Reviews (page 6 of 7)
Molly's Chamber
Cowbell on first song made me laugh. Happy Alone is a cool song. I feel like this came out at the same time as that Jet album, and Jet completely stole their shine.
Wasn't the worst but not something I'd pick up again. I guess it's indicative of the music style at the time, but I find it too generic to enjoy, sounds like music in a CVS.
Sabremetrics must have come to music, because this is a perfectly “replacement level” rock band. I actually saw them in concert and felt the same way after they played for 100 minutes. From the songs themselves to the guitar tones to the vibe, it’s just so perfectly average. Would have given a 3 stars but some of the vocals were reaaaaally grating and it felt like the type of guy who would say he’s singing ragged and out of tune because of “emotion” when in reality he’s just trying to do something he shouldn’t.
That was unmemorable.
Ok, but I don’t really connect with it. I like the garage sound at times, but this sounds a bit too intentional - like they were trying to rough it up for effect.
stroksi za siromašne, i još hilibili. bogteneće
I guess I liked this better than I thought I would. A little more lofi rock and roll than their big hits. However if we’re going to include a garage rock record, why this one? It’s not special, nor is the band interesting enough to justify making their background essential listening. There are plenty of other bands that deserve attention if we’re including straight ahead rock.
Ok 2/5
2.5/5 - I don't think I needed to hear this album. Despite recommendations, I've never thought that much of this debut. The vocals are uninteresting at best, and the music is totally fine. By no means is this a slog to get through, and there's a few tracks I like well enough, but no idea why this is on this list.
eh not my jam. 2/5
maybe i'll change my mind but upon first listen its js not hitting
I like some of there music but overall this is mediocre…have heard better local bands.
Ew. Give me mainstream sellout radio-play-overkill KoL any day over this cacaphonous crap with absolutely horrendous vocals. Saved from being a 1 because Holy Roller Novocaine didn't suck.
2 song in- classic southern rock. Nice, band sounds good. But a pretty standard. 3, not my favorite stuff. Vocals a bit awkward. Track 4 is nicer. Cool bass. A bit more interesting progression. 5, na, not for me today 6, it's a strokes rip off but that's why it's the best here so far. Waiting for more highlights. I guess 9 is one. Better, but not significantly. 12 the hidden track is actually nice. What can I say... I'm not going back to this one soon, but it's not unlistenuble Good luck to the band. It's a 2, but barely
I rather listen to This is it.
It sounds like caleb just got back from the dentist and half of his face is still numb. Honestly might not be half as bad with a different vocalist
More rock
Did not enjoy
This was just alright for me, I think it would have been a 3 if it weren't for the vocals that I really didn't care for. I listened to about 2/3 of the album and gave up. 2 star
I don't know what I thought they were, but it wasn't this. It's not terrible. The singers voice is, a choice though. I don't know what they were thinking with their early work here. "Happy Alone" was a pretty fun song though so I'll add that one to the playlist.
Sångaren har en så gnölig röst. Upprörande är att detta är deras tredje skiva på listan.
Scrappy garage rock. Sounds a bit thin, vocals grating.
Pretty dull and sometimes grating. I didn't enjoy the vocals, they felt flat and whining. The instrumentals weren't memorable either. It wasn't bad, but just boring and long winded. I am not very familiar with King of Leon other than thier Sex on Fire song which I like well enough. This is apparently their first album, so maybe they got better as they matured? Not sure but I don't have any plans to check them out unless they pop up on here again. Standouts: Holy Roller Novacine (If I had to choose) Rating: 2.25/5
I'm sorry but a few songs in and I could tell this one was just not for me. I never knew Kings Of Leon had southern rock roots and that's a genre that's a small hit or a big miss for me. Not my type of music :/
Rawer than I expected, I thought it had some things in common with early 2000s indie bands (similar chord patterns maybe), but with a bit more of a southern flair Not keen on the vocals, very slurred and have that dopey delivery that's found on punk stuff OK, but no that inventive and the vocals kind of ruin it for me 2.5 Highlights: Red Morning Light
Wasn't their biggest fan when they came out. Still not really their biggest fan.
since it appears we are going to get all of them, i am remain waiting for a kings of leon album that isn't completely fucking ruined by caleb followill's vocals. there's a good album hiding here
I think I had Molly's Chambers on my ipod nano. I don't care about any of the other songs on here. Why are there like three Kings of Leon albums? We really find them that influential on the shape of the music industry or?
Cierto, sosos, y tienen el mismo compás, el mismo, el mismo, el mismo, el mismo
Rock. Inge speciellt. Jag har svårt för sången.
I did not like this album sam I am, i did not like king of lee an, i did not like the way it sounds, i would rather listen to some hounds.
youth AND young manhood? Fav song: Trani
There's just so many ways you can repackage and sell blues rock to suburban white kids.
The '00s revival of '70s hard rock was one of the worst, most needless things to happen in that decade. Even setting aside the unnecessary portion of this, Kings of Leon were among the most bland and uninteresting of that crew.
One time through was enough. It's all right, but not my favorite. Wouldn't seek it out. 2.5 stars
if these guys only made instrumental songs, I’d like them, but again— as with my review for Aha Shake Heartbreak — they have good instrumentals, and the absolute most dogshit annoying singer I’ve ever heard in my life - 4/10
I saw these guys as an opener when they first came onto the scene. Honestly, it was painful to get through, I really didn’t like it. One of my friends told me he liked this album, so I gave it another shot. My opinion was unchanged. I forced myself to listen again. I see slightly more redeemable qualities than I did 20 years ago… but still don’t like it.
Disco muy de chico adolescente americano de principio de los 2000s. No es nuestro rollo. 2,5. Canción fav. Paula: Genius Canción fav. Claudia: Trani
This just felt uninspired. Generic southern rock vibes combined with the strokes. If this was released in the 70s I think this could be considered good but for a 00s album I just don't see it. Also a brave choice to use as much cowbell as they do, makes me think of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper". Strong 2.
Nothing awful, and nothing praiseworthy
Wow, so glad Only By The Night isn't the only Kings of Leon album here. I hope all the other ones made the list as well.
I hate “use somebody” so much I forgot that their early stuff ain’t so bad. Still not my cup of tea but absolutely listenable!
Meh. Du rock un peu southern mais assez générique. Je déteste sa voix. Molly’s chambers, California Waiting et Holly Roller Novocaine etaient bien.
They sure loved garage rock in the "aughts." This one is pretty basic, the music is interchangeable with a bunch of other bands, and the singer sings kind of weird. This has been removed from the 1001, along with its replacement album, "Only the Night." I agree on both counts. Tracks I liked: Wasted Time, Talihina Sky.
There's a time and a place for Kings of Leon: never again, and not in my ears.
bland southern pop-rock. not awful, not remarkable- just lacking the spark that takes mediocre rock into the realm of something special. they'd be a good get for a bar, a shitty concert to attend.
America's chief contribution to the new millennium's indie landfill.
He just has the most irritating voice. If they switched out the singer, this could be a higher score, because I quite like the instrumentals. Edit to add: it would be nice if the drummer would learn more than one beat.
Not for me
Yeah nah. Not familiar when I heard it, and it won't become so in future.
2!?!?!?!? ER STAAN 2 KINGS OF LEON ALBUMS OP DEZE LIJST???? Bi-zar dit. Ik wist niet dat er daadwerkelijk mensen graag naar deze band luisterden. Maar goed, ik probeer me er over heen te zetten. Dit is hun debuutalbum, dus misschien is dit wel de old-school Kings of Leon sound die ik nooit heb begrepen? Ok, eerlijk, het eerste nummer rockt best wel fucking hard haha. JEZUS Trani is fucking verschrikkelijk, wat een gejank... Jammer want tot dan toe vind ik het eigenlijk een stuk beter dan verwacht! Hoe lang kan ik luisteren naar de Kings of Leon? Blijkbaar maximaal iets van 15 minuten... En gezien het album 3 kwartier duurt is dit best wel een beetje pittig. Dit album, het duurt maar 3 kwartier, maar het voelt voor mij nog steeds te lang. Jammer maar helaas! FAVO: Red Morning Light, Joe's Head, Holy Roller Novacaine
Too hyper and boring. Nice vocals in the first song, thats it.
I've only ever listened to Only By The Night. This album in contrast just isn't very good. I didn't enjoy it.
Not vibing with it, the usual 2 stars.
Albeit better than their later work, it is still annoying music. The dude sounds like a whiny b and the instrumentals are bland
Pretty early in this album the lead vocals started sounding like Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump and it was hard to unhear. Kings of Leon does have some songs that I like...they just aren't on this album. This is honestly pretty mediocre mid 2000s rock. 4.5/10 (2.25/5)
Kings of Leon is annoying as a band. They started as an okay garage rock band that turned into the most 00s generic post-grunge band. Youth and Young Manhood is alright but nothing to write home about.
I liked the last song the most, but unfortunately that was my only enjoyment from this album.
Like every other rock album of the 2000s it opens with a guitar going through a lo-fi pedal. Highlights are Wasted Time for some nice breakdowns, California Waiting for sounding a bit like Daydream Nation and Molly's Chamber for executing the thing they are trying to do well. Rest of the album is pretty forgettable. If I wanted to listen to garage rock I'd put on the Kinks. If I wanted to listen to garage revival I'd listen to the Strokes. Not sure what this adds.
Nu er jeg jo ikke lige så stor en KoL hater som I er, men jeg synes virkelig de kæmpede med at skrive sange der passer til hans stemme. Hård at komme igennem. Lille 2'er.
Kings of Leon is more complicated for me than they should be. The lead singer is cringey and I know because of how huge they were people got tired of them real quick. But these guys were popular when I was between the ages of 13 to 19— arguably when music is at its most impactful. I have some very fond memories that through no fault of my own have Kings of Leon inextricably entwined and I can’t help but love it. Those songs however do not appear on this album so this kinda sucked tbh. But I’m assuming this means there will be a few of their albums on here. At least I hope so— whichever one has McFearless ooo that takes me back.
Pretty crap, tbh. The took the soul out of southern rock.
Pretty basic rock with a bit of a Pixies twist, but the vocals really ruin what would otherwise be an enjoyable album. They're mixed so high, he's often intentionally not in tune or in time and I can barely understand a word he's saying with the accent he's putting on.
Não gostei deste álbum. Achei as músicas muito repetitivas e maçadoras.
5.5/10. Boring. Really not my thing at all.
Obnoxious
Meh, was expecting something better.
Please let the record show that while the publishers of this list at one point felt it necessary to include 3 of Kings of Leon's first 4 albums on this list, they have since come to their senses and expunged all of them from the current version. I don't say this to be mean, they're a fine band, but I don't think their catalog belongs on a list like this in the modern music world, and it would appear that the makers of this list agree. These guys were great when they had their moment back in the mid 00s, but this album doesn't stand up to time they might have hoped it would. Favorite track: California Waiting
"Youth and Young Manhood" by Kings of Leon combines elements of Southern rock and garage rock blues, infused with pinch of The Strokes and a hint of punk energy. While the recipe is there for something interesting, the outcome is rather mediocre. I found the vocals to be grating, and the repetitive nature of the lyrics on nearly every track quickly becomes tiresome. There are a couple of interesting songs on the album, such as "Joe's Head" and "Happy Alone," but overall, it largely represents a typical 2000s rock sound, lacking any significant sonic variety. It is a decent album, but not a great one.
Vocal are dislikable, not bad necessarily, but they distract from whatever else is going on. Hard to redeem the album when the annoying vocals are put front and center.
it's FINE.
Generic alt rock, nothing special and average.
You learn something new every day. Today, for instance, I learned that before doing mediocre indie rock, the Leon boys were doing even more mediocre southern rock.
Sounds like 70s rock. This list loves 70s rock. Still not for me.
Ditchwater dull. Sorry.
Hmmmmm. I remember when the Kins of Leon were the Flavour Of The Day, tho' I didn't specifically track down anything of their to listen to. Listening now..... I dodged a bullet there. This LP seems pretty dire. Like a local high school group aping some minor early eighties New Wave albums. Sub-par, IMHO
Well done but not very inspiring to me. Sounds like a cover band of 60s era songs
Not for mij
Very underwhelming. Like Lynyrd Skynyrd, but not as good. And LS is meh Flat vocals, uninspiring guitar riffs, very generic sounding. This is to rock music what Pabst Blue Ribbon is to beer.
I distinctly remember really enjoying the debut from Kings of Leon as well as their follow-up record. Listening now, I really don’t know why? The drums and percussion work are still nice, but it really is a run-of-the-mill garage rock album that would have been innovative 5-7 years earlier, but in 2003? Man, even The White Stripes were getting bored of the sound back then.
When looking at Kings Of Leon’s early discography, Youth And Young Manhood is probably the album to skip. Followill’s (the vocal one) singing is the highlight, but I’m a bit underwhelmed by Followill’s (the drum one) performance - on most other albums he is the centerpiece. It feels dated and their songwriting just isn’t as distinct as it would soon become.
i hate kings of leon That being said, this is actually a bit better than the other two. Also I didn’t realize they made Supersoaker until Spotify played it after the album and that song is way better than any on their three albums here.
ugh. This was terrible, truly. Only reason it's not getting 1 star is that I save that for Kid Rock/Limp Biskit/Taylor Swift levels of garbage. This is slightly less horrendous. Slightly.
uneventful
Boring retro rock that I don't have much time for. Craftwise you get what you deserve here and if you're into this kind of thing, it's an enjoyable ride, I guess.
eh
2.5. I gotta be honest, I didn't think this was great.
Good transitions between songs. I really hate this singer's voice. I don't like how rock music tends to disregard their lead singers having good voices. At least it's unique. I recognized this band because of their song "Use Somebody", which I expected to be in this album, but it wasn't. Favourite Tracks: N/A
Southern rock by way of The Strokes. Everything here feels very samey
This was a bit underwhelming—generic '00-Rock, weak production.
Eh, I've found only one good song on this album
Just... average. Seen better, seen worse. The instrumentation isn't bad per se, but the vocals get annoying quick. And apparently no, Kings of Leon were not better in the beginning.
Tbh this could be somewhat entertaining at times, and I feel like I would like it better if the album actually came out in the 70s and not 30 years later. So, nothing really stood out and I don't think this should be on the list at all. Fav track: Happy Alone, Joe's Head 2.5/5
Not the 90s buttrock voice
So much mumble
Ugh
What's with the voice, dude? Stop screaming at me. Another example of shitty US indie for the masses. Listen to some Glenn Miller instead.
So these guys were a lot more interesting before they became popular, and sold out for sure. Bilut this still sucks.
Sounds like The Strokes drank too much moonshine.
This was annoying
Was not a fan of this one I much prefer their other stuff, but even then I always thought they were a bit of a two hit wonder? Surprised to see them on this list 2 ⭐️
Boring revival rock from the early '00. It has everything you can hate from this kind of bands: unnerving voice, clichés riffs, the mandatory (power) balad.
The Good: They are Kings of Leon, not Dukes… The Bad: It seems royalty is overrated, so they might as well have called themselves the Council The Ugly: seems politics is overrated too… When I first heard of KoL (as those who know refer to them) it was via the Sex is on Fire song. I recall liking it when it came out. I also recall starting to find it boring after a while… So, with this their freshman attempt, I was hoping to hear something interesting. And I was treated to something bland. It’s neither here nor there, fish or meat, blond or brunette. I guess the title gave it away that this band has been trying too hard at being special, and failing in the attempt. 2* as I do not want to see rock die completely… but I could have been spared this album...
Okay. Good.
Enh, it's okay.
Fine.
Meh
I just get such a skeevy vibe from these guys
Right I'll get this out the way now, I don't like Kings of Leon and think of them in a similar way as Coldplay, they do one pretty good song (closer) because it was a completely different sound for them....so I don't like this album, it's generic British indie from 2003 and I struggled to listen to all of it, 2 because it's not Serge
No sir, I did not care much for this.
nouveau-garage rock that didn't make much of an impression
I used to own a physical copy of this back when it came out, actually. Then I realised I also owned some Strokes, some White Stripes, and very deliberately didn't own any Lynyrd Skynyrd. I also realised how incredibly annoying the singer's voice is after a short while. Later still they put out stuff I legitimately detest. So... This gets a 2 because I need to be able to go lower in case any other of their albums come up.
Nah. C-
Really not feeling this. Millennial blues seems to retain all of the misogyny of midcentury blues with none of the soul.
Despite the popular opinion, I definitely think that Kings of Leon got a lot better with time. This album is so boring and generic, but once they reached Only By the Night, that album is a soft rock masterpiece.
I thought I liked Kings of Leon, but I guess I never heard this record before.
eh, nah
Hmmm, I think I've seen that young boys have been removed from later editions of the book. I can remember in real time as an adult when these guys were the saviors/flag carriers of rock or something, but even then that rang hollow to me. WOuld ordinarily be a 3 but relative to the last two I can't
No way we have another kings of Leon this is insane!! Now that I’ve listened it’s indeed insane. Another unnecessary album especially after we have gotten at least two others. KoL is worth that one album but not this many.
Genuinely what the fuck? Is the guy who made this list the uncle of someone in the Kings of Leon? No one on God's green earth NEEDS to listen to this many albums from this band. Their big one, fine, I understand. A second album, whoa, somebody's a fan. THAT one I said was unnecessary. Then we get a third? Leave us alone. Favorite tracks: Red Morning Light, California Waiting. Album art: Ghostly heads. Don't give a shit, I'm just mad. 2/5
Early Kings of Leon klinken inderdaad als de Honky-tonk Strokes, zoals meerdere mensen in de reviews ook opmerkten. Het is in ieder geval een testament aan de invloed van dat debuutalbum van de ultieme indie rockers uit New York, maar niet zo zeer een compliment voor de inventiviteit van de Kings of Leon. Ze waren duidelijk nog aan het zoeken naar hun eigen sound. Het zijn energieke garage rock songs die we kennen van tijdgenoten, maar dan met een stem die me na twee nummers al tegen gaat staan. Het is geen stem die gemaakt is voor deze muziek, en om dat te maskeren schreeuwt hij soms maar wat. Maar sommige songs geven wel echt een unieke 'southern charm' aan het garage rock genre. 'Joe's Head' is een redneck editie van een ''Is This It'' take, 'Dusty' is een nog zuidelijker klinkende White Stripes song, en de rustige country rock in 'Talihina Sky' laat horen waar bands uit Nashville gewoon eigenlijk het beste in zijn. Schoenmaker blijf bij je leest. En een ander lichtpuntje is natuurlijk de opener, die instant nostalgie oproept. Over het algemeen een beetje een ongemakkelijke plaat, maar de sterke momenten zijn niet over het hoofd te zien. 6/10 Highlights: Red Morning Light Joe's Head Talihina Sky
Just ok
Not bad but not really for me. Kind of reminds me of Sonic Youth in some ways. I don't think that I would go out of my way to listen to this again.
The last two were okay, but I was expecting more of a Sex on Fire vibe.
Is it my speakers or is he singing out of key? Better than expected.
Not as bad as the other one but just not my thing at all
It's telling that the catchiest song here seems like a cover.
I guess Kate Moss liked this
Not for me
Confirmou que para mim não apresenta alma ou pegada mais forte.
Starts off with a huge FIFA tune, then bored me for the rest of the album. Haven't really listened to Kings of Leon much before, and this was exactly what I expected.
This is a rubbish album.
I feel like this is a band I should like more but unfortunately it’s yet another band that has a few good songs and that’s about it
Not for me
Never heard this before. Boy I really hate the vocals. He sounds like Randy Newman recovering from a stroke. Music is okay, lyrics are pretty bad. "You're givin' all your cinnamon away"
Oh well. This Kings Of Leon debut probably harbors less grating moments than their subsequent LP. That said, the fact that the band here take zero risks is not an asset either. Their sophomore album has more personality in spite of its flaws--flaws including their singer's vocals, obviously an "acquired taste", which yet also makes their early albums endearing for some listeners. Here, in this first album by the southern rockers, the songwriting and performance often lack that magic spark that could make their act *truly* stand out. Sometimes, 'intermittently grating' is preferable to 'mid'. The four singles extracted from *Youth And Young Manhood* are pretty decent, I guess. But the rest, going from the same sort of southern boogie rhythms to half-baked slower cuts, is too mundane for a list like this. Not all early-noughts landfill retro-rock records are "essential", far from it. 2/5 for the purposes of this list, which translates to a 7/10 grade for more general purposes (5+2). Number of albums left to review: 132 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 376 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 222 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 280 (including this one, even if it's still better than the start of the arena-rock period of the band--like many reviewers, I feel like giving three slots to this overrated act in the 1001 albums book is particularly unwarranted).
Good band. Nice sound. “Only by the night”, a better album. Good songs.
How many of these types of albums do I need to hear before I die? Bored by this.
Bit boring
Not sure why this is on the list honestly
I like the music. I do not like yelling that masquerades as singing.
I get why this really hit when it did, with the indie rock backlash against 90s pop happening. I also appreciate the more Southern bent of this band and I certainly like this album more than their later stuff. I still don’t like it that much, though, and I think the lead singer’s voice is my main issue with this band.
An okay debut. Quite raw production, not too polished but no absolute bangers here
A lot of songs feel like they're twice as long as they should be.
They're like a cover band of their own band. Talented musicians, but there's something soulless about the music. They're like what Gertrude Stein said about Oakland: there's no there there. based on record sales, this band is much more popular outside the US, e.g. this album sold 218K in the US and 500K in UK. So it may be surprising for Americans to see any of their albums on this list. But having three Kings of Leon albums on the list is completely unnecessary, no matter where you live. based on record sales, this band is much more popular outside the US, e.g. this album sold 218K in the US and 500K in UK. So it may be surprising for Americans to see any of their albums on this list. But having three Kings of Leon albums on the list is completely unnecessary, no matter where you live.
just okay, probably won't listen again.
You can’t forgive any band that releases Sex On Fire. You can see the potential for eventual sell out.
I was trying to come into this album with an open mind, I really didn't like the previous Kings of Leon album I was served from this list, but there has to be something redeemable about the band, maybe from their early years (and especially their debut album). Overall though, I think my criticism of this album can be summed up by my reaction to the singers voice. It sounds like he is constantly putting on an accent, or vocal style, and trying to imitate something, but also rarely ever fully committing to the bit. It sounds self-conscious a lot of the time. The band has moments where they are convincing sprinkled throughout the album, but the overall impression is a thin imitation of better classic rock bands.
Meh
Not my jam or wasn’t in the mood
Not my jam. But there were a couple of songs that I enjoyed well enough. 2
This list is old enough to vote. This list is showing its age. This album would be dropped for Only By The Night if you updated this, or even Because Of The Times if you're one of those "sellout" people. This wasn't even their best album THEN. This feels like a "give one to the youths" without understanding the actual music of the generation. I'm not mad at the album, it's fine, but I don't understand what calling this one of the most important works in the genre of MUSIC, when this band was clearly finding their footing, is supposed to mean, other than throwing a bone to those dumb kids by picking a recent album, even if it's not really that good. It ended up calling the shot, so maybe I'm missing something, but this is very much a niche album by a band who would become much better than their debut.
Hmmmh, nicht so meine Tasse Tee. ABER: Vielseitig und musikalisch interessant.
I listened a little and didn't much like the vocalist but the other parts were good.
Sounds pretty flat tbh. Would much rather listen to "Only by the Night"
Day144 - i don’t know much about kings of leon other than their only by the night album but it seems light years better than this mess
Landfill indie rock, totally uninteresting.
Early KOL. What does he actually say when singing? I don't care. I'm glad these Nashville boys don't sound like Kenny Rogers and thats worth a star in itself. It's not bad, but it's not great either. A high 2.
It felt like bluegrass? Nothing particularly stood out to me and it was largely forgettable.
Just overall bland. I guess it was “fun” at times but much more often I was annoyed or uninterested. Devoid of talent, creativity, soul. The guitar work was fairly amateur and lackluster and the vocals were irritating and contrived. All the guitar solos were so disappointing and boring. There’s so much amazing, engaging rock music from the 20th century that I’m so baffled how lame music like this gets popular. The vocals bring it down from a 2 to a 1.5
Boring, unintelligible, grating. I hope this is the last time they are featured.
Feel like this is more fun as background music. A lot of the album is inspired by punk and rock music but just sounds way too clean for me. Most of the album doesn't quite feel like it's doing anything new too. Some songs feel like it takes a page from the Strokes or the Velvet Underground. I mostly wanted it to be more raw. Best Song: Talihina Sky Worst Song: Wasted Time
Youth And Young Manhood doesn't do it for me. The music is quite generically bland for its intended style, the tempo and styling is repetitive, and the guy's voice is really really annoying, almost like a pastiche of the genre. It has good energy and isn't particularly bad, I just don't like it enough to give it any more than a 2. That era of The Stokes/The White Stripes/KoL/Arctic Monkeys/The Hives etc never delivered for me.
I actually have a soft spot for Kings of Leon. I've always felt that Come Around Sundown is critically under-rated. And I have my affections for the world-stopping, radio-dominating, stadium-filling, Only By the Night too. I really like the production and instrumentation—especially the percussion and guitar work—on those two albums. And moreover, those albums served me at a very critical time in my life. They were some of the last albums I got "really into," before I was introduced to Pitchfork's "The People's List" sometime in 2012 and fell down the rabbit-hole of "critically acclaimed" indie music that I didn't have to feel self-conscious listening too on a college campus; ie I became a full-fledged snob. I digress. My point is I always half-expect to like these early Kings of Leon albums more. Since, well, if I like the bands radio-friendly cuts, then shouldn't it stand that I like their bluesier, garage rock-ier tracks more? Especially, when—as I alluded to recently when we did the Black Keys' Brothers—that move by the Kings toward success had the distinct echo of someone selling out. But, no. I just don't find anything special in Kings of Leon's early work. Like even less than I do in the Black Keys early work, which feels more appropriate for that band somehow; I mean, clearly it was, as it was a sound that band would very specifically hone as they took the world over. By contrast, Kings of Leon abandoned their initial sound and sold out soon as they could. But honestly, I think they were always meant to. I think their music was always meant to fill stadiums and play radios in this other, larger-than-life, U2-y way. Not play grimey biker bars across the southwest as I imagine songs on Youth and Young might. And so this album just doesn't do it for me. It sounds like a band in dress up. I really don't need it. And every time I put it on yesterday, I just wound up switching over to Come Around Sundown.
Fav tracks: Joe's head, Trani Least fav track: Not really sure, most of it was pretty unmemorable
Having heard later albums, it's like he's trying to be as unintelligible as possible. The vocals are literally lazy. It's like he was trying to pull a Bob Dylan? Either way as much as I have heard that their older stuff is better, this would seem to prove that that's not the case.
While parts of the album stood out, many tracks just felt... shallow? Like they were trying to emulate other southern rock / bluesy artists while they were trying to develop their own style.
Un peu mieux aimé que l'autre album de KoL que j'ai eu, mais la question reste à pourquoi un album de ce band a le mérite d'apparaître ici. 4/10
The most baseline, standard, almost lifeless rock album there could be. FINE spelled exactly like that (2.5/5)
You do not need to listen to 3 Kings of Leon albums before you die!!
bättre har jag hört
Juuh aika bulkkia on. Kaks levyä näiltä on todella random.
tää bändi on kyllä niin varman päälle pelaamista. ihan jees nostalgisoida menneen vuosisadan rockia mut voitaisko tällä listalla kuunnella suoraan sitä. ja kaks levyä?? kaks tähteä.
Sounds like a high school garage band
2/5. I do like the vocals, has an Elvis Costello influence for sure, including the music as well. The songs itself are just mid though, nothing crazy that stands out. I enjoyed it and it rocks sometimes but on a list of albums I need to listen to, not sure it belongs.
Man, I do not like the lead singer's voice. Caleb Followill. I find he sounds whiney, and also like he's singing into a coffee mug. I heard about Kings of Leon in high school and assumed this was like, a young teenage upstart band that had just hit it big with a hit single. Only now am I learning the band's debut was nearly a decade earlier, and also the lead singer is a decade older than I am. I shouldn't hate too much, I guess this band does not make music that I like and that's that.
According to wikipedia, this rose to prominence on the basis of two singles, and placement in videogames and a Ford Focus ad. I can see that, at various times, there have been three Kings of Leon albums in different editions of Dimery's tome. And they have all been subsequently removed from later editions. No surprises there. I am so bored that I am going to re-run my review from Aha Shake Heartbreak: Yeesh, saviours of rock and roll? The Southern Strokes? Last proper band in town? I think not. Was rock so impoverished in 2004 that this passed for excitement? I swear I have heard bands playing this schtick as well or better to 30 people at a small bar in Marrickville. And his singing has a weird affectation that really grates on my nerves. Wildly inessential listening. 1.5 stars begrudgingly rounded up for not being completely rancid.
This was so not my thing and my patience was short today.
I've never really listened to Kings of Leon, and they kinda suck.
A bit too loud for my taste, but not unbearable.
Though the instrumentation is much better than the top-40 friendly soft rock of their later releases, that simply gives the frontman more of the spotlight to show how awful of a vocalist he is. Found myself enjoying some halfway-decent (if not terribly inspired) rock riffs only for Elvis Costello Jr. to come croaking onto the track and ruin the momentum.
Not as good as last Kings of Leon album
A lot of old brit rock and punk influences came together to make something worse than all of them
I chuckled at the sight of this cover next to the release date It was decent at times, but the bad songs are kinda annoying
listened to this halfassed but what I heard wasnt good enough for me to give it a re-listen with a fair attempt
I’d heard of the band but had never heard anything from them. Until now. Put the MC5, New York Dolls, Tom Petty and Lynyrd Skynyrd in a blender (maybe throw in the Stones too) and what do you get in the hands of this band? You guessed it: Crap. With maybe an OK song or two. Maybe.
This is my second Kings of Leon album in as many days. I had another one a couple of months ago. Why there are three albums by this band on this list is truly beyond me. Now my streaming service of choice is going to think I like this band. They are boring, basic, early 2000s indie/alternative rock with a southern rock influence. The music itself isn't bad; it's not terribly good or groundbreaking either. But the thing I've had the biggest issue with is their singer. The vocal choices he makes are absolutely confounding. The affectation is over the top and the delivery sounds intentionally lazy. It doesn't come off as endearing; it comes off somewhere between a bad Ronnie Van Zant impersonation and drunken bar warbling.
I hadn't heard of them before and don't recall hearing their music in the past, either. I gave it a listen and they are very skilled musicians. Some of the tracks are alright to my ear, but something about them -- might be the vocalist? plus maybe a couple of other aspects -- just doesn't quite click with me.
2 stars. It's fine.
Couldn't get into their early stuff. 2/5
Not as grating to my nerves as other albums of theirs, probably because the lead singer was more subdued.
Wow, forgettable.
I alternated between really liking this and really not. Was surprised at how extreme both thoughts were, but I think it weighed more heavily on not liking. Some of the songs were so messy. I do love a family band though, and this is comprised of three brothers and a cousin! Two stars.
The singer of Kings of Leon just isn’t for me, and the music behind him is very generic sounding as well. 2/5.
eh, nothing special
Je ne me souvient pas de grand chose. Et je suis de mauvaise humeur ce matin
Kings of Leon is equivalent to the what Sbarro is to pizza.
Second album of theirs i'm listening too. They've worn on me. I think i like their other album less now too.
ok
Man I hate the lazy and over-affected vocal style here. Objectively I could see why ppl like it - but I am not one of those people. Our 2nd Kings of Leon record for some reason. I grew up on rock and really wanted to like these guys when they came out, and I have tried again, and i'm more than underwhelmed. Or less-than. I'm whelmed. No great or witty critiques here - they're like a better-tempo White Stripes with a bass player. I hate the White Stripes. I'll grade accordingly. But I actually really hate it. 3/10 2 stars.
TIL that the KOL are all related. I also learned that they've been around for almost 20 yrs and their roots are more Southern Rock, Garage Rock with blues influences, a far cry from say Sex on Fire. This is one of their earliest albums so understandably their sound has evolved significantly over the years. That being said, this album was a bit too raw and unpolished for my tastes.
a bit generic and boring
I continue to be amazed there are more KoL records on here. Surely I've hit the last one? This album is loose, in a "fuck around and expect nothing" sense. The vocal delivery, as a mouth filled with marbles, wore on me quite quickly, and the music wasn't really enough to make up for it. It escapes the graveyard because, as with the other releases, I've found one or two tracks that genuinely rock, but it was the closest one to death out of the three. Favorite track: "Molly's Chambers"
Fairly good musically, but his voice was painful at times
There are short passages that are pretty cool but for the most part it was not interesting. And the vocals well .....
This is pretty plain. The kings of leon have two songs that are kinda hot, and those two are from 5 years later. This is just... The American equivalent of Powderfinger, and not as good
A little dull truth be told. I think they might be a band that is better seen live in concert.
expected to like this more. I think the vocals really just dont work for me
I was hoping this was David Gates and Bread. Maybe it was the album cover.
Æji, þetta er ekkert voðalega gott.
Yllättävää, että on tällä listalla, eikös tämä ole debyytti? Miksi juuri tämä levy? Pidän kyllä kovasti Kings of Leonin eteläisestä tyylistä, aurinkoista (pienellä mustalla huumorilla) ja autotallista. Tää levy ei kyllä ole mieleenpainuva, ei iskeviä biisejä. Kuuntelin Aha Shake Heartbreakin perään.
Taitava ja aikalaisiaan tyylitajuisempi bändi saa levydiiliin ja puskee ulos LP:n, jolle ei ole ehtinyt tai osannut säveltää kovin ihmeellisiä kappaleita, mutta joka ei ole myöskään paska, ja joka varmasti välittää jotain siitä livetunnelmasta, joka nosti sen suosituksi yliopisto-opiskelijoiden ja alakulttuureihin kuulumattomien rockin ystävien parissa.
Wel een oké album, werd er niet echt warm of koud van
A couple of good tracks, but generally not my style.
Ze hebben dan echt een plaatje waarbij alles goed valt, maar dat is niet deze; Van dit stoort alles me, de zang nog het meeste. Opkrassen aub!
Dat uitgerekend deze dan in de lijst komt, terwijl hun latere werk veel beter is.
Kind of blah...never could really get into them. 2/5
The vocalist is pure angst
4/10. Not great
This actually really stunk. Did not like the vocals at all. 4/10
I still can't stand the singer's voice from the last time you shoved a Kings of Leon at me. The band has had its time under the sun, the world has moved on.
can't bring myself to care about this
Meh. Some of it was Ok but quite samey.
Didn't really like this album. Not my favorite kind of music.
I hear that this is the best of KoL and that this is before they got all commercial and shit. I also hear that this was great in context after a lot of bland guitar music along came the White Stripes and these guys and loads of others... White Stripes YES I get it it's so so cool and I can get why people were so buzzed when they came along but this just no. I don't see it. I'd suggest it's maybe not as cool as people thought it was even at the start when they were apparently at their best! BLEH
Didn’t like them then, don’t like them now.
Kinda bleh
Not really a fan of this one.
odd vocalist paired with southern rock is not a recipe to make me happy.
I've never been able to get behind their vibe and I won't lie, I skipped through a lot of this. It feels like a slightly more modern version of The Black Crowes which is really not something that we need.
PREFS : Red Morning Light, Happy Alone, California Waiting MOINS PREF : Trani
Not sure why this is on here. Mediocre Edit: don't like at all but listened to it all so it gets a 2.
chill, good garage rock sound, not a lot of very catchy songs or strong energy
Not for me
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???
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
Some bland rock. Nothing more to say
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
Bleh
fine and boring 5/10
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
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.
Meh
How do these fucking hacks have more than one slot on this list? I'll take this opportunity to point out (again) that this slot could have gone to Primus. It could have gone to Tool. It could have gone to Songs For The Deaf. It could have gone to literally anything compelling, unique, heartfelt, inspired, and not this fucking dogwater.
Songs for car ads. Even more so than Aha Shake Heartbreak. The singer's voice sounds particularly pubescent and annoying on this album as well. Hated it.
I can’t believe there are two Kings of Leon albums on here let alone three. At least with Aerosmith I can understand why they’d be on here because of how popular they are, but nobody has ever listened to Kings of Leon.
Before they became the world-colonizing CW-rock heroes we know and tolerate today, Kings of Leon fancied themselves a boogie rock, down-n-dirty power pop outfit. My secret shame is this: I think "Use Somebody" is catchy and charming, and "Pyro" is top tier pop-rock hogshit. I'm sure I wouldn't be much nicer to any later albums on this list (which there are, thank GOD!) but I think Kings of Leon may need their lush production. It's too polished to rock, and not polished enough to make up for the fact the lead singer is doing this goddamn insufferable country drawl voice. He's from Nashville, and Reba's from Oklahoma... where's Kid Rock from? What was I talking about? Oh yeah, this sucks.
The most cliche band of all time. Just painfully devoid of any originality or artistic talent. Truly the worst band on this list.
I'm going to start by apologizing to any Kings of Leon fans that might be in our group. In the 2000s and 2010s it seems like you couldn't go anywhere without hearing Use Somebody or Sex on Fire from Kings of Leon. Then every couple years they'd put out a new album with a new song that got played alongside the other two. And while I didn't hate these songs, I didn't really love them either. So when this album came up today I was eager to dig into this and see what this band is all about and what I have been missing over the years. And after listening, I am left puzzled. For me this album is completely devoid of passion. And in a number of tracks they seemingly attempt to overcompensate for that with screaming. I found myself alternating between struggling to keep my eyes open through snoozefest songs or wincing from sensory overload with the screaming songs. Why is this album on the list and not My Morning Jacket's Z album; a far superior album from the same time period... I admit I'm generally not a fan of the Southern Rock genre, but I can at least appreciate why people love Lynyrd Skynyrd or the Allman Brothers. This leaves me completely befuddled.
So many amazing bands and artists omitted on this list (Tool, Modest Mouse, Run The Jewels, Ween, MF Doom, Neutral Milk Hotel, Bone Thugs, Sublime, Blink 182, Godspeed, Cranberries, Mobb Deep, Stone Temple Pilots, The Breeders...) and yet we have three Kings of Leon albums? THREE???!?!?!!? Hard to believe with a different hundred contributors nobody argued for more inclusion and less stacking with some of these sub-par artists. I mean, I like a good Kings of Leon song now and again (ironically, Because Of The Times, their best record, isn't on this list) but there's no need for three albums before you die. And sorry, but this one, their debut, is by far their worst. Just look at the synopsis at the top of the reviews. All it can do to hype the album is list the songs that have been used in commercials and video games. Cool.
people like this because why?
1. light - 0 2. alone - 0 3. uuazted - 0 4. joe - 0 5. trani - 0 6. uuaiting - 0 7. zpiral - 0 8. molly - 0 9. geniuz - 0 10. duzty - 0 11. roller - 0 12. zky - 0
No me atrapó nadita
Please no more Kings of Leon
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"
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)
This band SUCKS
favs: dusty rating 0.5/5
I nearly drove a spike through my ears. I’m lucky to be alive
I hope i don't hear it again
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.
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
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.
absolute ass
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!
#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.
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
No
Old school
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
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".
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.
“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
Wasn't a Kings of Leon fan before. Still not a King of Leon fan. Just not my "thing".
A lot of fluff with one descent songs in between Molly's Chamber
Did not listen
I think this was the first album that I actually hated. I don't dislike the kings of Leon's more recent sounds, but this was too rough for me to properly digest.
I don’t like the singer’s voice!
Otro disco de KoL? ya, no se pasen
Ganske irriterende
Hated this. Didn’t even need to finish it to decide it was a solid 1 star album for me. Solidly uninteresting and unenjoyable. I want that hour of my life back.
I’ve heard too many classic rock albums at this point to hear this as anything other than pantomime. Nothing fresh or transformative to speak of here. Also, holy smokes is that singing affectation obnoxious–mush-mouthed and weirdly English. They’re working so hard to have an Authentic Rock Sound, Man that it wraps around into phoniness. “The Southern Strokes”? I don’t think so. The Strokes have hooks and charisma and interesting ideas.
Best Song: California Waiting Author of the 1001 Albums book, "here's a garbage band's debut album that wasn't completely hated when it came out and got just below a B in grades from most publications. Perfect for my book!" This isn't good, but neither are Kings of Leon. Freaking hate this band! 1/5.
This is the first I’ve listen to this album - the first by a band that would briefly dominate the airwaves in the early 2000s. I do think this is better than their hit chasing, conflicted later period - but I still hate it. Generic country rock riffs, limp performances, and the incessantly annoying, disaffected, mumbled vocals make for a truly irritating listen. There are a few songs on here that I consider salvageable … “Red Morning Light” and “California Waiting” or two examples - but the cumulative impact of this is soul crushing.
Wenn die Kings sich damit für den Preis des langweiligsten Rock-Albums 2003 beworben hätten - sicherer Preisträger!
A third kings of leon album?? You have to be taking the piss. Its 1/5 on principle
It’s weird because I dislike this in a totally different way from the way I dislike their other, later record on here. This one at least has a kind of punk energy and some decent guitar playing. But it’s generally sonically unpleasant and not in a cool, interesting way. The drunk sounding vocals are particularly unsavory.
I'm begging Kings of Leon to learn about tempo changes, or a second riff, or a key change. Something to make their songs engaging past the first 20 seconds. To say nothing of one of the most obnoxious and unpleasant vocal performances I've heard. Some bizarre choices for a very unwilling album
Really a Kings of Leon project is considered one of the 1001 albums I should hear before I die? Give me a fucking break... Unfortunately this is the one I rolled for today and while I really could care less to hear this, I am still listening just to see what this is all about. The vocals here are garbage and feel like they are trying to rip The Strokes off while trying a Southern Rock sound, and let me tell you first hand they do not mix at all whatsoever. There are also plenty of voice cracks and weird vocal decisions here to really make you scratch your head as to what exactly Kings of Leon are trying to do. You can only excuse a debut album so much before you start to realize they just suck, and that is the case here. I am still in absolute shock that this album made the cut as it has next to no relevance outside of this listen and isn't even the best Kings of Leon has to offer. Overall such a questionable album to place in a list with stuff like Abbey Road and Mama's Gun to name a few.
not my thing
I can’t believe that out of the 485 albums we’ve been assigned, 6 of them have been Sheryl Crow and KOL. LOL
One star because this is the second KOL album on this list.
Annoying vocals and the same throughout
Interesting but not eventful. Was not a bad listen but no songs really moved me. Not sure I have much more to say.
The sound of an entire genre of music falling dead on its ass as a meaningful cultural force. Wretched.
Ganske irriterande