Aha Shake Heartbreak

a 7/10 album that loses 2 stars for having the worst fucking singer I’ve ever heard in my life, jesus christ I hope his fucking balls get crushed zero variation too, it’s like he just found the single most annoying sound he could make with his voice and made an entire career out of it 3/10

I’m not sure where Leon is but they need to violently overthrow the monarchy

Imagine a band where every single artistic decision doesn't even come remotely close to landing. I present: Kings of Leon

Oh, this one is so boring! I like some things from Kings of Leon, but this album is so background your brain ignores it completely.

A problem with the original version of this book being released in 2006 is that every awful dudebro indie group that got popular in response to nu-metal was still fresh on people’s minds and as a result I have to listen to Kings of Leon 18 years later.

Had no idea that was the name of this album. Devastated to realise this is nearly 20 years old too... I bet they'd be great fun to see at a festival but I can't see myself thinking "Ooh you know what, I'm going to put on some Kings of Leon, that'll hit the spot"

Album #: 272 first impressions: *shudder* I just got the Black Keys two days ago, isn't that enough unchecked testosterone for one week. after listening through: barely coherent horny mumbling and moaning over bluesy, crunchy garage-y rock. it clearly shows they've listened to a lot of the classics (for better or worse,) but it does not seem like it should be allowed to be listened to in the daytime or around children. Except, you know, for a Jeep commercial or something. That's Kings of Leon for you. I do not think anyone was shocked to learn these guys had serious problems w alcohol. but anyway, i guess it was more fun than expected if you simply pretend this man isn't trying to sing in English. post-reading reviews/wiki: i do not want to believe how many people like this. i guess that's what happens when u get a lot of sweaty young (white) men doing these reviews recommended for: montages of the type of bros who call women "chicks" in public and "females" online trying to act swaggy at dingy bars w sticky floors; finding motivation to take a shower.

Songs about being horny

I liked this a lot more than I expected. I guess all I've heard by them is that Sex on Fire song which I don't care for. I thought there was something vaguely evangelical about them or that they were what Foo Fighters fans listened to when they were feeling "arty" ( I kid, the Foo Fighters are great) but this is some solid slightly psychedelic, slightly cock rocky, slightly southern, rock and roll music, sung with kind of a weird accent. Also, am I the first person to get this album? There don't seem to be any reviews or even an average rating. I'm giving it a 4.

So this is how the Kings of Leon started out... as another nameless indie rock band. No real surprise lol. It's "bluesy" and "southern rock" in that way people say Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is: not at all, but hipsters need to pretend they're listening to more than just nameless indie rock. Singer is pretty bad, guess he took lessons at some point after this album. Not that he's exactly Pavarotti now, but there's been a marked improvement. This was short enough and didn't honestly suck, but we all know it's a retroactive addition based on their later success. Wouldn't ever listen again, and I don't like their later stuff either, but it's a safe 3/5.

Trying to be The Strokes, but missing the vital ingredients - originality and charisma. A decent song, but the fact I always thought 'The Bucket' was by The Magic Numbers shows just how lacking in edge KoL are. Rating: 1.5/5 Playlist track: The Bucket Date listened: 08/12/23

I don't know why this guy sings so unintelligibly. I think I prefer their later output, but this was fine.

Good music. I'm just not sure what exactly it is supposed to be. There's not much to remember about these guys.

Oh man, I hadn't listened to this album in probably ten years or so, and I forgot how much I loved it. My first exposure to KoL was probably when "Sex is on Fire" was getting played non-stop on the local alternative rock station. I hated that song so much, but my cousin persuaded me to check out some of KoL's older catalog, so I bought Aha Shake Heartbreak, and absolutely fell in love. The first three tracks are just absolute perfection, closing out their incredible run with "Taper Jean Girl," which has my favorite drumming of the whole album. The guitar on "Taper Jean Girl" is perfect too, and I can't help but bob my head along each time I listen. As much as I love the first three tracks, "The Bucket" is my favorite track on the album; the drum fills during the chorus, combined with the high-pitched guitars provide the perfect contrast to their counterparts during the verses. I feel like KoL set the perfect blueprint for other established Indie rock artists like The Black Keys and Portugal. The Man to break into the mainstream. I know that Caleb Followill's vocals aren't for everyone, but I really love his singing on this album, especially on "Day Old Blues;" there's just such a unique timbre to his voice that I really enjoy. For me, this album is the picture perfect example of Indie Rock from the aughts, right up there with "Is This It" and "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning."

Could be the nostalgia talking but this still sounds pretty good to me. I actually think their third album is better but if you were to listen to just one KoL record before you die Aha Shake Heartbreak is also a good option. Raucous tails of debauchery (presumably - Caleb tended not to enunciate properly in those days) set mostly to southern fried rock’n’roll but with some pensive interludes. I agree with the school of thought that says Jared was the band’s secret weapon - a lot of the most inventive, melodic hooks are his basslines.

3.0 - Seeing one KOL record on this list felt surprising, two borders on lunacy. While I do like the Strokes-esque guitar work on here, the mumble-babble vocals do nothing to elevate any of these songs beyond a few occasional head bops.

When I saw the name I groaned. I think it might have aged well which is unusual given it was a Beaujolais rather than a Bordeaux.

Sounded like horny rock the whole time: like I guess it wasn't that bad with a decent beat to it and a nice guitar BUT it sounded so late 00's early 10's and I wasn't a fan of that. It just hasn't aged very well for my ears and almost was underwhelming as to what I thought it could be, a half decent modern rock album. Alas it was mid and nothing could save it from that fact.

It was fun, and had some good songs, but so much of the album felt like them trying their very best to be a Strokes knockoff.

I like quite a few of Kings' of Leon songs... but none of the songs on this album were any good! What even was going on with the lyrics on "Taper Jean Girl" and "The Bucket?" The latter was the only song that sounded like the Kings I loved in the mid-aughts.

Parfois, on peut penser que quelque chose est sur le point de se produire en écoutant Kings of Leon. Et en fait, non.

Du rock très fade, aucunement intéressant. Cet album n'est pas atrocement mauvais, mais il n'a aucune raison d'apparaître sur un palmarès comme ça. 3/10

Meh

I’d say this album aged poorly, but there’s just no way people didn’t see a ton of red flags with this album on release, both lyrically and sonically. When I can’t understand the lyrics, I just hear grating babble. When I can understand the lyrics, most of the time I end up wishing I didn’t. Multiple kings of Leon albums on this list are an affront to the dedicated listeners time

I find it crazy that there were 3 Kings of Leon albums originally in the book editions, and then crazier they removed them. Their music is so bland I really don't understand why they're on this list at all.

I have such a soft spot for this album. One of the first albums I bought myself and still stands the test of time. Through to bucket doesn’t really miss a beat

Absolute banger of an album. They move away from their NME indie darling status and make a more grungy, smelly, brewer's droopy, coke fuelled road album. They'd never hit this peak again. Best Tracks: The Bucket; Soft; Four Kicks

Ei yhtään huonoa biisiä tai filleriä, siistiä mutta autotalli kuuluu, kitarat hyvän indiehköt, makee aksentti laulussa ja taitoa huudossa, yks mun suosikkilevyjä ehdottomasti.

Surely one of the best second albums of all time. It's a pity they suck now

2004 Bill would give this album 5 stars and you know what… 2024 Bill is going to give it 5 stars!

Great album. Been a while since I heard it

I don’t know what to tell you, this is a good album. With less overt Country elements than their debut, Aha Shake Heartbreak doubles down on the harder elements of KoL’s sound and perfects their nervy, edgy, indie-inspired take on Southern Rock

Maybe I’m a Kings Of Leon fan now. The vibes are locked in 💯. The music is really really good. As noted in my Youth And Young Manhood review, dude is still mumbling here but I don’t mind.

5/.5

Got a soft spot for this one. I actually really like Caleb's voice and it's my wife's favourite band so gotta give em a 5.

The peak kings of Leon

Yes.

This is why KoL are held in such high regard. It was consistently downhill a couple of albums later.

Perfect combination of edgy songs, a raw sound and charismatic vocals.

classic, one of my favorites, resonates with my mid 20s and a fun time in my life

I don’t understand the complaints about Caleb’s singing He’s like a horny early rockier Michael Stipe But then my 2nd born is called Caleb Was the world crying out for the 2nd KoL album to be this good? No it wasn’t. Was the 2nd KoL album banger after banger? Yes it was

ok

Really really liked it, good stuff

Not much else to say but pre SOF King's of Leon put out some incredible tunes over those first three albums. Where Nobody Knows, Four Kicks and Taper Jeans Girl are the easy highlights. Nothing tops Charmer off the next album though.

Love this album

An album showing the maturity of the band. Recommended.

What an album! So many hard knockers in here. This band truly had something special. Such a shame they went after the money and mainstream. Standout tracks: Slow Night, So Long, King Of The Rodeo, Taper Jean Girl, Milk, The Bucket, Soft, Razz, Day Old Blues, Four Kicks, Velvet Snow, Rememo, Where Nobody Knows. 9,5 out of 10

I think pre-mainstream Kings of Leon were a super fun band - and this album is the richest of the two. For me it brings good memories too since it was out during a specific period of my life - I don't think I can find any fault in this album to be honest - it's perfectly paced, good songs, never overstays it's welcome, and it makes great music for running to.

Has velvet snow. + 3 stars. Is nearly as good as their debut. + 3 stars. ******

Ook zo'n band waarvan je de sound van mijlenver herkent. Goed plaatje

Immediately nostalgic. - Still pretty unique and exciting

This album used to be played almost every other day in a flat I was in during my uni years . I can’t help but love it for the nostalgia it gives me

This is an album that you have to let grow on you. I didn’t understand it fully when I heard it as a good, but I thought it was unique and had a mystique to it. Caleb’s voice is mesmerizing to me, I think those who do not like it can consider their opinion valid, but I would credit the polarizing atmosphere of this album to the chances this album took, it’s like punk country. Small town Oklahoma boys, ripping up some guitar and laying some delicious drum fills to some expert bass lines and the vocals are not to be understood, but to be felt. It’s primal, and it’s fucking punk rock!

Love this album. There are some super fun songs, mixed with more mellow and reflective tracks.

Wow, that was an amazing listening. I really loved it from start to end, I like the vibe so much. The rythm of the album is super good and it alternates calmer moments with catchy parts. Favorite Tracks : Soft, Four Kicks Rating : 4.5 / 5

Top dit! Vette, originele sound, leuke nummers. Jammer dat ze later zo zijn afgez(w)akt.

Really, really ,really enjoyed listening to this

Surprising for what I've always thought of as a pop rock band. More blues, great lyrics, great vocals! Thoroughly enjoyed!

La 31eme écoute est la meilleure

Still good. Basically Creedence for the naughties. Loads of good songs on here. Some tasty bass lines, particularly Slow Night, So Long. After this they were never the same again. Lost all their lovely grit.

Not bad, not great.

I can see why people don't like them; but also see why they got so popular. Good catchy tunes

Not their best album, but a couple of great tracks in The Bucket and Four Kicks. I like the vocals, I think they go with the sound, but can see why some don’t like his voice.

Is this twenty years ago....crikey. Good party music and bucket makes me want to throw beer around.

That was a fun album. Some different styles a feelings to the songs. I would like to listen again sometime.

4 kicks jumped out - I preferred this earlier sound of theirs rather than what their sound became

Pretty impressed. I've not really listened to much of KOL, but will rectify that after listening. Pretty talented song writers.

Not too bad. A few numbers that I liked in there.

Some good stuff...would listen to it again.

4.5

Just a good garage rock album that gets better with each listen. Really like the bass on this album.

Wild, weird and pretty rootsy, one digs this quite a bit (and not just for the backstory) but wonders if this is best KoL for this list, though all of them seem to have been exed by editors (putting KOL in the excellent company or Radiohead, The National, War on Drugs). Speaking of those bands, that's the comparison set for this group, not ABB and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Vocals are truly distinct and the bass playing first rate. The wave of melancholy that washes over so many songs is right up one's alley. It's strong throughout but maybe lacks a hit that would make it stand out against some of the later records. And better than the Strokes for not being pre-packaged.

I really liked this - Only By The Night was a really forumative album for me, but I'd never delved into any other KOL material. This album whiffs of the mid 2000s, and generally has a really comfortable and content feeling to it that modern albums never seem to have.

Liked it a fair amount 8/10

I downloaded this album when it came out, so there's some nostalgia with it, but I still enjoyed most all of it. I get his voice is not great, but it works with this.

“Aha Shake Heartbreak” was Kings of Leon’s second album, and showed signs of musical maturation, but no advancement in lyrical maturation. I love their music. I often don’t love their lyrics. I keep thinking it must come back to their upbringing as the children of a traveling pentecostal preacher, with all the complications of repressed urges in repeated new environments that came with that. Now with their adult freedom accentuated by a rock and roll lifestyle, everything is about sex. About girls they’ve slept with. About girls they want to sleep with. About the girl they slept with who’s lactose intolerant. About the girl they want to sleep with if only they could get their whiskey dick up. “Milk” and “Soft” sound great. But their lyrics are dumb. Their sex probably wound up on fire because of an STI. Gritty garage blues rock - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️; Lyricism - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ or less. A band that could have been so much more.

This is a good album, but out of their first 4 this is their weakest. I’m still going to give 4 though

Love it. I only knew them from their boring arena-pop. Turns out they once wanted to do more than just sell tickets to sheep.

Love it

"Aha Shake Heartbreak" von Kings of Leon ist ein kraftvolles und energiegeladenes Album, das den rauen Southern Rock der Band mit einer gewissen Melancholie und jugendlicher Rebellion kombiniert. Die Songs sind geprägt von eingängigen Gitarrenriffs, dynamischen Rhythmen und der markanten Stimme von Caleb Followill. Textlich befasst sich das Album mit Themen wie Herzschmerz, Verlangen und dem Leben in der schnelllebigen Rockszene. Es fängt den ungeschliffenen, authentischen Sound der frühen 2000er-Jahre ein und bleibt ein Meilenstein in der Karriere der Band.

RKS

Remember when they did actual good songs

Always great to get a reminder of why a massive band became massive in the first place

4.0

Nice enough. It does sound “southern”.

Very good! Excellent rock album from 2000s. Still sounds fresh even after 20 years!

Another banger of an album from Kings of Leon. Peeters off a bit towards the end though

Ah the soundtrack of my 23rd summer. Holds up pretty well I think.

Oh look, the album cover has a vagina flower. I have this on CD somewhere and actually quite like it. Odd accent aside, this has mostly good vibes and gets you into it.

kind of a tough album to rate because his voice kinda sucks but it also really works with most of the songs so we’ll go 4. good album but no songs stood out

This is my favourite KoL album, I think KoL early albums are very underrated, this is clearly offset by how overrated sex on fire and use somebody are, I can see why they get a lot of hate. But I think this is the one album you should listen to to get what KoL were about before having a go at arena rock, it’s not a masterpiece but a soild 4/5 album.

Good stuff. Bluesy rock always hits the right spot.

This might've gotten 5 stars if they had decided on a different lead singer. Sheesh.

Not bad. Jeg havde forventet lidt mere fest og farver, men en stabil levering af Kings og Leon.

Det var meget mere eksperimenterende og interessant end jeg havde forventet fra Kings of Leon. Ikke sidste gang jeg hører det album

For what it is, it's very good. No technical notes but I like the overall vibe. Even though I wouldn't say the vocalist is a particularly good singer, he perfectly matches the energy of the album. I also like his weird accent. Also, it's not very important but I appreciate when the band and the album have cool names. Aha Shake Heartbreak by the Kings of Leon just sounds like it'll be good even if you've never heard of them.

The singer has a way with words and by that I mean I don’t know if he knows how words are pronounced. Jokes aside they have an addictive sound that borders on folk rock with a bit heavy rock. I’ve never heard this album and only know them from their super popular album but I see that they had fame even before that. Funny though that I enjoyed basically every song that was in the million view range on this album and didn’t really like the popular ones. 8/10

Liked this. I heard this band was bad, but this album is quite good. I listened to a bit of their other albums and it seems this is the only one that's for me though. 3.75/5

their first and only good album

Why couldn't they just keep making them like this?