2023
4
Quite liked this one.
Sat Jul 15 2023
4
Such a solid record
Mon Jul 24 2023
4
A timely reminder that the Kings of Leon didn’t always suck.
Thu Jul 27 2023
4
Definitely the best Kings of Leon album. Such a belter. Before they got really bad, this is such a nice fresh, simple sound.
Thu Jul 27 2023
4
Such a great album! I wish they'd kept up with this feel more in later years. Just so much more fun! Upbeat and solid rock, but still airs of pop that would be accessible to a lot of people.
Thu Aug 03 2023
4
J'ai trouvé ca super rafraîchissant même si c'est une recette plus à l'ancienne Je ne croyais pas que ce bande faisait ce style 5 4.90
Mon Aug 14 2023
4
This is much better than the "Aha Shake Heartbreak" I received some months ago on the 1001 list. It's still not so remarkable, and it will be lost in the history of indie rock from the 2000s, but it's unfair to rate it with three stars when compared with the "Aha Shake Heartbreak." I'll rate it with 4 stars, but with some effort and considering the best songs, it's a 3.5 album.
Mon Aug 21 2023
4
I almost couldn't bring myself to type the name of the album into Skype. Who named this? Anyway, better than I expected. Moved right along in a sprightly manner. The band is spot on. The singer is ... a bit much. 3.5 rounding up for energy.
Sat Sep 02 2023
4
Who would have thought that a bunch of country boys that had been the backing band for their holy-rolling Dad's revival tent tours, would one day break out and make a dixie punk band!? Their sound has matured and evolved over the years, but what an exciting debut this must've been for them.
Sat Sep 02 2023
4
Garage rock. Me ha gustado. Un 4.
Mon Sep 04 2023
4
One of my favorites back in the day
Mon Sep 18 2023
4
great job then, almost last good
Thu Sep 21 2023
4
Overall decent album but absolutely loved Red Morning Light. First song I’ve downloaded so far! Insanely good intro to the album but nothing really matched it subsequently.
Mon May 15 2023
3
Kind of punk, surprising
Tue May 16 2023
3
A little bit of AC/DC, a little bit of JET, a little bit of Nirvana these guys brought a gritty sound to a soundscape that was leaving the grit in the early 00's... While a little bit of everything, they were also a little repetitive, I believe Kings of Leon went on to have some more quality produced albums, but for this, it felt like a garage band breakout.
Thu May 18 2023
3
When this album was first released I loved it. I wore it out. I haven't listened to it in a decade. It didn't really hold up for me. I expect it was influential and helped set some trends, but I barely made it through without losing interest. A couple good songs, but not moving my needle.
Thu May 18 2023
3
Still weird and not bad, but I think Aha Shake Heartbreak is a better record.
Sun May 28 2023
3
As far as debut albums go, I wasn't a huge fan of this one. I could tell as soon as it started that it was probably someone's first album. They kinda had the screams of Bikini Kill while also sounding like ACDC in a way. It was a very interesting mix. However, I did enjoy California Waiting as far as songs go.
Tue May 30 2023
3
Not in my edition of the book! 2003. 3.5 stars. Well done but distinctly average rock with a couple of good tunes. Nothing outstanding here.
Fri Jun 02 2023
3
Surprisingly better than I would have thought. Have never heard of this album before. Not a lot of variety in the songs though.
Wed Jun 07 2023
3
3 really like it
Thu Jun 08 2023
3
Kinda surprised how rough the vocals are, I would have preferred to see them go more in that direction than stadium-indie-rock-hitmakers.
Thu Jun 08 2023
3
Like an opening band that ends up being better than the headliner.
Fri Jun 09 2023
3
Bit more melodic and less raw than their second album but overall still nothign to write home about
Fri Jun 09 2023
3
I love their sound, particularly the vocals and guitar tracking, but the songs really follow the same formula throughout to provide a greater listening experience.
Sat Jun 10 2023
3
I never really got into KoL. Just something about them irked me. I’m saying that, this was better than I thought it’d be.
Sat Jun 10 2023
3
This was early KoL. I really think they grew into their sound more with later albums. This was okay but he has such an expressive voice and this album doesn't highlight it.
Sat Jun 10 2023
3
an interesting mix of garage rock with a southern drawl. certainly an entertaining listen. not sure if i’ll ever revisit this, but glad i gave it a listen. highlights: “red morning light”, “wasted time”, “holy roller novocaine”.
Sat Jun 10 2023
3
Love their sound. Rating: 3.5
Sun Jun 11 2023
3
A somewhat surprisingly raw album. Could be called garage country. Overall decent. Not great but it's there like most of Kings of Leon's work. Decent but not great.
Tue Jun 13 2023
3
Okay but kind of a wanna be for me. Not a lot of substance to go with the style.
Wed Jun 14 2023
3
Just such a meh album.
Wed Jun 14 2023
3
Kind’ve underwhelmed. I really like the other Kings of Leon early albums so I was expecting to really like this. But overall, Mollys Chambers remains my main top song from this.
Fri Jun 16 2023
3
I never got into this band. Despite their popularity I haven't really heard much of Kings of Leon, and what I heard did not catch my attention. This album was a treat. I really enjoyed most of this. This wouldn't ever be my go to listen, but it was enjoyable and I'm better for the experience.
Sat Jun 24 2023
3
I gotta give the Kings of Leon some credit for having so many songs I recognise on this one album... despite it being dead fucking boring and me having no idea I'd ever heard it before. Kings of Mediocrity, more like. 3/5?
Thu Jun 29 2023
3
Classic garage rock revival sounds of the 2000s. Very similar to the Strokes, but with a more southern flare. Seems to be pretty influenced by the Standells. Good stuff overall.
Fri Jun 30 2023
3
This band really blew up by the end of the decade. But at the beginning, they were another garage revival band who did something a bit unique by looking back to the bluesy southern rock of Lynard Skynard, ZZ Top, and Black Crowes. I can most hear it with "Happy Alone" how the album borrows many elements from 50s rockabilly and 60s garage rock, and the simple repetitive chords and lyrics and aggressive vocals are very punk-like. The second half is weaker and more forgettable than the first, with the only notable track being the triumphant "Holy Roller Novocaine." There's also "Molly's Chamber" which is a catchy pop hit but a bit boring.
Wed Jul 05 2023
3
I reckon most people know Kings of Leon from their alternative rock stuff, such as Sex on Fire from 2008. Youth And Young Manhood, however, is the band's debut and indicates a different sound that they pursued. Kings of Leon had slotted themselves in with the wave of garage rock revival bands in the early 2000's. In the same manners as many garage rock revival bands, Kings of Leon embraces upbeat and energetic rock that bops along. In terms of differentiation, they occasionally borrow the same guitar tones from southern rock. Caleb Followill's vocals also play a particularly unique role as his distinct singing gives the band much of it's personality. The end result is early aughts rock that's pretty good. Not much else to it.
Tue Jul 11 2023
3
Liked the rawness of this one, better than the my ass is on fire vibe
Mon Jul 17 2023
3
Van ser els caps visibles de la segona generació de revitalitzadors del rock a començaments del mil.leni. Curiosament, tot i cridar l'atenció amb aquest primer treball (també per la història personal que els envoltava), és el pitjor dels seus quatre primers discos, que van anar millorant un a un fins a l'obra mestra d''Only by the Night'. En aquesta estrena molt rock d'arrels i molta actitud, però tot el que va fer diferent a la banda encara estava per aparèixer
Thu Jul 20 2023
3
What if SOUTHERN fusion of grungy and 2000s garage rock? The lead singer is the mumbliest man ever recorded. Should be in a Guinness book or something.
Thu Jul 20 2023
3
Never pursued Kings of Leon since for me the one song popped up on alternative radio and was played at an annoying rate. This is a fine early 2000s alternative degree away from garage rock revival
Sun Jul 30 2023
3
'Youth & Young Manhood' is a perfectly adequate southern rock album from the early 2000s with indie and garage rock influences. Pleasant enough, but hardly ground-breaking.
Fri Aug 04 2023
3
This was good fun, if fairly loose and a little sloppy. I'm not sure how high it rises above a host of similar southern-rock inflected alt-rock.
Sat Aug 05 2023
3
Totally different from what I expected.
Wed Aug 09 2023
3
3.7 - When I want some unfettered Southern-style roots rock ‘n’ roll, this would be an easy grab, more so than anything by Black Crowes. I love the live studio sound, especially on “Trani.”
Thu Aug 10 2023
3
The brute appeal of '00s rock remains obvious, the nuance attempted here less so. Southern rock has many edges to recommend it; This expression has lots sanded off.
Sat Aug 19 2023
3
Rock sin excesivas complicaciones. En ocasiones, algún toque country. Buena voz y guitarras, aunque no ha terminado de gustarme. Le ha faltado algo
Sun Aug 20 2023
3
Very generic mid-2000s rock. I'd heard a few of these, you know, they're fine, but I can't see how they've achieved a billion streams on one of their tunes. The singer had the sound of a less committed Damon Albarn.
Sun Aug 20 2023
3
This was way more Roadhouse rock than I thought it would be. The few songs I'd heard before were way more mainstream than the rest. A bit of a surprise really.
Sun Aug 20 2023
3
An album i enjoyed returning to! A little confused why it’s on this list tho.
Wed Aug 23 2023
3
3/5. What a different Kings of Leon than the one we know today. With a more raw, rock n’ roll sound, Youth and Young really shows what KOL first set out to accomplish. I believe they now have really changed based on what the crowd wants. Pretty interesting to see.
Thu Aug 24 2023
3
I have relatives that live in Talihina and my mom always tells be about this band, but I'd never listened to them before. Was a little surprised by this one.
Fri Aug 25 2023
3
3/4
Sat Sep 02 2023
3
Talihina Sky Preciosa.
Thu Sep 07 2023
3
The only song I could remember by Kings of Leon was that "Sex is on Fire" song, which I don't really care for, so I wasn't expecting to like this but I did. It's really just good, blues-based rock 'n' roll with a bit of a southern feel to it. 3 stars.
Mon Sep 11 2023
3
I didn't look at all of the lyrics on Spotify while I was listening to this but at one point during one of the songs it actually says "(unintelligible)" which is hilarious. I think I mentioned the weird accent Caleb Followill seems to have when he's singing and I think I know what he's going for but sometimes on this album it sounds like he might have some kind of speech impediment. This is pretty decent garage rock which was the fashion at the time.
Wed Sep 13 2023
3
I remember when this album came out, and it was SO surprising at the time. The revival of alternative garage rock and southern rock sound was so fresh. I have memories of commercials and advertisements using songs from this album because it was just so sonically different than the majority of music at the time; it was ear-catching! These guys would definitely go on to inspire MANY 2000s and onward alternative rock bands. The almost drunken slur of the lead singer of this band is so iconic at this point, making it easy to pick out a Kings of Leon song. There's just a lot of raw grittiness on this album, making it a fun, energetic listen. Even all these years later, after many bands have taken their influence from this album, "Molly's Chambers" is absolutely owns as an example of this genre revival. A great debut from a band that has been a lasting staple on the alternative rock space of the 2000s and beyond.
Fri Sep 15 2023
3
Well, this is a blast from the past. I had this CD but never really listened. However it was nice to revisit. Listened to it a couple of times. It took my mind off running quite well. I remember them being promising back then. And then they went all stadium and married models and became a boring cliche. Would definitely listen to this again though
Mon Sep 18 2023
3
Scrappy, zeitgeisty garage rock fronted by a guy who sounds like Tom Petty on quaaludes. Fine, but hardly essential. One the most unvarying albums encountered on this app thus far. At least it's got a bit of vinegar to it, far better than the insipid mess that they would become.
Mon Sep 18 2023
3
I thought I knew one Kings of Leon song, but I guess not. So, first time hearing this band, and I liked the music well enough. I had a hard time enjoying the vocals though. Sounded like the singer was trying way too hard to be unique, but ended up sounding like an annoying Bon Scott/Chris Robinson hybrid. Nothing stood out to me as great, but Trani was clearly the worst track.
Sun Sep 24 2023
3
Swagger, straight up rock n roll. A stepping stone to their killer era.
Tue May 30 2023
2
I didn't like them back then and I don't like them now. They're alright, but I don't understand how they are genre bending.
Thu Jun 01 2023
2
Closer to 2.5 stars, was pleasantly surprised it was southern rock and not stuff in the vein of use somebody or sex on fire
Thu Jun 01 2023
2
fine and boring 5/10
Thu Jun 01 2023
2
Bleh
Fri Jun 02 2023
2
It's one of those albums you can put in the really good category.... Just not too sure that it is something that I really get into. First time hearing it. I think with more listens I will grow to like it more but for now it is a 2.5
Thu Jun 08 2023
2
Some bland rock. Nothing more to say
Mon Jun 12 2023
2
Idk what I expected, but it was definitely not a gruff, punk album. Its got some surf rock, it's got some stomp and holler, its not by any means revelatory. Crazy that these guys blew up thanks to a few songs on their 4th album. Not a bad listen, but idk why it's on here
Wed Jun 14 2023
2
this was a weird inclusion but interesting to hear. that being said, a lot of ASS songs on here. If you can't play the blues, don't???
Wed Jun 14 2023
2
Not for me
Fri Jun 16 2023
2
chill, good garage rock sound, not a lot of very catchy songs or strong energy