Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Pretty good early 2000s indie rock. Not super memorable but I liked it.
Really, really good. Had the perfect blend of raw sounding guitar and great hooks and melodies that made them so big. Easy to forget just how incredible the first two albums were given the over-polished MOR crap that followed.
Nobody told me this band was good
This was meh for me. I wanted to like it more but none of the songs stood out. It was an average 2000s rock album, nothing fantastic.
Whenever I listen to a new album on here, I like to forget everything I know about the artist, the time period and any other outside influences. I like to listen from scratch. This album has completely pulled me out of that. I can't believe this is the same band who sang Use Somebody and Sex On Fire. It's a completely different sound to what I was expecting! This works so well and I wonder what made them step away from this sound. I looked online and found out they're all related, and their band name is a tribute to their granddad. That's pretty cool.
i found the vocals were questionable a couple times but there were some tunes
Normally, I don’t mind “unconventional“ vocals. But for some reason with this band it detracted from my overall enjoyment of the album about five tracks in.
The songs were fun, but they all blended together in their sound. Still, I’m rounding up because they aren’t psychedelic rave. There is a blessing in coming after an annoyance.
This is one from my youth which I still have a great fondness for. It's not at good as Aha Shake Heartbreak though! Great debut album from a band who sounded different at the time and became less unique as time went on. Probably don't get the credit they deserve next to the strokes etc from that early 2000s' rock renaissance period. Still a great album, Genius is my favourite track. Side note, once sex on fire came out they became the new rock band that people who don't like rock bands went to see live. I saw them in Edinburgh at a stadium and the crowd were awful in a particularly Scottish way. I like the band but I promised I'd never see them live again.
We have the black keys at home ass album
This is fine but not that interesting. I'm not really sure what new ground is being covered with this album when compared to the other 1000. My rating is harsher than my actual feelings on the album, I just don't think it's essential listening. Favorite track: "Joe's Head"
Decent but not that catchy and the songs just didn’t do it for mw
Ive never heard anything of this band other than the record with use somebody and sex on fire. Those tracks were inescapable back in the day. And they are decent songs to boot. But going back further I can hear and feel more soul. It just is plain more interesting than that later record. Im still not crazy about it but its much closer to what im looking for than the new stuff. I still wouldn't say im into the singer much at all. Hes either boring or kinda screechy but still les so here. I liked how there was some more down home stylings here than the smoothed over pop stuff from later. I had a good enough time with this one but im still not 100% sold on these guys. This may be their peak for me, and maybe thats all I can say for. My standout track here was California waiting. It had some more pep in its step than others hete and that moves it up for me. Decent record in the end yet still not mind blowing in any real way. Just solid and good
I don't really like his voice.
This could have been shorter, having lopped off a few songs, and I likely wouldn't have noticed much difference. I like Kings of Leon, they make me smile, but their songs are all awfully similar.
Each song lowkey relies on the same melody so the whole album was pretty boring because it all sounded the same. And I can't really judge the lyrics on this because I simply couldn't understand anything. The singer can't sing for shit. The dude mumbles and slurs through all the songs, which was already painful and confusing, but good god listening to him try and fail to hit higher notes and screech was just excruciating. Genuinely, who thought that this was presentable while they were recording the album? I also just get this unwarranted smugness coming off of him whenever he sings, which also made the whole listening experience miserable. You sound like a rubber duck being tossed around and squeezed to death by a horde of children, what the fuck are you so cocky about?? (Learned that all the albums this band had in the book were removed, praise the lord)
Sorry, but… I’m bored. It’s just not good. I’m sure they’re better live but these recordings feel so flat, and there’s so little variety that each song just kind of melts into the next but not in a good way. I don’t really understand why this was included. It doesn’t help that I was dreading listening because I really hated their most popular hits so maybe i’m bringing prejudice into it. Regardless, not coming back to this.
When this album game up for this challenge, I was pretty excited but also nervous. Kings of Leon is a band I got into just after their breakout hit single, but I only loved their early albums, including this debut album. I was wondering how well it would stack up in my memory and the fact is that there are a lot of favorites on here that still hit, but definitely hit less-so. It's definitely a matter of my taste evolving but I was obsessed with garage rock as a teen and those days are past me now. Still, it was nice to revisit this band's debut--before they got into fuckin' NFT albums or whatever the shit else they're doing now.
My first thought was: why Kings of Leon? And my second thought was: this is giving me a headache.
As mentioned before, Kings of Leon have the distinction of being the band with the most albums removed from subsequent editions of this list. Maybe it says something that they kept being added though. The music is kind of cool and you can see where the label of the "Southern Strokes" could have come from. But also, not. The music is fine but it doesn't stand up to too many repeat listens. There's not quite enough variety to keep them up at the level of The Strokes, who had at least one classic album. It's in the same vein sure, with the Southern twist. And there is absolutely a loyal audience for this band. I do kind of like it. But I don't know that I like it enough to ever revisit it or any of their others. But maybe a greatest hits collection...
Solid band with a great sound 🎸
Surprisingly great!
I liked this
Early Kings of Leon is so good.
crap
muy bueno bastante nuevo para todo lo que vengo escuchando y muy disfrutable y dinamico
gritty debut
Real old school Kings of Leon - they have a slightly different sound here, which was interesting to hear. We enjoyed it as we cruised through the Lakes.
This band SUCKS
Fine
Okay, I was not expecting this to happen so soon. I just finished reviewing Only by the Night last week, noting that Kings of Leon used to be a lot more raucous and energetic early on. Well, time to put my words to the test. Giving their debut record a spin, Youth and Young Manhood definitely boasts some of that dense mixture of Southern rock and garage blues that the band employed early on. The obvious highlights are the songs carried over from the Holly Roller Novocaine EP and further refined in composition. However, there are plenty of other rocking numbers to be found, like the hard-hitting opener "Red Morning Light" and the upbeat "Joe's Head". Even when the momentum takes a back seat, like with the piano-driven showtune "Talihina Sky" or the more pensive ballad "Trani", those tracks are still at least intriguing in contrast. That said, once again, with examining Kings of Leon lyrics, I find myself conflicted. So much of this record comes off as horny, which I get that the members were young adults at the time of recording, but that doesn't excuse the egregious manner in which they wrote about women, such as with the conquests made on "Happy Alone" or the weirdly scripted orgy on "Spiral Staircase". Thankfully, it's not all like that, as there are some genuinely good observations made here and there, like the frustrations of dealing with label executives on "Genius", the revenge fantasy of "Joe's Head", the yearning for one's life before a sour relationship on "California Waiting", and the negative feelings that the Followills had of their hometown of Talihina on the closing track. But it is hard to ignore how this is the debut record of a group that seemed so young, having not fully fleshed out their songwriting. I still consider Youth and Young Manhood a solid record overall. It does leave me curious how the other early Kings of Leon record turned out.
Odd growling
I love Kings of Leon. But this album sounds like when someone purposely tries to sing bad.
Not bad. Not really a fan of the vocals, but the music was at least decent. 3/5
favs: dusty rating 0.5/5
## Overview Released on **July 7, 2003** in the UK and **August 19, 2003** in the US, *Youth & Young Manhood* introduced the world to the Followill brothers (Caleb, Nathan, Jared) and their cousin Matthew. The album was recorded at **Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, and Ocean Way Studios in Nashville**, and produced by **Angelo Petraglia** and **Ethan Johns** . The album arrived at a time when the indie rock scene was dominated by bands like The Strokes and The White Stripes, but Kings of Leon brought something distinctively different—a raw, Southern-infused garage rock sound that drew from their unique upbringing as the children of a Pentecostal preacher who traveled the American South . --- ## Music & Sound ### The Sonic Palette The album is best described as **"perfectly pitched between Creedence Clearwater Revival's good ole boy Southern rock and greasy garage rock"** . The sound is characterized by: - **Raw, jacked-up garage punk** with tracks like "Red Morning Light" and "Spiral Staircase" delivering breakneck energy - **Southern rhythm section sensibilities**—the band knows when to lay back and let things simmer, and when to jump up and testify with tambourines banging - **Staggering-drunk guitar solos** that suggest calamity is just around the corner rather than virtuosic Allman Brothers-style precision ### Instrumentation The production is notably **stripped-back and unpolished**. As one reviewer noted, "Album opener and first single 'Red Morning Light' is like a hot rod built on a budget—no money for fancy paint or shiny wheels, every dollar dedicated to speed" . The bass is prominently featured in the mix, driving tracks like "Wasted Time" and "Joe's Head" with melodic lines that anchor the songs . --- ## Lyrics & Themes ### Recurring Motifs The album's lyrics explore: - **Youthful hedonism and rebellion**—songs about drinking, lust, and emergent adulthood - **Heartbreak and the uselessness of love**—a consistent thread throughout the record - **Southern Gothic imagery**—references to "Molly's Chambers" (taken from Thin Lizzy's "Whiskey in the Jar"), "Talihina Sky," and religious undertones reflecting their Pentecostal upbringing ### Standout Tracks | Track | Notable Features | |-------|------------------| | **"Red Morning Light"** | The explosive opener; one of the top uses of cowbell in rock history; featured in *FIFA 2004* | | **"Molly's Chambers"** | Breakthrough single; gained massive exposure through a Volkswagen Jetta commercial | | **"Wasted Time"** | Could be a lost Violent Femmes track; features a more tense, urgent feel | | **"Joe's Head"** | Breezy number with clean arpeggios and Dylanesque chorus elements | | **"California Waiting"** | Bittersweet chorus; hints at the more conventional direction the band would later take | | **"Trani"** | Raw, emotional centerpiece; Caleb's vocals at their most unhinged | | **"Talihina Sky"** | The closing track that makes you want to listen to the album again | ### Vocal Delivery Caleb Followill's voice is a defining element—**rough, gritty, and occasionally incoherent**, yet undeniably charismatic. His delivery alternates between deadpan cool and mad-lunatic screaming, sometimes within the same song . The vocals carry a distinctive Southern drawl that sets the band apart from their indie contemporaries. --- ## Production The production by **Angelo Petraglia** and **Ethan Johns** is intentionally **lo-fi and immediate**. The album was largely written in the Followills' parents' basement while the band was on the cusp of adulthood . Four of the five songs from their earlier *Holy Roller Novocaine* EP were reworked for this album, though "Wasted Time" and "California Waiting" feature different arrangements and vocal approaches than their EP versions . The recording locations—spanning the iconic **Sound City Studios** (Van Nuys), **Shangri-La** (Malibu), and **Ocean Way** (Nashville)—provided a mix of rock heritage and Southern musical tradition that perfectly suited the band's aesthetic . --- ## Critical Reception & Influence ### Initial Reception The album was a **sensation in the UK and Ireland**, where *NME* declared it **"one of the best debut albums of the last 10 years"** and *The Guardian* described the band as **"the kind of authentic, hairy rebels the Rolling Stones longed to be"** . *Rolling Stone* gave it **four stars**, praising the groove and Southern rhythm sensibilities . However, the album **failed to make significant impact in the US**, where reviews were lukewarm and the modern rock audience was generally uninterested. It sold only **100,000 copies in the United States** compared to **750,000 copies abroad** . ### Legacy & Influence *Youth & Young Manhood* established Kings of Leon as torchbearers for **authentic Southern garage rock** in the early 2000s. The album influenced: - The resurgence of Southern rock aesthetics in indie music - Countless bands attempting to capture that "hairy rebel" authenticity - The band's own trajectory—though they would later move toward more polished, arena-ready sounds The album remains a touchstone for fans who prefer the band's **raw, unpolished early period** over their later commercial success. As one fan noted: *"This is the Kings I remember before they got pretty and had their sex be on fire"* . --- ## Pros & Cons ### ✅ Pros | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Authenticity** | Genuine Southern rock roots; the Followills' backstory as preacher's kids traveling the South lends credibility | | **Energy** | Unrelenting raw power and live-band chemistry throughout | | **Songcraft** | Strong collection of memorable riffs and hooks—"Red Morning Light," "Molly's Chambers," and "California Waiting" remain classics | | **Distinctiveness** | Unique position between Southern boogie and garage punk; unlike anything else in the 2003 indie scene | | **Deep Cuts** | Album tracks like "Trani," "Dusty," and "Talihina Sky" reward repeated listening | | **Bass Work** | Jared Followill's melodic bass lines are prominently featured and technically interesting | ### ❌ Cons | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Vocal Polarization** | Caleb's voice is an acquired taste—some find it grating or too affected | | **Lack of Variety** | The album can feel "samey" over its runtime; the mid-tempo blues numbers sometimes blur together | | **Lyricism** | The lyrics, while evocative, are not particularly profound—more about vibe than depth | | **Production Limitations** | The lo-fi aesthetic, while charming, occasionally obscures the songs' potential | | **US Market Failure** | The album's lack of American success meant many listeners discovered the band later, missing this formative work | | **Insubstantial Feel** | Some critics note that the style feels like a "veneer" rather than something more profound, particularly in retrospect | --- ## Final Assessment *Youth & Young Manhood* is a **remarkably assured debut** that announced Kings of Leon as a force in rock music. While it lacks the polish and melodic sophistication of their later work, it compensates with **unbridled energy, authentic Southern character, and genuine rock & roll spirit**. The album captures a band at the very beginning of their journey—hairy, hungry, and unafraid to sound messy. For fans of raw garage rock with Southern soul, it remains their most essential record. For those who discovered the band through "Sex on Fire," it offers a fascinating glimpse into where they came from. **Verdict:** A **4/5** debut that successfully bridged the gap between classic Southern rock and early-2000s indie garage revival, even if it occasionally sacrifices depth for attitude.
i feel so so about this album.
I nearly drove a spike through my ears. I’m lucky to be alive
I’ve already listened to this three times in the past couple months. It gets pretty repetitive at times but good garage rock vibe to it.
2.5/5
Not what I was expecting, not bad at all, but nothing mind-blowing in the modern context.
I hope i don't hear it again
For some reason, the singer's terrible voice is more endearing on this record than on Aha Shake Heartbreak. Must be better overall songs, great riffs and a dusty garage vibe. The shrills and voice going out on "Trani" really shocked me, but I kind of actually loved it
I was around when they came up, I think they were part of the garage wave of the early 00's but carved out a space for themselves doing the whole southern blues rock niche they were in before going commercial even though they always were pretty big since the start. It's slightly repetitive, but very fun. Saw them live by this time and I remember not being able to tell their songs apart from the singles Red Morning Light and Molly's Chambers. My favorites have always been Wasted Time and Spiral Staircase.
Album 144. Youth And Young Manhood (https://open.spotify.com/album/2137zeBGNgOWP4D96q6qxd?si=YG7-j09ERs2tYzEq09IDMA)— Kings of Leon (2003) I forgot this album the next minute after I finished it. It's not bad, but it has absolutely zero reason why I should listen to it rathen than other rock bands. 2/5 No liked songs
Was just kind of OK. Nothing really special. Molly's Chambers is obviously good. Rating: 2.
Thoughts before listening: I have always maintained that this and Aha Heartshake (or whatever its called) are the only Kings of Leon albums I like. That being said, I haven't actually heard this in probably 10-15 years. They were called the southern rock Strokes around this time, and I am interested to see if the sound still holds up. Review: So maybe it is mainly nostalgia, but I love this album. I mean they are definitely stealing from the garage rock sound that was popular in the early 2000s, but that style was already stealing from a bunch of 70s bands. KoL wrote very catchy songs on this album, and I really enjoy it. Sure they went on to mainly put out cheesy pop rock that quickly lost my interest, but at least at the beginning they were doing very good work. 4-stars
Maybe because of the fame they struck after sex is on fire, I forget how much these guys shook up the rock scene with this album and aha shake heartbreak. It was a real point of difference compared to other bands that were popular at the time; bloc party, the hives, the vines etc. The dirty blues rock guitars and the gravelly vocals, arranged in a way that was very easy to understand and access, you didn’t need to be a blues officiando to enjoy it. Listening to this album again now I can enjoy it for what is and what it represented at the time. Sometimes music doesn’t need to have the complexity of Lateralus, or have lyrics that have you heading over to genius to understand the meaning of.
This is #day590 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's my second Kings of Leon album. I'd already forgotten that there are three of theirs you supposedly must hear before you die. Now, as the title of track #3 suggests, it's wasted time. This feels like that Black Keys record I had a while ago. The vocals and the delivery are particularly off-putting. This is a 1 out of 5. Looking forward to #day591.
A little too basic southern rock to me, but they were figuring things out
Why do bands put songs on the same track as other songs but separated by a number of minutes? It's annoying. What's the point. In any case, the hidden song was great, maybe the best song on the album. And for some reason, I thought the Kings of Leon had something to do with some pop/boy band. So I actually expected to hate this album. But surprise, they were something completely different. So, I was expecting bad pop but got semi-good (southern) indie/alternative. I will take the surprise. 4 not what I expected stars.
the top of 3/5
alright
I don't think we need 3 kings of leons records on this list.
run of the mill stuff, reminded me of Chili's at times. I think they have better albums later on in their discography - when you see yourself being a particular favourite, Walls also being good. Come around Sundown is one I listened to extensively on release too. Come to think of it, I've been listening to them for a long time now, didn't even know this album existed, and honestly a fairly average beginning, but showing potential!
Favorite Track: Molly's Chambers
This is my favorite of theirs. Top to bottom this song had me engaged. That raw early 2000's rock sound (almost like a southern version of The Strokes) It started a fandom for me which started to waver a little after a few albums and they became more polished. Biggest Hit - Trani Biggest Miss (even though i dont want to choose) - Dusty Not So Hidden Gem - Happy Alone
In a nutshell: garage rock rip offs. Kings of Leon are lucky they were not sued by legal representatives for lifting riffs. Namely The Strokes, Tom Petty and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Listen to California Waiting and you will see what I mean. Overall: 1/10
2,5
4 1/2 stars. A great rock and roll album.
Their radio hits, Use Somebody and Sex on Fire, are automatic skips for me. But this album? I enjoyed it so much more and was pleasantly surprised. Glad to have given it a shot.
If the Black Keys met George Thorogood
I think I might just prefer this over Aha Shake Heartbreak which I got a mere 9 albums ago. I thought this was better musically and the vocals weren't as grating
Removed Album #28 (List: https://pastebin.com/cSThNiK9) Final Kings of Leon album. It's been a good while since their last - nearly 300 albums since I listened to Only By The Night, which is certainly a bigger gap than the time before that. I need to mention it every time these poor saps come up because I think it's funny: Kings of Leon have had all three of their albums removed from the list. This album and Aha Shake Heartbreak were added to the original 2005 lineup and were both axed from the 2008 revision of the book. You'd think that obliterating an entire creative legacy in the span of a single book would indicate some level of animosity towards this band, yet for whatever reason Only By the Night was added to the 2010 edition of the book and pulled shortly thereafter in the 2011 update. When I had initially learned of this information, I chalked the removal of the entire band's discography up to the fact that they had operated by deception. They had all the makings of an indie rock cult act with their hipster-y band name and gimpy vocals, yet they made the treacherous mistake of topping the charts with their humdrum pop rock instead. Obviously, it would have been blatantly apparent by 2010 that this were the case, so I think these listmakers just had a screw loose. Maybe one of the curators was the biggest-ever fan of this band and took the entire break room hostage to ensure their presence on the list. He must have eventually been Ol' Yeller-ed, as the band hasn't terrorised this list with their presence since. Anyways, I'm trepidatious about this one. I'm indifferent to their general style and I suspect that an earlier release from these guys could be markedly worse. Here goes. Yet another album which passed right by me. They sure were rocking on this thing without a single good hook in sight, weren't they? This album was dull, but there are far worse things an album can be. The vocals are okay. I didn't like them when I listened to my first Kings of Leon album (Aha Shake Heartbreak), but I can admit that their vocal style is well-suited to this style of music. I'm also just used to it now, too. I'm pretty sure that this album was meant to be more of a Southern rock release than a garage rock album, but to me this is just garage rock, complete with all the problems that it traditionally presents. The blown-out guitars aren't my thing, though they thankfully present less of a problem here. There's moments of downtime, and the mastering allows for some level of audio fidelity. Overall, an inoffensive release, but one which failed to hold my attention. Book time. The band is made up of three brothers and a cousin, who were raised in a preacher van and discovered rock 'n' roll when their father was kicked out of his religious organisation, apparently. "With the naturalistic production of Ryan Adams' collaborator Ethan Johns [...], Youth and Young Manhood felt as vintage as their hipster jeans, like a lost classic discovered at a garage sale." "...grubby, rough, yet swaggering with passion - the blueprint for all rock 'n' roll debuts." Wikipedia says this album garnered a decent, yet somewhat polarised reaction from critics. It performed especially well in the UK, being the 51st best-selling album of the year in that country, but had muted success everywhere else. So, why was this album removed? Easy target. It's derivative, was only modestly well-received by critics and its success was only really relegated to the UK. We're pulling this one, though I think this list could do with keeping "Only By the Night". I'm mentioning that in this review as I had reviewed both Only By the Night and Aha Shake Heartbreak before I started pulling albums. I think Only By the Night is a pretty good representation of where pop rock was at during the time. It's certainly more tolerable than Imagine Dragons or Maroon 5. In place of this album, I humbly submit The Colour and the Shape by the Foo Fighters for inclusion on the list.
There was like 30 seconds at the beginning of this were I thought maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as I was expecting, but then the singing started and it was all downhill from there
actually pretty fun.
Meh - they’re later, more commercial stuff was better. I understand that there are three KoL albums on the list - that’s at least two too many. 2.5⭐️
I’m gonna sound like a broken record (no pun intended), but I've said multiple times that 2000s indie rock just isn’t for me, and this album is basically a greatest hits of all the stuff I bounce off. It’s got swagger and grit, sure, but most of it just slides by without anything really sticking. I didn’t hate it, but I also can’t see myself ever putting it on again on purpose.
Not the best work this band has put out. You can tell it's a debut album. Still, good songs and energy.
I remember listening to this album a lot when it came out. There was a certain flair of novelty, it was but different from “regular” indie/whatever revival stuff abundant in those days. But as time has passed novelty has gone, and now it’s clearly just a mid album. Maybe strong mid but still mid. Nothing particularly spectacular, just one of the many “indie” albums from that decade.
Energia, guitarras um pouco sujas e uma cara de rock rural. Esse álbum é muito divertido e é um dos que deram a cara ao rock dos anos 2000. TRN Conch.
I listen to Bowie’s Berlin trilogy of albums back to back after this. It is remarkable that, 25 years later, Kings of Leon actually managed to make an album that is a regression on what was being made that long ago.
A travesty that this is on the list when peers such as My Morning Jacket, furrowing in a similar area, are no-where to be seen. Sold themselves out in pursuit of the big arenas and associated money and departed from the sound on this album a little following; this is relatively beige rock music with some minor Americana influences. I didn’t find it awful but the mumbled lyrics and plodding drums didn’t float my boat very much.
absolute ass
Performative male soundtrack of 2003.
Alright. Very same samey
La ligne entre « quand même bon » et « crissement poche » est très mince
This was pleasant enough whilst driving, but nothing outstanding except for these 3 1. Red Morning Light 2. Happy Alone 3. Mollys Chamber
dull and uninteresting, confused how this snuck onto this list as it just sounds like a poor imitation of all the 70 rock on here already
Nein, das führt zu Kopfschmerzen!
6.5/10
This was in heavy rotation for me back when it came out. "Joe's Head," "Molly's Chambers," and "Trani" were highlights back then. Let's see if this still holds up. - Yes. My younger self was correct - this is a good record. The rockers are fun and dynamic. The lead singer's muppet voice is a nice change of pace, and is just goofy enough to be exciting. I love the way he goes hoarse on "Trani," and snarly on "Joe's Head." The album is just the right length, but by the end of the final song the Southern-fried licks are wearing a little thin. The title is so appropriate. There's a youthful energy and cockiness here that I find endearing. I'd also like to add "California Waitin'" to the list of favorites. That song rules. FOUR STARS
This is definitely way better than their later albums
2.2
Might be in the minority, but I enjoy the ridiculousness of the vocal. Kinda Southern Bob Dylan vibe. Overall, solid early 00's rock/indie record.
Det er for meg et mysterium at Kings of Leon er så godt representert i dette prosjektet. Dette er deres debutalbum. Faktisk ganske ålreit southern rock med god “pønsj”. Dras ned av et ganske repetitivt lydbilde. Top 3: California Waiting, Joe’s Head, Red Morning Light
There is admittedly a bit of nostalgia attached to my enjoyment of this one. But it's hard to fully convey how fresh, fun, and exciting this one sounded to my 2003 ears. They weren't posers, they weren't co-opting a sound for nostalgia. They were genuine, sons-of-a-preacher Southern boys, playing some country fried Skynyrd-meets-Strokes with rock with sharp guitar work and some charmingly twitchy and slightly off-kilter vocals. Regardless of what would become of them in later years, their first two albums remain great listens.
I don’t know what I was expecting but I was underwhelmed
The album was okay, but nothing more. I don't feel like listening to it again. 3/5
I have a theory about the Kings of Leon. That the quality of their music is directly related to the amount of hair that they have on their heads and faces. When they arrived on the scene first, they looked amazing. Like they'd time travelled from the 70s: long hair, beards, handlebar mustaches, flares, cigarettes, scarves. For their second album, the facial hair had mostly disappeared, but the long hair was still there. And by the infamous third album, it was short hair all around, clean-shaven, and that cool 70s aesthetic was gone. Gone from their look and gone from their music. I've mentioned this before, but I used to read Q Magazine a lot back in the early 2000s, and every year they'd give away a free CD with the best tracks from the best artists of that year. "Red Morning Light" was track number two on "The Best of 03", and I couldn't stop listening to it. It was rock 'n' roll at it's simplest and purest, and in my opinion, best. The energy of the chord strumming, the brightness of the tone, and the verse to chorus dynamics had me sold already. But hearing Caleb's vocals had me all in. Southern drawl, mixed with a voice-breaking yelp that I haven't heard the like of before or after, it fit the music so well. Kings of Leon were more 70s Southern rock than Southern rock bands from the 70s. They were authentic too, having spent their youth rolling around the Deep South with their preacher father, absorbing the music of the Mississippi. Every single song on this album absolutely kicks off, but stays grounded in simplicity and that unreal, cool vibe that it oozes. Back in the early 2000s, I used to regularly put this album on, grab my shitty Strat knock-off, and play along with every single song from start to finish. My next-door neighbours may have recurring nightmares about the Kings of Leon as a result. If I absolutely had to pick a favourite outside of "Red Morning Light", it'd come down to "Trani" or "Dusty". But, on another day, I might give a completely different answer. All of these songs are so damn good. That I speak so highly of the band and this debut album feels a little melancholic now. Because, as we all know, the Kings of Leon made the inexplicable decision to become shit. It really felt like that: a decision. This wasn't a band running out of songwriting mojo, they seemed to decide to segue from this amazing Southern rock sound to something bland, beige, and frankly annoying. My sex is not on fire. So I'll let you be the judge. Is it just a coincidence that their music became flat and boring when Caleb shaved his facial hair off and got a sensible haircut that you could set your watch to? I know what I think. Give me the hairy 70s Southern rockers over the emo-trendy NME pop-rockers any day. It's just a pity they gave all their cinnamon away. 4.5 stars
1.92
Very good for my first listen but felt a bit samey. Overall seems pretty good and will have to give it a few more listens.
i liked the song joes head but that was it
Good little album this.
5 / 10
Decent.
Simple et très efficace.
Not an album save but the first couple of songs are pretty awesome.
Clean, modern rock. Nothing to love or hate.
More garage-y/indie rock than their more famous later work. Initially sounds fairly standard indie for the time. With some blues like White Stripes. Happy Alone has some nice progressions and vocal melodies Quite like the sound, It is indie done very well. California Waiting has a wistful quality. Dusty is a nice slow track Talihina Sky reminds me of Androgenous by The Replacements Best track - Red Morning Light, Happy Alone, Joe's Head, California Waiting, Dusty 4 stars - plenty of actually decent tracks to bring it from 3
3.5
Really great album kings of Leon is the proud owner of my favorite song sec on fire and there albums are great
I liked this!
This album felt really familiar even though I'm pretty sure I've never listened to it before. It's almost really good, but (and this is probably not an original opinion) I just really don't care for dude's voice.
Kings of Leonin debyytti, paljon suoraviivaisempaa rokkia kuin mitä odotin. Raakaa garage rokkia. Parhaat: Joe's Head, Spiral Staircase, Wasted Time
Red Morning Light 3.5 Happy Alone 3 Wasted Time 2.8 Joe's Head 2.8 Trani 2.5 Californian Waiting 3 Spiral Staircase 3 Molly's Chambers 2.9 Genius 2.5 Dusty 2.6 Holly Roller Novocaine 3 Score:2.872727273
"Holy Roller Novocaine" and "Talihina Sky" are pretty good!
honestly, kings bro, kings
Not my usual but LOVED the guitars
3.5!! surprisingly fun and i enjoyed it but i cant on this occasion round up - sorry guys
For the most part, it's a pretty good rock and roll record with influences that can be heard from punk rock to southern rock. It's a good record, not really a great one. It is a little uneven in places with a couple of songs I really don't like such as "Trani" and "Dusty", but "Holy Roller Novocaine" and "Molly's Chambers" are really good.
Ultimately pretty boring
I bought this CD cheap in a charity shop a year or so ago.it was a punt based on the fact that I had never listened to much KOL. Glad I hadn’t spent a lot on it as it was just MOR rock the likes of which there are thousands of better examples available. Not an album to listen to beginning to end but when ripped OK to hear random tracks every now and then. 2/5 15/2/26
A good album, I liked Joe's Head and Spiral Staircase the most.
good listening!
Rough around the edges but in a fun way. Not very “Kings of Leon” sounding which is also cool. 3.5
Nothing revolutionary but some good greasy grooves. Retro southern rock
Surprisingly enjoyable - their best - it's somewhere around a 3.5
Diferente
I like this. Not a lot of standouts but solid throughout. I have listened before and will do again.
Semi okay. Blander than I thought it would be, based on their hits I know.
this is the kind of mid-2000s british* rock music that made me think i "didn't like" music as a teenager so i was expecting to hate it but it's uh. it's not bad actually? i think the lead singer's voice can be kind of grating but there's some damn good guitar playing here. especially like "california waiting". this is probably a 2.5 but on the more generous end of that *i just learned the band was american today
This is pretty boring southern rock/garage rock revival. The singing doesn't make it better, the sound is really one note, and the instrumentation nothing exciting.
As a pretty big Kings of Leon fan, not my favorite, but still enjoyable. I will say this is probably the first time I've listen to a lot of these songs since the first time I listened to them 12 years ago, and its having the same affect. I like it but I'm not going back any time soon
2/5. I'm more familiar with their later work, and goodness, they've improved since their debut. Their distinctive sound is still here, albeit often covered up by the trappings of other genres. Some of the songs have this rockabilly style to them, which were a shock to hear listening to their later material. The guitarist is excellent — some of the solos are really solid. The singer, whose voice is generally outstanding, is all over the place here. Sometimes you get later KoL, smoothe but defined pop vocals; others you get him purposely throwing some grit and screaming in. The latter bits are not good. There's definitely some decent songs here, but not worth a revisit.
This is my second Kings of Leon album through this journey (Aha Shake Heartbreak) and I can’t say I was excited for it. I recognized the singles and read about the various features that I probably had exposure to as well. I know this music has value for some, but I cannot get into the lead singer’s barely understandable singing style - it doesn’t do it for me.
Pitkästä aikaa oli kiva kuunnella Kings of Leonia. Hyvä levy. 3,5/5.
Meh
They got so charty it's difficult to remember that they were a really cool band when they got started. Really cool vibe and great music.
This was a solid listen that established their style. I enjoyed it and would happily listen again.
É mais "animado" do que estava à espera
Great for 1 or 2 tracks then gets stuck in a rut of mediocrity. Latter day commercial KOL is greater - fact.
Solid start.
Yhdistelmä Rollareita, the Strokesia ja Dylania. Toimii yllättävän hyvin, sovituksest ovat yksinkertaisen ilmavia. Hyvä levy.
#265/1001. How are these people? Why are these? 2003 what happened? I'd hope that when I get old I woudn't understand today's music, it would be, you know, something unlistenable noise the kids only respect (In 2003 I was 30, old you know). But no, this album is just based on the same old and tried rock and roll formula, which gets invented every few years by a band or another, and they all get to be put to the 1001 book. Nothing wrong about this album and that is just it: no errors, no experimentation, no danger - let's just do things as they always have been done -kind of thing.
Great album, just a couple of tracks short of a 5 for me.
Cannot see the greatness of this
good
I expected not to like this but was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was different than their stuff I already knew. Then I listened more and it sucked.
They urgently want me to agree that they are having the best time ever. I'm not buying it. That said, as I got deeper into the record ("California Waiting") I started to 1) love the guitars and 2) get the Pavement vibe they were maybe going for the whole time.
The first couple of songs I thought were okay but it went downhill from there...and how is this "influential"? There isn't anything original about it.
Nails on a chalkboard, but I made it through
The only KoL album that's worth anything for me. Some fun moments but you could sense that these guys didn't have much in them right from the start
I really don't get how they managed to put 3 of their albums on this list. Just one would be hard to justify...
No
Got them mixed up with Fountains of Wayne for a second. Imagine my disappointment when I didn't get to hear "Stacy's Mom"!
You know, I really thought Kings of Leon were better than this. I can't get over terrible how the lead vocals sound. It's like he's got brain damage or something. The melody and guitar work were just okay. Disappointed with this one.
Clairement pas mon préféré de ce groupe
Solid background music but it didn’t jump out other than that
I had no idea the Kings Of Leon were chill like that
Fine
Best Song: Red Morning Light. This has a great raw personality to it, that unfortunately not all of the subsequent songs possess. Worst Song: Dusty. Sleepy and ordinary. Overall: My enjoyment of Kings of Leon is directly proportionally to how messy they allow themselves to play. On some songs they carry this wild, bordering on sloppy, energy that is really engaging, but then they'll go and follow that up with a straight-and-narrow blues standard. I'm not here for the blues, I'm here for the mess.
Dies out a bit but this is much better than I expected o them
I only know one Kings of Leon song and it wasn't on this. This wasn't awful, but it just sounds like a generic American alt band. Not particulary interesting, but not bad.
Back when they were a great band. Started to fall off with that third album.
Kings of Leon are alright in my book.
The family that lived in the house behind mine bought an above ground pool in summer 2008 and would sit out there all day with their radio playing exclusively Kings of Leon. Sometimes they'd just leave the radio on while they went inside. I had forgotten about this until recently. I'll never forgive this band for making that happen. Favorite Track: Joe's Head
Noisy, still waiting for Sex on Fire
Nothing wrong with it other than this can be had a lot of other places. Very good first record.
it’s alright. i just don’t love it, and his voice kind of annoys me. i guess it could grow on me but im just uninterested unfortunately.
Surprise, I didn't hate it, and I even knew one of the songs
Great album, full of great blues rock.
hit or miss but overall i like it
Much better than 2008's Only By The Night. 3.8/5
It was alright? Southern tinged modern rock. You could see how it led to their peak, but it just makes me want to listen to Only By the Night instead
Wow this was mostly just noise. You can hear the beginnings of their sound, but the singing is hard to get past
Bro what? Before I die?
First time listening to a Kings of Leon album. Not sure why they needed to have three albums on this list. Sort of just the White Stripes but mid. Favorite track: Molly's Chambers
I knew this band from Rocksmith. Can't say that album leaves a lasting impression on me.
Das Album hat mich überrascht. Grungy, Garagey aber doch poppig. War viel dabei, dass mir gefallen hat. Kommt sicher in meine Rotation rein.
Not a fan of the southern classic rock sound here.
first listen decent
it’s like the strokes if the strokes played blues rock and also recruited rob thomas to sing and also were boring and also didn’t really sound anything like the strokes
Not a fan but some decent tunes.
So whiny!
Have always had a bias against this group because their big hit Use Somebody annoyed me greatly. This debut album was surprisingly good, at least for the first half. 2.5, rounded up because I’m in a good mood due to the Oscar nominations coming out today.
There’s absolutely no way I need to hear one KoL album before I die, let alone three
Открылись для меня совершенно с другой стороны. Неплохой такой южный рок. Начало альбома было подобрее, конечно - чуть недожали.
A lot better than I thought it would be, but I don't see why you'd listen to this when The Strokes are right there.
Slutty KoL is my favorite flavor
I feel like they were still finding their sound
bruh
Dude rock with solid blues/garage band foundation. A few bright spots
Definitely realizing that I had 0 idea of what KoL sounded like before listening to this just now. I guess they do the southern rock thing well, it's just not for me.
Completely forgettable
Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: None I am actually shocked that Kings of Leon released their debut album as far back as 2003. I don't think I'd ever heard of them until they went mainstream with Only By The Night while didn't come out until 2008. They got really popular then. Anyways, they are vaguely country, which I am not super keen on. I didn't find any of the tracks particularly memorable. I guess there wasn't anything wrong with the music though. Pretty middling overall. I'd be interested to know if they have any other albums on the List.
not the worst, but not the best. some catchy songs but overall not my vibe
Old school
Much different than the Kings of Leon that we've come to know. Definitely bluesy and country-er but you can hear KoL shine through. I enjoyed it
Very garage-y. Best song is Molly’s Chambers. It has a good, not overly complicated groove and you can understand the lyrics. It’s the cleanest sounding without losing much of the gritty feel. The rest of it is fine. Not a must-listen though.
I’m definitely not much of a Kings of Leon fan, but this is one of their better albums. That said, it’s still not good enough for me to ever plan on coming back to it. This album leans more heavily into a Southern blues style of the garage rock revival that was blowing up in the early 2000s, which at least gives it more character than a lot of their later material.
Not amazing but good for a debut album, I guess. Why do I keep getting debut albums!!? Music is catchy but the vocals are a bit grating Favourite: California Waiting and Talihina Sky (very beautiful closing song)
It doenst have any impact, it has a sound that is kind of the old west mixed with the doors and some generic rock.
Finally, the long awaited final shit stain on this list of albums. To its credit, the fact that it leans more toward rock-'n'-roll and blues rock is marginally better than the audience-pandering pop-rock dribble they'd fart out years later, but my gripes with this band remain: I hate the singers voice, the guitar solos are basic and weak, there is no cohesion to the album and it sounds like a bunch of bad singles, I hate the singers voice. Now I can sleep well, knowing I will die before I willingly listen to another KOL song or album. 1/5
Boring pop rock from the 2000s. Never really could get into Kings of Leon.
I like this. I liked it then. I like it now. I like his voice. Good times.
Regrettably mid. I like a few Kings of Leon tracks but none really on this album. High 2/low 3
dads music
The best KOL album, which is an extreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemley low bar.
Fun, catchy, interesting and original. I always preferred Aha Shake Heartbreak, but listening in 2026, I think this has aged better and is a more consistent offering. Standout tracks are 1, 4, 8 and 9. There aren’t really any duds. Maybe track 5 because it’s the only song longer than 4 minutes, but it’s still pretty good. Nothing to complain about and I love to complain, but I actively enjoyed listening to this record.
Decent. This is their first album and the bones of what they become are definitely there, but it’s much more raw than future albums. There are also songs that remind me of like, Jet and The Strokes in that sort of generic early aughts alt rock k sound. It’s not bad, I just think of Kings of Leon as a bit more unique than those bands, which I think they grow into. The thing is, this is my second Kings of Leon, and neither one is their best album, which suggests there are at least three Kings of Leon albums, but no Deftones and no Tool. That’s outrageous. That’s not the fault of the band or album though. I’d give it 3.5 if I could because I enjoyed it, but there are too many songs that are sloppy or annoying to bump it to 4 stars.
Raw delivery. Raspy vocals. Interesting songwriting. Great energy. This really is a strong album that seems a far cry from the ‘polished’ sounds of later Kings of Leon records. I love the energy and tone of the bulk of the album, and there a few moments that standout as classics of early KoL. It does wane a couple of times with songs that seem less impactful, but overall it's a very good listen.
I surprisingly really enjoyed this debut album from Kings of Leon! I actually like this sound more than their more commercial sounding music that they have put out more recently. The lead singer’s voice used to bother me but I feel like his vocal quality blends well with the music on this album. Overall, I thought this was a great alt rock album with some southern blues influence and I would check this album out again in the future.
I bet these guys had a blast recording this album.
This was pretty good. Just got a teeny bit long and samey for me.
I like some of their other albums more than this one. They sound a little like BlackCrowes or bands along that line on this album.
It isn’t their best which begs the question why are some of the best albums by great artists not on here
Some bands fall off after a great debut. KoL is not one of those bands. Their debut is mid, musically it's pretty bland and sounds like every other stereotypical rock band. Caleb Followill's vocals are kinda grating and he does not sound good here. Their later stuff is better (still not elite though).
after 2 weeks of boring, mediocre electronica & britpop.....this was a breath of fresh air. driving guitars, a coherent sound. but this is a debut album & out of their others on this list, by far the weakest. why are there so many debut albums on this list?
I am enjoying this way more than I thought
Why do these fucks have 3 albums on this list?
I thought I'd like this more. In fact I don't like it at all. Very cliché musically; run-off-the mill American rock. I think they have a few radio-friendly OK songs but this particular album bored me to death.
makes me wanna dance:)
liked the songs, didnt like the singers voice that much.
Such a cool and unexpected album. The more I do this list the more I’m appreciative of this decade of rock. After decades and decades of bands trying to get a little too post modern with it, the pendulum swung back and rock got fun again. Very happy for albums and groups like this.
Whoever put this on 1001 albums cash me outside how bout that because this is so horrible. How did the band that created Sex on Fire also create this. Evil.
Solid rock 'n roll.
Kings of Leon is a bubble band for this list at best. I don't know if including their debut over the breakout album with the big hits is pandering or insightful. It's less whiny, and I can respect the sound the band is developing, but is anyone really influenced by Kings of Leon? Influence 1. Hits 2. Quality 4. Intangibles 2. I liked it more than I thought I would 4.
That was painful. And I like the Kings of Leon hits. But wow that album was a slog and it was only 40 minutes. If I never hear Talahina Sky again it’ll be too soon
Indie-rock… and Roll… Really cool!
King of Light: SO GOOD It was such a vibe and very upbeat and fun The album is very beach-rock and I'm obsessed
Wanted to like it but didn't.
Bueno
01/01/2026 (happy new year!) *1. red morning light - guitar is very 2000s rock. not sure about the vocals.... liking the two guitars. vocals growing on me? i think. turn the bass up!! 2. happy alone - vocals have lost all appeal again. too whiny.... this is too cliche of the worst aspects of indie pop rock. the chorus is alright, i really like the vocals, but the verses are just bland. don't like the bells? feel a bit out of place. the lyrics aren't that great either. guitar solo is nice. kinda surfy? only ever heard snippests of sex on fire and did not think they sounded as rocky as this. *3. wasted time - guitar is really nice. bass as well. constantly flip-flopping on how i feel about the vocals. the whiny sound gets on my nerves sometimes, especially during the quiet bits, but also sounds really great sometimes. guitar solos are really great. liking the country sounds. drums are nice. 4. joe's head - immediately a softer sound. electric guitar started and is so indie. not fond of this one. vocals have def grown on me though, really liking them now. kinda jeffery lee pierce vibes? maybe just bc it's southern rock? piano at end is nice. *5. trani - do not like the vocals. what is he even saying?? enunciate more.... vocals are growing on me actually. this is a bit slow and quiet for me.... guitar solo just started, reallll great :) liking the lyrics. got better as the song went on. ending was nice. 6. california waiting - immediately very indie rock riff. can actually hear the bass in this one :) guitar is really great throughout this album. vocals are great in the louder, rockier parts, but start to grate during the quieter moments. like a squeakier bob dylan. 7. spiral staircase - punkier. liking the rockabilly sound :) bass and drums stand out more in this song. don't like the clapping bit. 8. molly's chambers - liking the guitar in this. is there a tambourine? liking it. nice :) *9. genius - still can't tell whether i hate or love the vocals. the guitar is great in this. loving the energy. can hear bass!!!! screeching guitar solo!!! *10. dusty - slide guitar? heavy brian jonestown massacre vibes. bass!! grrooooovy. bluuuessyyy..... thought i wasn't gonna like this one from the quieter sound, but loving it so far! guitar solo great! 11. holly roller novocaine - bass intro!! drums are great as well. after realising the brian jonestown vibes i can't stop thinking about how similar this sounds. guitar solo is crazy in this. stop clapping. loving the organ. 12. talihina sky - immediately, a bit too stomp and clap.... not enjoying this one as much, but still would be nice as background music. as someone who doesn't usually like 2000s indie music, i didn't want to like a kings of leon album, but i actually loved it. i love southern american rock/blues/country/gospel stuff (the gun club <333) so i can't help liking this. wasn't sure about the vocals at first, but they grew on me throughout and i ended up really liking them. wanted to start this thing to listen to stuff i wouldn't usually, but didn't expect to rethink my prejudice against indie rock.
This was a nice listen as I drove home from a camping trip. Nothing too memorable though.
First two Kings of Leon albums are great. Then I'll join all thing moaners on here. I've tried to be objective though despite listening to this album a lot. It's catchy, fun and has a real feel, and it's fun to play on guitar from memory. The basslines are fun too in hindsight. Is it a 5 though? Probably not, but I think those dismissing it are projecting. They went downhill fast after Aha Shake Heartbreak though, even though the third album is alright.
this sounds so little like the kings of leon i know. i only really knew only by the night, which i also enjoyed, but this is quite different. makes me think i should have listened to their earlier stuff sooner. more please.
I never really got into them first time round, I only really heard them after they went boring... but I do enjoy this early period now. There is a fun attitude to it and the vocalist has a nice drawl which fits in well with the gravelly guitars.
I really wanted to love this album, howeer I just didn't. it's aright and I enjoyed my time listening to it but it felt very generic 2000s rock (which is a genre I do really love) and it didn't really set itself apart. Some songs were kinda samesy while other offered some nice variety. I think it would have done well with a banjo honestly lmao.
3/5 It was okay. Nothing outstanding. The vocals got a little annoying and repetitive after a while, but there was a good variety of songs. I enjoyed it but not enough to rate it any higher.
I like the music but is difficult to rate the lyrics when they are so difficult to understand. 3 stars or C-. .
Solid 3 stars
OVERALL: This is the rock version of mumble rap. Did they just kidnap an insane homeless person on fentanyl to sing or does his voice just sound like that? When the instrumentals aren't boring or basically nonexistent, they're actually pretty good. The guitar on California Waiting especially is very good, and Molly's Chambers is pretty good as well. Literally every other song has either really boring parts or really bad parts. Also, the singing is not good, being completely illegible at times. That combined with the instrumentals, which always carry the songs, bring this album from bad to just under average, resulting in a 2 instead of a 1. SONG AVG: 6.0416666/10 PERSONAL RATING: 4.75/10 Red Morning Light: Great guitar playing, not much else though. I don't like his singing. I guess the drums are sometimes good, but the song is definitely carried by the guitar. Is there even a bass part in this song? 7.75/10 Happy Alone: This is just the last song but longer. Also a bit more boring. 7/10 Wasted Time: He really cannot sing, goddamn he sounds so bad. The parts where there is no guitar to save him sound so ass. The guitar isn't even that good when it comes in, and the song ends so awkwardly. I guess the drums aren't bad? But it's kinda hard to fuck them up, so that isn't saying much. 3/10 Joe's Head: Such an improvement. His singing still sucks, but the chorus is actually kind of interesting and the guitar is actually above average for basically the whole song. The lyrics make up for the inability to sing, they're kinda like Bohemian Rhapsody but much worse and with a chorus. 8/10 Trani: The instrumental is actually really good, so it confuses me as to why the verses don't really go with it. He completely loses his voice at the part before the last chorus, and it sounds so bad. Seriously, why is this guy the lead singer? 3/10 California Waiting: He still can't sing, but he can get through the chorus pretty decently. I really like the guitar playing on this, kind of reminds me of Parannoul. The drums are much better than the previous songs. His weird gremlin noises that he does aren't good, but the instrumental is so good that it doesn't matter too much. 8/10 Spiral Staircase: Genuinely, what is he saying. I needed to look at the lyrics for the other songs, but even with them in front of me I couldn't really tell what he was trying to do. Less legible than many CAN songs. The instrumental is good, but it doesn't make up for the drowning drunken seizure noises well enough. 3.75/10 Molly's Chambers: Good song. No major complaints, his voice is actually legible and sounds much better than usual. Good guitars, solid drums, awkward ending. 8.25/10 Genius: "Are you through confessing of your little girl obsession" is one of my new favorite bars ever, but it's not enough to save this from being pretty mid. He learned one guitar riff and based the whole song on it. 5.75/10 Dusty: Cool story, wish it didn't sound like how it does. This could have been much more intense, it talks about killing someone, but we get a slow song with boring instrumentals and vocals that sound tired. 4/10 Holy Roller Novocaine: Good sometimes, other times the instrumental is just clapping. Pretty corny, but it's not as corny as it could be and there are a lot of parts I like. 6.75/10 Talihina Sky: I still don't like the singing, but I feel like it's salvageable. This could have been much better if they got a better singer. 7.25/10
This was ok
What an incredible album. It rips from start to finish. It's a shame that their corners got sanded down after this because the roughness of their sound is what really catapults this one into the stratosphere.
3,75 stars
Good lord more Kings of Leon? This one had a nice bluesy garage rock edge to it, which I generally like a lot. But once again I find them kind of boring
Used to listen to this a lot when it first came out, but drifted away from them when the music started getting "stadium-sized". Listening again now reminds me why I liked the first two albums so much. Heavily indebted to southern rock bands that have inspired them, but with much more of an indie-rock thrash to it. Lyrics utterly indecipherable. Love it.
I thought it was pretty good. Not sure where all the hate is coming from. Will definitely listen again.
I can't even begin to express how much I hated this album.
If I didn't know this was released in 2003, I would say it was from 70-80's. The debut of Kings Of Leon is forgettable. It's flaccid, tasteless and so "white man rock".
Nothing super special, but its not bad.
Strong
This is the second KOL album from this list, and I'm still shocked that any of them made it on here. I don't know what makes this (or Only By The Night which I'd rated previously) albums I need to listen to before I die. OBTN at least has some good hits, but this album was almost unlistenable for me. The vocals were just bad. It felt like a fourth rate "Mick Jagger doing his Southern thing" impression, along with music the Stones could do in their sleep. As I was listening, I was thinking that I couldn't possibly give a KOL album a one star rating, but I didn't enjoy any of the songs. And it all comes down to those damn vocals. Clearly they got a memo about it, as they improved dramatically once there was a decision to sell some albums.
Vocals are atrocious, but the music is SIGNIFICANTLY better than the crap served up on "Only By The Night". It's just basic southern rock, but it at least has some character. 2.5/5.0: Mixed
the instrumentals feel like they were trying to check the box on southern rock tropes and the vocalist phoned in the entire performance. pretty mediocre but way better than the last album i had from them(not that it took much).
“that whole album front to back was trash” -hunter when i made him listen to this in the car.. another kings of leon album probably won’t bump this ever again but think it was complete trash although i didn’t enjoy it per say
I think History is going to be unkind to this band, but this first three album run and really first 4 album run is pretty spectacular. Then they just got so meteorically famous and the wheels kinda came off. But I will always have a lot of affinity for these first three albums. Probably like because the times best, then this one, and then aha shake heartbreak.
Standouts Red Morning Light Happy Alone Wasted Time Spiral Staircase Holy Roller Novacaine Talihina Sky
⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Loved the sound but not the most relatable for me
Far from my favorite Kings album. Still enjoy the rawness of it.
3.0 - Ok
quite good 70s Rock Cosplay Band
Not sure why Kings of Leon were never on my radar back when they happened. I mean, I wouldn't drive for hours to a concert, but if they come on the radio, I wouldn't turn it off.
Some nice southern fried licks with not too much grease.
Eh not for me
Animadinho, legal. Vibes guitar hero. Da horinha o som. Nada que me chamou atenção. Mas bom.
Summer 2003, I heard rumblings of this band but I was just heading out to spend the summer in New York doing Camp America. When I returned, my sister bought me this album for my birthday and I absolutely loved it. The Kings of Leon brought something slightly different at that time, with a southern drawl and appeal that actually made them cool, with stories that their mum cut their hair - all a bit shaggy looking like something out of the 70s. I really liked the 2nd album too, I believe it is on the list but it doesn’t need to be. What happened to them after that feels a bit like the record label suits got hold of them and polished them up and became dreadful. I cannot believe they have 3 albums on this list! It makes me very annoyed thinking about it, but this album, this deserves its place on the list.
First Listen: 1.5; This is possibly the most boring album I've listened to so far. The songs sound flat, and the guitar leads feel very basic and predictable. Drums also sound mostly the same track after track, and the bass never really does anything interesting. Almost like bad, boring Tom Petty b-side demos. I really don't know how this album is on the list. Favorite Track: Molly's Chambers
Pre stadium rock Kings of Leon is interesting. I remember critics singing their praises on this album when it came out but I didn’t like it. The southern drawl put me off. Listening to it again now I appreciate the eclectic approach to their songwriting. Garage post punk influences mix with bluesy southern rock resulting in a diverse album. But the vocals I still am not into, I think because the song structure lack a discernible hook for me. Call me a pop head I guess. They would refine their sound in later albums.
Wasn't a Kings of Leon fan before. Still not a King of Leon fan. Just not my "thing".
Red morning light - Fifa 2004 nostalgía. Gott stöff. Platan að öðru leyti hit and miss. Molly's Chamber fínt. Söngurinn fer ekki í taugarnar á mér almennt en á sumum lögum finnst mér hann lélegur. Þetta er hresst og þétt á köflum.
Ágætis rokk en ekkert meira en það.
This sounds exactly like every other Indie Rock album from the 2000s. There aren't any good songs to speak of, and the singer is particularly annoying. 1.5/5
Fun rock album from a band where I have heard a few songs on the radio before. While nothing is bad about it I don't really see its place on this list. Nothing exceptional or groundbreaking going on or stand out that I can tell. Really fun listen through though and the country vibes to are great.
Honky tonk soul
this is the kind of music your one friend's band made in high school and it's not great but you don't want to be mean so you pretend you like it
One I'm not familiar with. But I like KOL
It was fine, his voice was whiny
Hadn't heard this before. A bit different from other Kings of Leon I'm more familiar with.
3.3 I've never truly vibes with Kings of Leon. I think I started off on a bad note with them when my brother went to uni and came back after first time acting like these were the coolest fucking band on earth and he was the coolest fucking person for being into them. Would have been after this album actually. It's fine, it's good in parts, but grating in others. Trani sounds like someone trying to take the piss out of his vocals, so fair play for putting that on your debut. There's not much further to fall after that I guess. Like all other Kings of Leon albums I've heard, it's alright, but feels like they're trying too hard to be cool.
The previous album by this lot I listened to was a bit of a blur. This one seems similar. Listened to whilst on my long commute. There was music. I didn’t particularly notice very much of it.
The irony of british people enjoying this more than americans. 4/5
It's good rock music, they know how to play their instruments and surprisingly enough they don't sound like sex on fire all the time. But: music like this was made 40 years ago? I can't find anything groundbreaking or new. I also don't care for their singer or the guitar sound.
I liked the other Kings of Leon album on the list, but this one is different. It sounds more roadhouse/rockabilly, and has AC/DC-like vocals, but the melodies aren't as strong. The tracks "Happy Alone" and "Holy Roller Novocaine" are the ones that have a bit of a hook.
This is looser and more lo-fi than the other album of their's we've listened to, and I enjoyed it more as a result. Still not convinced we need two (or more?) of their albums on this list, but can see how -during a period where better bands like the Strokes and White Stripes dominated- these guys could get some traction.
I had to listen to a few tracks from Only By the Night to try to make sense of why this first album sucks so much. I think it's the mumble slur singing he does on most of the tracks - along with every song but for 'Molly's Chamber' failing to be catchy. It gets old REAL fast. Someone must have told him to cut it the fuck out before they recorded another album.
sounds like 70s rock i wasn't fucking with it (4/10)
I’ll hand it to Kings of Leon, each album I’ve heard has a different sound. They have range. I just don’t like their music. Here, they appear to be biting off a Red Hot Chili Pepper sound. It’s not great. Frontman still can’t sing, and I’m not interested in his whining. Still, it’s better than some of their albums that I’ve heard previously in this challenge. But not much better. It’s a 2.
A second Kings of Leon album? Really. Here’s hoping it’s not as shitty as the last one. Well shit. This one is actually decent
Ok! So, I never really got into this band nor could I even tell you one of their songs. Very happy to have this album pushed to me.
Approaching cold, this album doesn't come across as uniquely influential nor exciting enough for a second listen. Is this on the list because of the music contained within or because of how popular the band became?
If Kings of Leon had à vocalist with a less annoying voice, better songs and a sensé of humour, I would like this a lot better. As it is, I don’t understand the inclusion on the list. Rolling Stones did this better 30-40 years estimer, and even they weren’t very good. I have to admit I like track 6. It’s got a great chorus. The others are totally forgettable
Not typically a rock fan but I actually liked this for the most part! Started to get a little overstimulated about half way through but overall an enjoyable listen.
Never gave them a fair shake, don't know why.
Quite an overrated band. I remember the hype being fairly extreme for these guys. They aren't bad, just nothing relevatory.
Great stuff
I expected it to be terrible, but there were some nice moments. Still their sound is too modern for my taste.
Meh, pretty dull to be honest
A lot of fluff with one descent songs in between Molly's Chamber
This is fine
Solid meh. Great rock sound, but couldn’t understand a word.
Not a fan per se but not bad
Better than Coldplay
Am I high, or is this the third KoL album I’ve gotten? That is far too many. Two is far too many, so I really hope I’m hallucinating.
I got this album almost exactly 2 years ago! Here is my review: "Super fun! Definitely good ol' indie rock with a Southern influence. I liked the energy and song writing. Definitely want to revisit more of Kings of Leon." I can say that in the last 2 years, I have listened to this band more and gained a greater appreciation. Kings of Leon rocks. This album feels so much like The Strokes. I think what I like the most is that it feels like New York indie, but its very Southern influenced. I'm picking up The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, even The Velvet Underground. But it's unique in its own sound. This band has aged really well.
Listen, it's not bad music. I've heard far, far worse music. But I am very surprised that this is the 3rd album of theirs that are on the list, yet some bands that are far more influential, and even more successful, have no representation at all on the list.
It was alright, nothing amazing but nothing really bad. It was average. If The Waltons formed a band, this would be it.
Never given this band any time nor thought. Their other one was everywhere to the point I'd never have sought anything out by them. I thought this was *quite* good. It's almost enjoyable but never quite gets there. Singer sounds a bit like he's got something in his mouth, or he's too lazy to get the words out properly. No tracks stand out as real bangers, but the sound is alright overall. Solid mid.
Red Morning Light California Waiting Molly's Chambers