Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Healthy dose of nostalgia in the rating here, but I really liked this one in college and was fun to come back to. I always thought early KoL (before they later polished their sound to a sheen in the "Use Somebody" era) was a cool mix of indie and Southern rock and was something at least a little different from the other "back to basics" rock bands from the early 2000s like The Strokes. I think the guitar work is interesting, but really there are songs like the opener as well as a few others throughout where the bass really carries the melody. I can also see how people find Caleb's vocals grating, but I actually like his sort of unintelligible, twangy yowling as something that was unique at the time. Plenty of lusty youthful lyrics when you are actually able to make them out (see: "Soft", et al). Love the beginning of "Taper Jean Girl" throwing out the name of the album. Overall, I do get the knocks on this but personally it occupies a spot in my listening history that I look back on fondly.
If the music were only boring, it could get by with a 2. But the singer gets increasingly annoying as the album progresses, and I just couldnt make myself finish the songs.
1.38
Rock, 2004 -> 3
Not as strong as Only by the Night, but still solid
These songs don’t have much of an outro and don’t feel like they’re about to end when they do if that makes any sense
Some of the songs were kind of annoying but they only lasted a few minutes so they were tolerable. I didn't hate this, but probably won't remember to listen to it again.
This may be a hot take, but I don't think Aha Shake Heartbreak is a great record. I struggle with the strained vocal affectations, lyrical content, and Strokes-esque song structures. If I'm going to listen to southern rock I would much rather hear The Black Crowes, and on the flipside, if I want to listen to The Strokes, well, I'll listen to The Strokes. I know Kings of Leon became critical darlings with this record, but I disliked it then and I don't reall care for it now.
Presently listening a day late with headphones parallel playing bc Greta simply could not cope. I agree you have to be in the mood for Kings of Leon and this man’s voice is insane (truly how did this happen) but there was a time when I loved this album a great deal so here I am, doing open mind. The nostalgia is winning out here… cackling at the frankly unhinged degree of disdain this album provoked though
nao fede nem cheira
Not really sure why this was on the list. Technically it didn't wow me, lyrically it didn't hit on any sort of pathos for me, vocally it was grating, and once I read the summary for the album, there really was nothing of note. "Rated favorably" does not mean it belongs on a list of albums you need to hear before you die.
Don’t think I enjoyed a single minute of this album. Thank god the whiny vocals were interspersed with ok instrumentals in most of the songs.
An “American Band” that does fuck all in the US but does well in the UK and surprise, surprise has 2 albums on this list. The bias is blinding.
Fairly mediocre
Really liked this album way back and it still holds up. Haven’t followed them in recent years but this is great.
Ripper! Great bops, couple questionable “young man” choices. Good fun
Love them and i'm not ashamed for it?
I guess their earlier work is better than their later work
Surprisingly palatable when it’s not on Radio 1 24 fucking 7
Not the greatest. I like other Kings of Leon stuff, although I always wonder if the singer actually talks like that. I guess that "Soft" is kinda funny and relatable. Nothing else really memorable.
There’s at least 1001 albums better than this
Better than more contemporary KoL but man I just cant give more than a 2 in good conscience
This album was a surprise. It was so good. I’ve added it to my library. Only thing keeping it out of five stars is it was the first time I had heard it!
Hmmm…. This is weird. I’m not even really mad at it like thought I’d be. It sounds like a lot of other stuff that I listen to and like (more to be clear)… you can hear how this translated well to the much more commercial sound they later take on, but idk… like 2.5 probably
listened to this in an incognito browser so that this didnt enter my youtube algo... ass and a half seems like a reasonable way to describe it? ... sucks shit is another good way to go about talking about it... total and complete dookie... hmm yes that could be a fine way to explain what i just listened to.
This is Kings of Leon’s second album, from 2004, and it is reasonably short. They have a distinctive sound, but the problem is that none of the tracks made an impression on me. Not quite up to three stars.
Rejoice! It's a band I know. Another frequent flyer on the MTV2 Rock Countdown, although I didn't really like them that much (I'd say: more than the Mars Volta and Cyprus Hill, less than Incubus, for those keeping track). They do have a distinctive sound, which I guess is a pro. A little bit Boomhauer-coded. The songs are also short, and the album is too. But the lyrics are kinda ???, and I don't just mean the delivery. Slur count = 3. Highlight: 'The Bucket'
Väärä
I guess I never truly enjoyed even the popular Kings of Leon songs. Did see them open for Pearl Jam once though. This album was not that enjoyable.
I feel pretty neutral on this. Nothing stand out all kind of sounds the same. Some of the songs sounded like they'd be a Black Keys song and then they weren't; that was disappointing.
I could have gone my whole life without having heard this album.
I'd forgotten how much the singer mumbles. He sort of stops singing each line in the middle of the last word. The music is fine. Barely 2 stars.
Odotin enemmän, mutta tää olikin aika meh. Biisit ei oikein erityisempiä ja laulutyyli ärsyttää lähestulkoon joka biisissä. Voisin lämmetä, mutta ei sytyttänyt ekalla kuuntelulla. Parhaat: Razz, Where Nobody Knows
Well, I totally missed the Kings of Leon boat at the time. Never listened to them knowingly once. Now I understand why. I DO know who they are, which is more than I can say for a number of acts included from this time period. It all makes me… curious. Like Robert Dimery (and friends) and I were on totally different musical planets and what he deemed important from this time and I deemed important make a Venn diagram with almost zero overlap. On this album, I think it’s pretty 3. And I really can’t say it needed to be heard before I die. 3 Boolean: False
Pretty good, not super loving the guys voice but that opening track is sick. Great guitar tones. Urban Outfitters of bands
This was just annoying
I know Kings of Leon typically get a lot of shit on this site, and to some extent, I can understand why. The singer could be perceived as having a try-hard vocal affectation, they spend a fair amount of time singing about sex (to be fair, they also write a lot of their early material about drugs also), and they're definitely a product of their time in terms of style (although I always found them to be quite distinct from, say, the Strokes). But I always loved their first four records before they decided to turn themselves into GQ models and corporate rock shills (and some of their stuff after that was pretty decent too, even if it was too glossy and over the top from a production standpoint). This record is my favorite of the bunch. It reminds me of good times with buddies, back before any of us had real jobs or real responsibilities. It reminds me of fun. I love this record, front to back. Of course it's about sex and drugs; it's rock and roll. 9/10
994 albums in and not one by Tupac, Tool, Bill Withers, Ani Difranco, Pantera, Ornette Coleman, Bone Thugs, Failure, Babe Ruth, Mercyful Fate, Stone Temple Pilots, Opeth, etc. but 3 from these abysmal schmucks and this is the worst one yet.
lol cmon man
Three KoL albums out of 1001 is too many.
It’s a decent rock album, sure. But nothing that I feel needed my attention before I die.
Kings of Leon were never any good, and this isn't even their best album
Not bad.
Chiant un peu
I like SOME parts of SOME songs! Overall though i am so glad that we as a nation have moved past Kings of Leon. Remember how they were the biggest thing in town? What a baffling time for America. Anyway, The Bucket is still good.
THREE Kings of Leon albums are you kidding me???
Great vibes
Passable
This is exactly the kind of music I just do not like.
I like their sound. Also, beautiful orchid.
atrocious singing
was originally gonna write "congrats if this does it for you" and then it started kinda doing it for me :P
This album needs a different approach in order to assess its place in the pantheon of great albums. This new approach is necessitated by the vocals of Caleb Followill. They are definitely an acquired taste because the screeching on track 1 - Slow Night, So Long is unpleasant. So much so that when this album came out, I passed. As the album unfolds, an adjustment takes place such that by side 2 starting with Razz, you can entertain the idea that there are some good songs on the album. Some of the songs are just awful (Day Old Blues is just fucking boring), but there are a few gems. My list of gems is short: Razz, Four Kicks and Taper Jean Girl. There is no way this record belongs anywhere near the Top 1001 albums by a long shot. Not even the top 10,000. It’s an average indie rock record and even if Sex on Fire was on this record, and it’s not, the record would even then not register as good. There are no songs you would add to a mixtape to share with a friend. This record is not Steely Dan fucking awful but you’d be hard pressed to find any person who is going to put this in their desert island rotation. Certainly not me. I’d risk being eaten by sharks if I had only this to play on a deserted island. 2/5
#1027. Taper Jean Girl is decent, but the rest of the album is skippable. 2/5: meh
Back in 2009 I was plunged back into the dating pool. It took me a good year to reset the skill set, and as a part of all that I figured I should join plenty of fish, the dating app that seemed to make the most sense at the time. There were some patterns in the profiles. For example, every single woman in North America included Kings of Leon as one of their “likes”. I tried to educate myself on the matter, of course I did. I learned that I hated Kings of Leon. The studio albums sound like the most boring set at any festiva., Turned out this opinion is not a particular deal-breaker when it comes to sex .
Youth & Young Manhood got a lot of play in our household, and I still remember where I was when I first heard Red Morning Light. This note is basically to set the scene for my palpable disappointment with this album at the time. That being said, this record is very safe to shit on. It’s time has come and gone, and nothing will be achieved by adding to these revisionist hot takes. I mean what’s next? Take on Sublime? Post some scathing burn on Edward Sharpe? Say that you find Coldplay boring? Ok, Edward Sharpe fckn sucks but you get the idea.
very close to a 5, i have slept on kings of leon
Schmidt has a great joke in new girl about the kings of Leon. I can’t recall it exactly, but basically you know the kings of Leon when you hear them. They sound like the kings of Leon. This sounds like the kings of Leon. I like their other, more popular songs, but I wasn’t really impressed by this. It sounds fine, good even, but I wasn’t blown away. I would have preferred a different pick from them.
While this album was what I would categorize as "perfectly fine" how many Kings of Leon albums do we need in this freaking list?
Instrumentally, this was a marked improvement over the Kings of Leon I'm most familiar with – some actual vigour, crunch, energy, skill, looseness and passion to the playing came as a welcome surprise to my ears, posing the question of how they slid so drastically and rapidly from here into the soulless radio fare of their latter-day career. The vocals on this, however, are a complete deal-breaker for me. I can't stand them whatsoever, and on that basis I shall'nt be revisiting.
Three Kings of Leon albums? And no Florence and The Machine by the way, though I think of the latter as significantly better and more impactful , as well as in the same time frame as KOL. I’ve not heard a single song off of this album. I know “Sex On Fire.” I know “Use Somebody.” Those are both pretty good songs. This… uhhh… is its placement necessary? The first two songs are alright, though “Taper Jean Girl” blows, and so does “Milk.” It becomes apparent quickly that this band would be better if literally anyone else was singing. Well, not literally anyone else. If Brian Johnson hopped on this it would suck. And this doesn’t suck, not at all! It’s just… the singing sucks! And it’s a very unimaginative album. Very fragile instrumentals. They feel like they could be completely dismantled if you tried hard enough. “The Bucket” has a couple of great melodies to latch on to, and is probably one of my favorite songs on the album, if not my favorite. The singing is still indulgent, but then the concept of the song is pretty indulgent in and of itself, and the storytelling and imagery is actually really great. Really I can’t say I have a great amount of qualms with this album, when it’s slower and less dancey it’s a really pleasant album. The more dancey parts recall its betters too much to enjoy, such as Arctic Monkeys, and The Strokes, and even Modest Mouse at times. Oh, and the singing SUCKS. Honestly though, at the end of the day I can’t really hate this at all. Well, maybe I can. 5.0/10
Produced by Ethan (son of Glyn) Johns on the original Abbey Road mixing desk, this album seems to maintain the energetic American roots sound of their debut with slightly less song quality. It retains the dry demo like quality and would’ve been refreshing when released. Not sure I’m a huge fan of Caleb’s voice if truth be told……but it’s ok. Not sure we need 3 of their albums in this list
Just didn't like this one. Don't like his voice and the bass lines weren't enough to make up for it
7 - GOOD
Hmm…aspects of garage rock revival + post-punk revival while adding a semi-bluesy (not that bluesy) kinda southern sound to it. The music ain’t bad, and on its own I quite like it - while it may not sound super original, it comes together decently. The music sounds like as described above - bouncy or thumping basslines with simple melodic emphasis, a drummer fitting in to build a groove or drive the energy, and that kinda wiry brief melodic guitar lines that interplay with the bass a bit. Not bad, even if it doesn’t reach the best of the genre. But the singers voice is real whacky. At times it works, many times it doesn’t and kinda puts me off to the music. It’s mumbly and unintelligible at times - which I don’t inherently dislike, but think it fits better with something punkier than they have to offer. A few songs I liked, most I’ve forgotten. Overall it’s ok, but I’d rather listen to bands like the Strokes or the Libertines rather than feel the need to revisit this.
Not bad, but also pretty average, I quite enjoyed it but did not really feel I need to explore more from them. Most 3, maybe 2 stars, 2.5 on RYM as average.
I can’t understand a word he’s saying
I'm just gonna skip this album cus the first song they're alr talking abt liking 17 yr old girls and idk if i can justify listening to their music so... just gonna give it a 3...
Nostalgia factor is high for me on this one; I was a big fan of the first two Kings of Leon albums before the edges were sanded off and it all went to shit with album four. Still holds up, as far as I'm concerned.
Not a fan of kings of leon but I am familiar with their music. They are talented group of musicians, the red good songs and the production on the record was overall very good as I said I'm not a fan but I can appreciate what they do.
It's still Kings of Leon, but I prefer their newer stuff when compared to this album. Not really a big fan of this one.
The singer lets you know he sucks very early on but leaves important information like how he’s a freak and possibly balding for later in the album. Sucks cause the music sounds good
I always loved this album
I have never given these guys a chance because the only song I knew was Sex on Fire. I have to say, I enjoyed this album. Great bass grooves, fun guitar riffs and the vocals are pretty unique. I'm glad I gave it a go. Not too shabby.
I love this album. I listen to it frequently. I think it’s his voice? I really dig Kings of Leon.
This was awful. Out of tune hardcore vocals slapped onto wanna be strokes music
Maybe the most offensive vocals I've ever heard.
Very good pre sex on fire era
A few years ago I began to buy CD’s again having prior to that sold my original CD’s in favour of streaming. I think a lot will identify with that. I concentrated my efforts second time round in raiding charity shop’s and buying very cheap. If I say I’ve somehow now have 7 KOL CD’s when previously I had none indicates how prevalent they are on the second hand market. All 7 which include this album, were bought on a punt as I thought that I had missed out on them and that I should have the KOL in my life. How wrong I was. Still, I don’t think I paid in total more than £1.50 but even then think I’d have been better off buying a cup and saucer which are generally next rack along in charity shops. Note to self, looks like there are 3 KOL albums on the list and this is my second. Remember to cut and paste the third. 2/5 25/7/26
Imagine with a straight face telling people that paid money for your book that they should listen to THREE kings of Leon albums before they die! lol Dimery will pay for his crimes.
I was not very impressed with the expectation of the last few songs.
Jessu fader for en eksepsjonell jævlig vokalist.
Denne plata ble ganske ok når jeg klarte å glemme alt det jævlige de har gjort etter denne.
Helt ok. Får ikke helt grep om hvorfor den er på lista, men men.
I listened to this twice and honestly, I'm not sure what to make of it. It kind of rocks, but is the singer good? The lyrics at time are cringy, but I might pop this on again? Torn. Probably a 3.5 for me, but bumping.
Whenever I hear their name, they like to church it up & be like Kings of Leon & be all French like. These guys are from Tennessee, so its really: Kings of LEE - ON. Dude, learned how to sing between this & Only By The Night. I don't know if I like his dirtier singing here or the more polished. I liked the album but it's not a good sign, when it's less than 40 minutes & still a bit of a slog to get through. 3
Singer sounds like he's got something stuck in his throat. 2/5
Generic 2000s rock. Kings of Leon did not age well, it sounds so bland.
V experimental
Alright, third and final Kings of Leon record on my album journey, and at this point I might be running out of defense for this band's catalog in its prime. I am once again having to reconcile with the fact that for as much as I dug their early raucous mixture of Southern rock and garage, I'm just not as into the lyrical content that gets badly horny and undercooked in places. That much is apparent from the jump on Aha Shake Heartbreak with the opening track "Slow Night, So Long", where the girl being hooked up with is seventeen years old, but the guy "plum forgot about it" and was with her just for the sex. It sucks that this band fell prey to these bad Southern rock writing tropes, and it's the same deal for the likes of "Taper Jean Girl", "Pistol of Fire", "Milk", "Day Old Blues", "Where Nobody Knows", and especially "Soft," where the guy is dealing with his erectile dysfunction. There are at least a few tracks that keep this album afloat. "King of the Rodeo" is a jaunty tune for bringing on those good times, "The Bucket" is decently poignant in detailing Jared Followill's struggle attaining fame in the band at such a young age, and "Four Kicks" certainly played well into the rough-housing sensibilities. But overall... look, there's only so much underwritten, unchecked horniness I can handle, even if I enjoyed some of the instrumental work. So, cherry-pick your favorites and go from there.
listened to the 1st song and i gave up
I'll give it this: it doesn't have that terrible "Sex on Fire" song on it.
I had great hopes for Kings of Leon after buying this album when it came out. It plays like a looser, more deep-fried version of what The Strokes were doing, and I hoped they would lean into it and become one of the great garage rock-revival acts of the 21st century. Nothing I’ve heard from them subsequently really validated that, but I still like this album. 3.5 stars.
This sounds like an updated Counting Crows, who I didnt care for the first time around.
Really enjoying listening to this. It wasn't anything special but it just hit the spot.
good stuff :)
This is hard for me to judge. It is not a bad album, and they seem to be doing their very own thing, but there is nothing on here that grabs me in any way.
Very fun garage-y bluesy/folksy sound, not what I expected having only heard their hits.
Fun and very nostalgic
I really liked this album! Very good vibes
Just generic US mid-rock. Not offensive, not interesting. I never got the appeal. Seems it's not ageing well either, judging by the little graph at the top of the page!
This is going to be a rough listen. I loved the opening track until the singing started. Up to track three now. I feel like I have heard this voice and skipped past it on the radio. The music is great. I’m so torn. I really love the music. It’s just the vocals that grate on me. And I don’t know why. They’re not off key. It’s more like they don’t fit? I’m really enjoying this album and simultaneously thankful it’s only 37 minutes 😂🤣 The bucket is my fasting so far and I even like the vocals. What a great song!!! And now I’m on day old blues hoping this is over soon. The music is fantastic. I need to nail down what I don’t like about the voice. I’m on “velvet snow” now, this song is great and I like the vocals.
On retrospect, I still love it, but I feel there are too many tracks, and some could have been cut. King of the Rodeo the highlight for me. The last album where Kaleb Followhill purposefully obscured his lyrics.
I can't believe it's the same band.
Got some decent tunes. Don't think I like it enough to revisit it.
THREE ALBUMS?! These fucks got THREE albums on this list??? Go to hell. You coulda put something worthwhile here. Primus is absent. Imogen Heap got nothing. No Songs For the Deaf, no Tool, just inbred swamp rock from a group of golden boy hacks. Three times. For shame.
This album is less than an hour long and somehow feels 3 hours long
Yes, it sounds like shopping at American Eagle circa 2008; no, I can’t make out most of the lyrics; and maybe it’s just nostalgia; but damn if this album doesn’t still rock more than 20 years later.
This album was mid when it came out and it’s still mid today 2.5
Eh. Their later stuff is better, but even then, I’ve never been a fan of their garage-ish indie rock or the lead singer.
So average
It's all pretty good stuff. I think they do good work. But I am curious why this got the nod. I don't think it's they're best, but I'll take it.
Why is this on here?
I liked KOL 20 years ago but this hasn’t aged well or my palette has changed. I have fond memories of playing “The Bucket” in a band with a dead mate so that gave it an extra star for nostalgia. Noisy indie try hards with a marmite singer. Didn’t care for it.
I don’t know I just kind of feel like everything that these guys have to say to us they also say on the other album about the sex being on fire. Could we not have just picked one of them to include
I liked this a lot!!! Very fun!! Good instruments!!! Favorite song was Milk!
THIRTY SEVEN MINUTES! beautiful. and the longest song is four minutes, I could cry after listening though - pretty underwhelmed, glad it was so short
kings of leon i was unaware of your game
It was pretty good, his voice kinda got on my nerves sometimes. Nothing truly special but cool to see a band come into their own.
I was expecting to like this a lot more. This album is grungier than their later hits.
Pretty unremarkable. Kings of Leon were always in a limbo between indie and generic radio rock, without ever succeeding in either. That is, until they eventually did. But here they hadn't yet. Key tracks: The Bucket
01) Slow Night, So Long - 9,0 02) King of the Rodeo - 10,0 03) Taper Jean Girl - 10,0 04) Pistol of Fire - 10,0 05) Milk - 10,0 06) The Bucket - 10,0 07) Soft - 9,0 08) Razz - 9,5 09) Day Old Blues - 9,5 10) Four Kicks - 10,0 11) Velvet Snow - 9,0 12) Rememo - 9,5 TOTAL: 9,63 (96/100) Current ranking: 20/963 As the 267th album I had 'Youth And Young Manhood' and I wrote that I had heard Kings of Leon perform live twice in my life. In the meantime, about ten days ago I heard them live for the third time. I also wrote that they were one of my favorite bands and nothing has changed there. As the 864th album I had "Only By The Night" and I wrote "Fuck all the haters". Nothing has changed there either.
godbless
Doomed by how amazing their first album was.....this one fucks too :)
Such a favourite. Really nostalgic of good times and still hits today.
I think I have fairly broad tastes in terms of lyrical tone and style, but damn, I hate this singer's voice. Mid 00s sludge. Some of it is okay, some is pretty bad. Nothing outstanding about these guys. So many better and more interesting bands around. That they have two albums (so far) on the list is a joke.
A solid by the numbers rock output from a band that built a strong legacy.
can you sing like a normal person maybe or barring that even just bad in an interesting way
Rougher than what I usually think of kings of leon but still unmistakeably kings of leon
Not that good
I’d forgotten how much I like pre Sex On Fire KoL. Rough and ready, nonsense lyrics, quick fire rock tunes. Prefer their debut still, but this is very good
I think this is better than Only by the Night. The bass grooves were nice. Otherwise I feel like Kings of Leon are mid af.
Just brick after brick
These guys are good and solid. There’s just something that doesn’t quite do it for me. There’s sort of pop punk sound, slightly. Clearly rock. I’d say The Glorious Sons do it better. I like the jam feel aspect of them but again, something just doesn’t seem right. I don’t have a choice cut so that should tell you that nothing really blew me away. It’s ok. It’s a good background soundtrack
Dit is niet hun hitalbum en daar zijn redenen voor. Drammerig, immatuur probeersel van een band die later anderhalve hit gaat scoren en daardoor enkel voer voor die-hard ‘well actually’ fans.
matig
Ik ben fan, beetje een vreselijke stem soms, maar goeie rock en veel variatie in de nummers
I was not excited to listen to this today. Im not hating it. His voice gets grating after a while. Its very repetitive, and I get bored by it. For some reason, dont ask me why, but when I hear this band, I think of Shia LeBeouf.
Not a bad album, really chill, but not sure what specifically made it a candidate for this list 😅
Man nepatinka nei tekstas, nei kaip kraipo balsą.
# Kings of Leon - *Aha Shake Heartbreak*: An In-Depth Review Released in November 2004 and produced by Ethan Johns, *Aha Shake Heartbreak* is the second studio album from the Followill clan. Recorded live at Three Crows Studio in Los Angeles using The Beatles' old Abbey Road mixing desk, it captures a band at a pivotal moment — caught between the raw garage-rock of their debut and the massive arena-rock they'd later become . ## Music and Production The album's sonic signature is a "fuzz-encrusted rocket of controlled violence" — tighter and more intricate than *Youth and Young Manhood* . Where the debut wore its Southern rock influences proudly, *Aha Shake Heartbreak* trades some of that rowdiness for angular, post-punk-inspired riffs. "King of the Rodeo" sounds like "barn-dance Wire," with odd beat math and stabbing guitars that show the band pushing beyond simple rock formulas . Producer Ethan Johns captures the band playing live in the studio with minimal overdubs, resulting in a dry, immediate sound . The rhythm section deserves particular praise: Jared Followill's bass often anchors the riffs while Nathan Followill's drums alternately show Keith Moon-style abandon and puritanical restraint . The band frequently splits songs into different verse, chorus and bridge tempos — a variant on Nirvana's soft-loud dynamic that creates effective musical whiplash . Highlights like "The Bucket" showcase shimmering rhythm guitars, tom-tom rolls and a chorus of harmonized sighs that channels classic pop . "Milk" builds beautifully through layered instrumentation across its five-minute running time, and "Taper Jean Girl" matches swaggering guitar marches with rubbery foreboding . ## Lyrics and Themes Caleb Followill's lyrics are the album's most polarizing element. He sings in "visceral rather than literal sense, barking in tongues as he fights for a grip on hope and equilibrium" . Lines like "She's seventeen but I done went and plum forgot it" open the album with provocative ambiguity . Thematically, the album explores sin, seeking, and the tensions of Caleb's evangelical upbringing. His "tent-show Bon Scott howl" suggests a singer "choking on brimstone" — a man at war with his own impulses . Songs navigate one-night stands ("Slow Night, So Long"), impotence ("Soft"), and the strain of newfound fame ("The Bucket" references a "balding" star drinking in the lobby) . However, the lyrical abstraction sometimes crosses into sheer gibberish. Lines like "Cunts watch their bodies, no room for make-up" and "It's going to tickle / You're going to giggle" read less as mysterious poetry than as awkward, occasionally misogynistic nonsense . The "yodeling" on "Day Old Blues" is particularly divisive, described by one critic as "painful" and distracting . ## Influence and Reception The album found its strongest reception in the UK, where critics appreciated its "half-disheveled, half-revolutionary" energy and echoes of social class in the band's Southern drawl . *Rolling Stone* called it "nearly great" — a record of immense promise just short of "pulverizing excellence" . Contemporary reviews praised the band's "alarmingly sophisticated pop" instincts wrapped in back-of-class mumbling . The UK's *Ultimate Guitar* gave it 9.3/10, calling it "innovative, so musically and technically brilliant" . The album's influence can be heard in later garage-rock revival acts that combined Southern swagger with angular post-punk rhythms. --- ## Pros and Cons **Pros:** - **Innovative rhythmic complexity:** The band's willingness to split songs into different verse/chorus tempos creates genuinely exciting dynamics - **Superb production:** Ethan Johns' live-in-the-studio approach captures raw energy without feeling undercooked - **Strong first half:** Tracks like "Slow Night, So Long," "The Bucket," and "Taper Jean Girl" represent the band at their creative peak - **Excellent musicianship:** The interplay between Jared's anchoring bass, Nathan's dynamic drums, and Matthew's chiming guitar riffs is consistently impressive **Cons:** - **Inconsistent back half:** After "The Bucket," the album loses focus; tracks like "Velvet Snow," "Rememo," and "Where Nobody Knows" feel underdeveloped or substanceless - **Polarizing lyrics:** The abstraction sometimes crosses into "gibberish," with occasional uncomfortable themes and embarrassing lines (particularly "Soft" and "Day Old Blues") - **Scattered identity:** The album tries so many new things that it feels less defined than the debut; some tracks lean into Zeppelin-style hard rock while others feel like filler - **Caleb's vocal limitations:** His strained delivery works on some tracks but becomes grating on others, particularly during the much-maligned yodeling --- *Aha Shake Heartbreak* remains a fascinating document of a band in transition — often brilliant, occasionally frustrating, and never boring. The promise of a third, perfect album loomed large, and for many listeners, that promise was enough .
This band is irritating and unnecessary.
A nice throwback
If they are kings, it is time for a coupe. 1
I’m writing this a few days after listening, and I’m struggling to remember anything of note from this unremarkable collection of songs. They were at least kind enough to keep it concise at 37 minutes.
I rather liked the sort of energetic, southern-inflected 2000s indie rock sound, and thought most of the songs were pretty decent too, but I found it really hard to get past the truly awful vocals. This was especially noticeable on the slower/quieter songs such as ‘Milk’ and ‘Rememo’, which were consequently my least-favourite tracks. Conversely, because vocally more tolerable, ‘Pistol of Fire’ and ‘The Bucket’ were probably my favourites. I’m torn between a harsh 2 and a slightly generous 3, but I guess I’m feeling nice today. With a half-decent singer it would have been a much easier decision.
Surprisingly interesting sound but overlaid by a voice that I cannot stand. I like their Ian Sterling Cbeebies era trims too (I know I can't really say much), was expecting to hear a Hacker T Dog collab
⭐⭐- Lyssnade en hel del på debuten när den kom och kommer ihåg att jag gillade den en hel del. Sen svalnade mitt intresse för Kings of leon, och när jag lyssnar på detta albumet så kanske det får sin förklaring. Tycker albumet är mediokert och fattar inte vad det gör på listan. Det är inget som sticker ut. Inget som liknar något hit, inget som engagerar, The Bucket är det spår som kommer närmast. Sen att de har tre! album med på listan, lika många som t.ex Black Sabbath är bara märkligt. Får bitvis lite Stroke vibbar, fast sämre. Kommer inte lyssna på detta album igen så det blir en svag 2a. Bäst är The Bucket. Bäst är The Bucket.
A very Americana forward alt-rock, I could see why it was a success in the UK where it's a more exotic sound. Seems a little middle-of-the-road to me, very listenable but nothing to keep you there. Those are singles? It just blends with the record. So after several listens, replays don't add much value for me and the songs don't become sticky. I hope there's other Kings of Leon albums that deserve a listen, because this wasn't it. 2.4/5
I think this is the second record here? I think the they were relevant for about a half a second. This feels like a waste of a space. Can’t believe how much generic average crap is here. Hmm. I wrote this before I listened. I rather enjoyed this record. Catchy stuff. Guess what. Ima gonna give this 4 fucking stars. Try and fucking stop me. Woooooooo!
I liked this way more than I anticipated!
look, kings of leon
I kind of hated this. 00s rock band aping 60/70s rock asthetics. I hate the inflection of the singing on this, he doesn't sound like that on other albums.
Ok but not brilliant! Listenable.
Damn... There's a lot of good things about this album. Arrangements, structures, songwriting is quite inspired... But somehow voice and the vibe ruins it for me, I almost feel bad for rating it so low
I can't believe there are (at least) 3 Kings of Leon albums on this list. The most annoying thing about them is that I think with a different singer I could probably get into it. I just absolutely hate the whiny, croaky voice this guy does. It's tolerable when you hear one of their songs on the radio interspersed with songs by other artists, but an albums' worth of these vocals in one sitting drives me to despair. This one was blessedly short at least
All the mediocrity of Kings of Leon with none of the occasional hits... easily the worst of the three on this list. Certainly not a good enough band to warrant three.
I still don't know why they have three albums on this list.
Thought I would really like it based on what I'd heard but it was a little rough.
was kind of into it at the start but it didn't really go anywhere
Jújú, tvö-þrjú lög sem eru fín, og rödd sem er svoldið boring. 2,7 eða 2,8, þar liggur efinn.
A lot of the songs sounded similar or passed me by but I can see why people would like them, just not for me.
Leuk maar niet waaaaauw ofzo
There may not be anything that changes musical history here, but they do rock & they do it well. All the time. And surely that’s what people want. Well at least that’s what I want.
pleasant surprise, worth a re-listen
Brilliant. Saw them at Glasto 2008. Nostalgia value plus great tunes
At this early stage in their career, lead singer trying too hard to sound like Chili Peppers. Occasional glimpses of some good ideas. But wrapped in a lot of forgettable dross. Thankful it was a short album. They got better.
Pretty good. Aged well. Nice listen.
No skips but not quite up with Youth And Young Manhood for me
Just like getting another 70s blues rock album with an annoying singer. Until Milk, which has some synth on it and shows up how bad his voice is. Then Soft and Velvet Snow sounds like decent 2000s indie but still with that voice. The Bucket is the best on here - a really good hook and a tune that doesn't stretch beyond what he can sing. I like that.
I'd rather get another Brit DJ album than Kings of Leon. this sucks
I’m trying to imagine the guy who would agree that there are THREE essential Kings of Leon albums. It’s almost impossible. I’m not sure he’s even really a guy, rather than some sort of creature. I don’t like him.
No private session used for Spotify. There was a time in the early 2000's where I had a car with a 5 disc cd changer and I had a little booklet with about 10 more cds in it. These fifteen cds were all find representations of albums that were awesome for road trips. This album was one of those.
All of the people hating on this album have a big fat dump in their pants. Not their best work, but so much fun! Best Song: King of the Rodeo Rating: 7.5/10 Stars: 4
I expected a lot more from this album, but it was pretty inferior. Interestingly, I got this a day after I had another of their American rock contemporaries - the D album from White Denim (though I had never heard of them before). Both albums were reasonably early in their respective careers, but if you listen to James Petralli's voice on the White Denim record (btw, go try Street Joy or Is and Is and Is), it's really robust. Meanwhile, here, Caleb Followill's voice lacks just about anything you could want from a front man. I mean, he eventually gets there. If you listen to Sex on Fire, Use Somebody, or some others from a few years into Kings of Leon's career, Followill sounds great. He has a ton of energy and a lot of grit/rasp and emotion . . . all of which he completely lacks on this record. Yeah, the band is decent (though interestingly, they too pale compared to White Denim), but it's not nearly enough to overcome the lack of anything in the vocals. It's not unlistenable, but it's close and, frankly, a strange choice for this series. They have much better work later on.
I loved this when it originally came out but today listening to it for the first time in probably 15+ years, it’s alright ai suppose. Nothing particularly special or memorable about it. It definitely hasn’t rekindled my interest in the band or anything. Top Track - The Bucket
4.5
The band is tight and their sound is distinct. Their songs are lame and the singer sounds the same on every track.
Not sure how I've gone without listening to the breakout album of one of my favorite bands... adding it to the rotation for sure.
1001 total picks, and this band makes it twice? Twice!? Vocals are fascinating, but come on!
it's fine
Not for me
Some ok songs, but a terrible voice.
#140/1001 🇺🇸 I was struggling to find anything to love about this so read some of the indecipherable lyrics. And i quote: "I'm passed out in your garden I'm in, I can't get off, so soft I'd pop myself in your body I'd come into your party but I'm soft, but I'm soft" No wonder he signs so badly. Best Tracks:
I prefer to hear the lyrics and unfortunately most of the lyrics were in cursive. Season: Late Summer Favorite Song: The Bucket
Meh. 3 albums by them on this list is at least 2.5 too many
Really good listen. Fun rocking album
Six hundred and twenty two albums down, and I was genuinely struggling to remember if I’d heard Kings of Leon before. Turns out that I’ve already listened to two of them and this is the third. I wasn’t overly impressed before, but would this be three times a charm? Sadly, no. It’s almost aggressively bland, middle of the road early 2000’s indie rock, with a couple of jarring c-bombs dropped into the lyrics as if to say “Hey, look at us - we’re *edgy*!”. Sorry guys, it’s not working. It might impress someone DJing on Six Music in the coveted Tuesday 2am slot but it doesn’t do it for me. I checked my 2011 edition of the 1001 Albums and at least the editor Robert Dimery has demoted all three of the Kings of Leon albums from the book, showing that their earlier inclusion was probably a bit optimistic as to their long term staying power. Oh dear, how sad, never mind-tastic!
the sound of a band that's clearly studied the classics (along with a few of its contemporaries), but can't quite figure out how to distinguish themselves from their influences. if you're looking for a band that's somehow even more anachronistic than The Black Crowes were in their heyday, look no further than Kings of Leon. the songs are perfunctory at best, moving through tried-and-true chord progressions (mostly involving the I, IV and V) with the same crunchy guitar tones you've already heard on a million other garage rock songs. the soft-loud dynamic shifts, the arpeggiating basslines, even the drumming patterns all feel humdrum and predictable; and that's all before you can even think about Caleb Followill's lead singing, some of the most obnoxious in the entire canon of rock music. I don't mind that he can't enunciate worth a damn, but could he at least find a more pleasing timbre to do it with than this overdone snarl? further points deducted for the many points where Kings of Leon really want to be The Strokes. were critics so desperate for an alternative to nu metal that they needed to tout Aha Shake Heartbreak as being anywhere near the level of Is This It, or even Room on Fire? strong 3/10.
sehr cool, 4/5 i guess.. oder 5/5?? vllt 5/5 .. ja.. gefällt mir
I never cared for this band, but most of my distaste came for when they blew up with the proceeding album. I always felt indifferent when the videos for "Four Kicks" and "The Bucket" would pop up on Kerrang back in the day. The album shifts between a bluesy southern rock sound to a more meat and potatoes garage rock style that was popular at the time. They don't do any of these genres particularly well and the result is an uninteresting record brought down even further by an intolerable frontman with a one-note voice. On "Milk", the instrumentation is stripped right back and you are left with the vocalist's wails right at the front of the mix and it doesn't make for a pleasant experience. This was most enjoyable when they stick to the garage rock sound, but they don't do anything interesting with it and their playing lack the urgency that better garage bands had. I can't say I'm looking forward to hearing the other two albums that these guys have on the list.
Wow! Amazing listen! This album from them is extraordinary.
Honestly? Nothing wrong with it. But it does nothing for me. Sounds like the love child of a clandestine night of passion between Red Hot Chili Peppers and Yellow Dog (of "could I could I could I stay just one more night" fame). And they are the most boring band I've ever seen live. Totally average.
Will give it another listen and perhaps edits this rating and review but on first listen, not for me. Feels incomplete, very basic guitar riffs that just aren't interesting, not jiving with the dude voice either.
I have a ton of nostalgia for this one. This album was right before their shift in style and I love it. Caleb Followill’s vocals are unique and weird on this project. But it truly reflects the sound of early 2000s alternative rock. It’s not perfect but I have a lot of fun going back and listening to this record.
Good album. I enjoyed listening. 2nd time through with headphones and WOW…I missed a lot of the lyrics! I enjoyed it more the 2nd time through.
I hated this. I can't get behind the emotion of the songs of I can't understand what he's singing. It's all mumbly and mushy.
for some reason physically repulsive to me.
Eh
A great band where I have only heard some of their biggest songs before today, mostly from their 2008 album (2 albums after this one) so when this album popped up I was really hyped. Their sound changed from this album to the one I'm more familiar with. The style of singing, the distortion on the guitars, the speed of the songs. This album is very different from what I expected. Not in a bad way at all, I just had to change my state of mind. I really enjoyed my listen through of the album and its music that I can see myself listening to again. Perhaps unfortunate for this list I love the 2008 album had have listened to it so many times that today mostly made me want to go and listen through that again. It was still a fun time listening through and hearing another side of the band that I was unfamiliar with.
Not bad band with an irritating voice that I couldn't get used to.
There are some ok songwriting and stylistic decisions but this still strays too much into that 2000s indie sound that I have very little interest in. Obviously it shouldn't be taken as gospel but one of the genres for this album on Wikipedia is stoner rock. Where? If there actually was some stoner rock here I probably would have been kinder. The vocals are also pretty annoying. Especially on Milk, wow please shut up It's not really bad, but I never want to listen again. The pinnacle of fine. 2.5 Highlights: Soft
i really just dislike his voice so much
I listened to the whole album hoping to hear one hit. Let’s say I was disappointed and puzzled why it was listed.
All of the top songs I know are not on this album. Not that I want to hear those more, they have been burned out from every radio play. This album highlighted his voice, which I don't care for.
Very good. 4/5
I know complaining about the list is pointless and my taste is not the same as everyone else’s blah blah blah, but it is legitimately insane how so there are so many incredible artists that only have one or maybe two albums on this list and fucking kings of leon have three fucking albums are you fucking kidding me
The album started well for the first 20 seconds- a great indie sound, guitar, bass and drums sounding tight and then… the vocal and the lyrics. Something about the voice has always put me off Kings of Leon and listening through this entire album I suppose I got use to it eventually but it’s not my favourite. If the band had a different song writer and vocalist I’m sure I would love the band so much more! Favourite track- ‘the bucket’ getting the nod possibly due to the fat I had heard it before and resonated with it that little better. I suppose of the rest I did quite enjoy ‘pistol of fire’ for a moment 😂 Worst track- ‘taper Jean girl’ Just above average 6/10
Kings of Leon Bit of a surprise this one. Musically really tight and quite left field. Almost some echoes of UK post punk in the inventive bass lines and tight drums. But bloody hell, the lyrics are awful. Think dribbling, adolescent, sex obsessed teenager and you're right there! Best Track - Slow night, so long. Shades of Joy Division in this one - which I wasn't expecting! Worst Track - Soft. What a horrible misogynistic mess of a song. 5/10 - all for music.
2/5 I can't stand his voice
The punky edge to the southern rock added a fresh edge. Looking forward to checking these guys out more
While this collection definitely doesn't need three Kings of Leon albums, and this one probably didn't need to get included along with their debut album in the first edition of "1001 Albums", it's also a mystery why *all* three of their albums got unceremoniously dropped from later editions, as they're a lot more interesting and talented than a (large) number of bands and artists that managed to hang in there. I also liked how this album marked a welcome transition away from punk-ish southern rock to a more distinctive style that seems to blend Jack White with CCR (sort of) and OK Go. I particularly enjoyed "King of the Rodeo" (in part due to the video's odd portrayal of a line dance competition/romance), the more mellow "Milk" and "Day old blues", plus the bonus track "Where nobody knows". You can definitely tell that the brothers (and cousin) are still searching for their identity and niche on this album, but they're (slightly) older and tighter and still talented and a bit quirky, which is a fun combination, although I can imagine how Caleb Followill's voice might be annoying to some.
"Rememo" has the best use of the word "motherfucker" since I've heard St. Vincent's "New York." Other than that, well, guys singing about their feelings while playing musical instruments.
first listen it's alright
This album has a cool garage rock feel to it which I quite dig. The only time I heard of Kings of Leon before this was when Use Somebody was all over the radio. While I liked that song, I like the more raw sound this album has. It's got me nostalgic for the garage shows I'd go to. The Bucket is probably my favorite song from the album but there are a fair few other bangers.
These guys again?! It's OK. I really stumble over the voice and vocal styling most of all.
This is music for NPCs and coworkers who are trying to find an edgy streak
I was looking forward to listening to this album yesterday. I don’t really know much by them but what i did I thought was pretty good, so wanted to hear more. Overall, I was disappointed. The music was good but the voice became irritating. I wouldn’t listen to more based on this. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
I’m not in love with this album. I’ve listened to songs by Kings of Leon before and enjoyed them, but this collection didn’t do a whole lot for me. The lead singer needs to work on enunciation on a few of the songs as it was extremely difficult to understand the words through his jumbled mumbling. I did like the instrumentals and think they brought value to the album. Overall this was a one and done for me.
They create some interesting grooves but not a whole more to make you want to come back for a second helping of anything.
The singer really bothers me. Sounds like a developmentally challenged middleschooler doing an impression of a delta blues singer while sitting on the toilet trying to drop a stubborn duce. The band is okay though, so it's not all bad.
I've always felt I should like KOL more than I do. Regardless, this is solid.
Not as good as the last KoL album we reviewed. I still don't what Caleb is singing, but he does a damn fine job of it. The difference between this album and Youth and Young Manhood is, I think, the licks, which just aren't quite as a strong on this album.
One of the best albums of the aughts. Balls out rock with songs about teenage balding and erectile dysfunction. The syncopations and grooves vary widely. I think Velvet Snow embodies the album in 2 minutes. It’s awesomely frantic and they pack a change in at 1:20 and an outro at 1:50. Economical rocking to the max.
3/5 - I think it's just his voice that grates on me. I should like this band more than I do, but I don't. The tunes aren't bad, but I've never understood the hype.
Kings of Leon are a specific mood. If you're not feeling that mood, it's hard to get into them. But if you're feeling it, you feeling it. And it was a very fun album once I was in the mood.
Meeeeh, no creo que lo vuelva a escuchar. Está bueno pero no me encantó, no hubo nada memorable. Buenas vibes, rock sureño indie, muy yankee.
Decent alt rock record
3.5. I love Kings of Leon. This album was totally solid. It deserves a little better than three but it's not a four.
I enjoyed this more than I remember. Some solid rock from a band that I thought was poised to become the biggest group in the USA in 2008. They never took that next leap but I like their music. This album doesn't have anything I remember being played on the radio but I relished it all throughout. Top tracks: "The Bucket," "King of the Rodeo," "Slow Night, So Long," "Soft"
can't understand youuuuuu
--Slow Night, So Long…like the rhythm guitar. interesting vocals. nice curveball at the end --King of the Rodeo…that rapid fire vocal chorus is something. the impressive rhythm guitar continues --Taper Jean Girl…solid riff. like the bass, too --Pistol of Fire…good rocker --Milk…somewhat misguided ballad --The Bucket…radio friendly unit shifter --Soft…nice bass line. good tune --Razz...another solid rocker --Day Old Blues...the lead singer has an interesting voice but he's way too confident with it here --Four Kicks...I have no idea what he's saying but it's provocative --Velvet Snow...more fun rock --Rememo...plodding --Where Nobody Knows (bonus track, not included in the ranking)...should've included this instead of "Rememo"
Je ne sais pas trop quoi penser. Vraiment meilleur de ce à quoi je m'attendais, un bon album rock avec un chanteur qui gosse. Je vais probablement ré-écouter!
C'est un genre de 3.
Le band est pas pire mais y'en a un qui ferme jamais sa yeule. La prod est très mid, ça aide pas. Rien de ben mémorable, un long 37 minutes. 2.49 étoiles parce que j'ai donné 3 étoiles à des albums pas mal meilleurs que ça. On va-tu avoir droit à du Spoon un moment donné?
3 - decent
Kings of Leon – Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004) On Day 136, the streak came to a halt with a project that just wasn't it. There was a major disconnect between the singer and the production that made the whole experience a struggle. The vocal performance was particularly rough, it felt disjointed to the point where the lyrics were unintelligible, leading to a total lack of immersion. I wasn't a fan of the genre execution here; it felt like it was trying for a garage vibe but missed the mark. Aside from a few moments, it lacked the cohesion I’ve enjoyed in previous listens. It’s a 2/5, and honestly, a bit of a relief to be moving on from this one.
so terrible. i hate the sound of the singers voice, it's so grating and ugly. it makes me angry. one of my most hated albums i've gotten so far
mediocre and I found it a very boring listen
dare i say it.... he sounds like lin manuel miranda. so far the album is quite boring... andd.... it stays being boring too, awesome. honestly, I was looking through the reviews and a lot of people were saying that it was "horny" and really sexual and honestly, I didn't know what to believe because I was like oh maybe these people are being a little prudish. But then I listen to the songs and I would agree. It's a little too much.
Not bad
I did appreciate the economy.
Not as bad as I was expecting after Only by the night Will I listen to again: 0%
Best Track - "The Bucket"
You know that episode of WKRP in Cincinnati where Dr. Johnny Fever is offered some nose candy to give some crummy band's record some airplay?? Well, how do you think *this* garbage ever got on the airwaves?
When this came up today, I thought “Didn’t I own this album?” and after listening to it, I’m still not 100% sure. The Bucket is the only track I recognised. Basically, it’s not that memorable.
"уши закладывало даже у их микрофонов" улыбнул комментарий: "Такое ощущение, что он просто нашел самый раздражающий звук, который только мог издать своим голосом, и построил на этом всю свою карьеру". бл, ну вот есть же рифчики звучные, инструменталы прикольные, и вот реально ска всё упирается в этот блеющий рвотно блевотный голос. Перри Фаррелл из Jane's addiction, Элвис Костелло, Патрик Моррисси из the Smiths (ещё терпимо ок), Джулиан Коуп из The Teardrop Explodes(ну на грани), Брайн Малко из Placebo(калллл), Диана мать его Анкудинова...а теперь ещё и Калеб Фоллоуилл. их движения ртом — моя ушная вакханалия. плакали даже беруши.
папа мне сказал слушаться Полину, Полина сказала что альбом говно
I really wanted to have a good experience with this album. I went into it with a good attitude, but I hated it. I don’t like the instrumentals I don’t like the production I don’t like the vocals or vocal delivery, and the lyrics do nothing for me. This is one of the very few 1/5 albums that I was very confident in not liking. Frankly I’m praying another slot on this list isn’t taken up by this one boring as shit band.
I made it as far as "The Bucket" while listening, and then I threw the whole thing in the bucket. The first thing that struck me was the singer's voice—and it really isn't good. The music is rather boring, and the songs seem to repeat themselves endlessly. The whole thing is just too tedious for me, though I suppose there's a lid for every pot. Why critics find this particular record so outstanding, however, completely baffles me. So, for me, it’s a maximum of two stars—or more likely 1.5. "Kings of Leon – Aha Shake Heart": an absolutely superfluous album.
Solid early album from this artist
I thought this album had a chance right away, but the longer it went on the more it fell off for me. Did not enjoy it much at all. Pretty ok at best.
Album is a product of its time. 3 stars generally, minus 1 for being on a list like this (because I really did not have to listen to this to have my life changed)
I know this band. Not a big fan but I did like these guys early 10s, then they just grew out of my listening realm. This is a good album though.
Not for me. 1/5
Reviews say I should hate this but I didn’t. Reminds me of college I guess?
No me gustó mucho
I have personal reason for disliking Kings of Leon, and yet I still gave "Only By The Night" 4 stars so I think it's safe to say I reviewed without too much bias. There's absolutely no need to have any more KoL on this list, this one is undeniably mediocre.
I guess I must once again be losing he plot of a list of essential albums that includes THREE from Kings of Leon but ZERO from Warren Zevon. I mean, these guys are fine. This is a decent effort. Just seems like one KoL album should pretty much cover it, and this is definitely NOT their strongest effort.
the voice got real annoying after five songs
Would have been a 3 but Day Old Blues came on and really annoyed me.
There was a time when Kings of Leon were huge, and ‘Aha Shake Heartbreak’ reminds you why. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it's a fun, catchy rock album, full of peak mid-2000s rock energy and with plenty of swagger and hooks.
I’m sorry but this is awful. It wasn’t great back then and it’s aged badly as well. 1.5
Hillbilly shite
I don't mind it, but I don't think I'd seek it out.
I wish the rest of their catalog sounded like this album.
Music for dudes, bros, and dudebros.
Without the vocals, it would be inoffensive indie rock. But who even cares about this album anyway? There were much better 2000s indie albums.
ive been trying to get into country for 26 years. im still not into country but this feels like something of a compromise. i might accidentally love kings of leon. favorite song is Milk or Taper Jean Girl
Rating: 3/10 Extremely displeasurable. The vocals might not be boring but god do I hate them. I can just barely understand the lyrics but I wish I couldn’t. The musicianship just borders on generic, ripping from influences both old and new (The Strokes). There is just enough of a different element to that usually urban city sound here with its Southern tinge, but its execution of it just makes me hate it all the more. The band almost manages to save itself towards the end with Four Kicks, with its punk edge, and Velvet Snow, the album’s best songs I think that are merely tolerable, but it’s not enough. I haven’t checked but I foresee more Kings of Leon and I’m not looking forward to it
I've enjoyed Kings of Leon in the past and I didn't like this one as much as I thought I would. It had nice parts, drums and rhythmy bits were fun, but the vocals sometimes annoyed me. *almost* good 5.7/10
Didn’t love it; didn’t hate it. More interesting than, say, The Black Keys.
This album had a few really good parts. Most of the time, it tries too hard to be too many things all at once.
I'd imagine it's nearly universally accepted that these boys didn't need three or really any albums on the list. The pendulums always swinging though, but they may get forgot. This is the best album by them that I've gotten with weird singing and hard rocking a plenty.
I remember loving this album when it was first released, but listening back now it's hard to remember... Why... Exactly
Did not take to this ar all. Uninspiring and not helped by poor vocals.
Scruffy garage rock and Southern indie built on gritty guitars, tight drums, driving bass, and strained, raspy vocals barrels forward with restless urgency. Listening feels like stumbling through a humid, neon-lit night where everything blurs into sweat, noise, and repetition. The result is energetic and immediate, while its sameness wears thin.
This felt a bit thin? Not sure why it might’ve been the vocals but most songs felt a bit one note in a literal sense. Rememo a definite fave but nothing else really stood out.
Only knowing Sex on Fire and Use Somebody I was not expecting this sounds at all, but good for them
The Kings of Leon before they were THE Kings of Leon. I enjoyed this enough, The Bucket far and away my fave (you’ll kick the bucket and I’ll swing my legs is one hell of a line)
1. King of the Rodeo and The Bucket are both such fun songs. Great highlights from this album 2. Caleb Followill’s voice is often quite annoying and in fact the entire Followill clan can be 3. I voted for Sex on Fire in the 2008 Hottest 100 and then by the time the countdown I desperately wanted it not to win (it did) and so I still harbour some Kings of Leon-related shame because of that incident (my opinion of Sex on Fire now is it’s fine - I no longer hate it nor do I think it’s especially good) 4. My mum hated The Bucket when it first came out and it’s the first song I remember (alongside Float On) where my sister and I would call out “it’s your favourite song” to her whenever it came on All to say, a few great songs on here and the rest was whatever. obviously big things to come!
Sex on Fire was the worst thing that ever happened to this band which was decent and had some good songs back in the day before they turned into whatever it is they are now. Stadium rock? The Bucket is the highlight. The other songs are acceptable and good enough!
I really could've gone without listening to this before I died
Not my type right now, I love the band and the lore but this album just not my type
The band can cook! Hate Caleb’s singing. Hate! Ding!
Awful
A good rock/ indie album that I enjoyed although nothing really stood out track wise for me. Just a solid all round album
I think Kings of Leon might have suffered somewhat from the excessive success of Sex on Fire. Rather liked this album
I confess i'm not a Kings of Leon fan. Their debut album isn't bad. To be honest "Red Morning Light" is a kick ass song. Aha Shake Heartbreak is their 2nd album. So I thought I gave it a listen. The short tracks are ok/good. But the longer tracks are so bloody boring. I gave them a try but skipped them after like a minute. So 2 stars for the shorter ones on the album.
While Youth & Young Manhood is no masterpiece, it's a memorable debut w/ a lot of tangible energy, & while Aha Shake Heartbreak is not a slamming followup, it's basically on par w/ Leon's first. They'll never be a great band - their aim to southernize The Strokes is not bound to fail but it's bound to be w/o much substance - but I do appreciate their more rockin' endeavors, especially in the vein of Zepp on 'Pistol of Fire.' +, Followill's voice, tho not Plant's, grits and scrapes itself to its soulful place. Problem is, the brothers dream to be deeper than they are - they want to be Tennessee's finest folk group and rock band, they reach for a 'can I get an amen' - but they should just keep it simple like Is This It. Or get down like Brittany Howard. 3.5/5.
own
Decent backing musicians, the drums and guitars are what you need and expect from a garage rock band. It does rip off The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys, as do the lyrics. What ruins it is the frontman's voice. Caleb's voice is one trick. It has as much charisma as a dying cactus. Overall: 2/10
Solid alt-rock. But nothing really jumped out to me. I only know a handful of Kings of Leon songs and they all had more drive behind them than this entire album. Where is the late night scream it in the bar songs? The Bucket
A couple of standouts on here. The band itself is in point and there's a lot of catchiness to be had there, but wow I swear he was going out of his way to make his vocal delivery as annoying as possible on alot of these tracks. I don't mind a wackier vocalist, but his voice and the instrumentals just don't lend themselves to that style at all
File under: album or artist from the 21st Century I have never heard. Musically it's OK at best, but I can not get past the vocals. Not essential listening. (Cue the GWB meme: “Sir, there’s a second KoL album on the list.”)
Truly one of my favourite records. They never sounded like wild and free again.
no me gustó, lo noté medio desprolijo y suena raro. igualmente los álbumes posteriores si me gustan
I’m really confused with this one. I know Kingd of Leon because of Sex on Fire and Use Somebody and just assumed they were “two hit wonders” and had no good albums. How wrong I was. I love this. I love the singers voice. I love the guitars all over this and love most of the 13 songs. ❤️
At times, this singer reminded me of the sound my childhood car would make when its tail was accidentally stepped on.
- Clearly pedos. - I remember liking a couple songs from the first album when it came out, but the vocals on this one are almost unlistenable -- so out of tune. Milk was so painful to listen to. And even the hit (the Bucket) is annoying with his out of tune sliding "technique". - This album sounds like a budget version of the Strokes. - The instrumentation feels very remedial - like playing one or two notes over and over. They definitely aren't masters of their instruments. - The lyrics are also nothing (when you can understand them), except when they're explicitly pedo. So... - So, in short, there's nothing good here... Why did we have to listen to this? And why are there THREE Kings of Leon albums on this list. This fact, alone, is making me rethink this project.